2011 Mitsubishi LANCER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
34 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
50,606 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 34 complaints (23.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 20.6% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 14.7% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 11.8% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 8.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 5.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 8 |
| Power Train | 6 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Seat Belts | 3 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Structure:Body | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
Engine: 8; Power Train: 6; Electrical System: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Seat Belts: 3; Steering: 3; Structure:Body: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 14 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
2011: 2; 2012: 3; 2013: 2; 2014: 5; 2015: 5; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 3; 2019: 6; 2020: 1; 2021: 2; 2022: 2
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10428666 · 2011-10-04 (October 4, 2011)
I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY RIGHT REAR TIRE WHERE MY TIRE RIPPED APART WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. IN THE EVENTS THAT LED TO THIS INCIDENT MY CAR DISPLAYED A LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING ON MY CAR FOR ABOUT TWO DAYS. LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT THE TIRE WOULD EXPLODE WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS TIRE FAILURE AFTER ONLY 3 MONTHS AFTER BUYING MY CAR WITH THE MANUFACTURERS TIRES THAT CAME WITH THE CAR I PAID $200 TO GET THAT TIRE REPAIRED. NOTHING WAS DONE BY THE COMPANY TO COMPENSATE FOR THE ISSUE. I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT YOKOHAMA CAN DO TO FIX…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10428666 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10428800 · 2011-10-05 (October 5, 2011)
AT 50 MILES PER HOUR WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED ,SERVICE BRAKE PEDAL SANK TO FLOOR AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THIS HAS HAPPEN ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS INTERMITTENTLY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 347 miles reported. Look up ODI 10428800 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10449273 · 2012-02-24 (February 24, 2012)
BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW ONLY HAD IT A LITTLE OVER A MONTH,SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON,DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS MISFIRING AND FIXED. 2 WEEKS LATER SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN, CALLED AND MADE APPT. NEXT DAY I AM DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND HEAR A LOUD GRINDING NOISE,TRANSMISSION BLEW. AND TO TOP IT OFF MANUFACTURE WON'T COVER WARRANTY BECAUSE EVIDENTIALLY I WAS RACING AND DOING BURNOUTS,WHICH WASN'T THE CASE AT ALL. THIS CAR DEFINITELY HAS DEFECTS. EVEN IF I WAS BEATING IT AND DOING WHAT I WAS ACCUSED OF I HIGHLY DOUBT THE TRANS WOULD …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10449273 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10460538 · 2012-06-04 (June 4, 2012)
RENTED FROM HOTWIRE AT SAN JUAN AIRPORT. CAR RENTAL WAS HERTZ. WHILE REVERSING FROM PARKING SPOT AT HERTZ LOT, ROACHES CAME OUT OF DASHBOARD. I STOPPED AT THE OFFICE TO CHANGE CAR. AGENTS WERE NOT CONCERNED. I ASKED FOR ANOTHER CAR WITHOUT THE BUGS AND IT TOOK SOME TIME TO GET ANOTHER CAR. I INSPECTED IT AND DIDN'T FIND ANY. I DROVE OFF. THE NEXT MORNING I DROVE TO PONCE AND BACK THAT NIGHT. DROVE UP & DOWN A STEEP MOUNTAIN SIDE. WHEN I PARKED THAT NIGHT ROACHES CAME OUT OF THAT CAR TOO. CALLED SEVERAL NUMBERS, WAS FREAKED OUT, AND NO ONE SEEM…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,325 miles reported. Look up ODI 10460538 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10481024 · 2012-10-18 (October 18, 2012)
WENT TO PUT CHILD IN CAR SEAT AND THE SEATBELT WON'T RETRACT BACK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 13,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10481024 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10515375 · 2013-06-05 (June 5, 2013)
I GOT TO WORK AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED THE MOTOR OFF. A CO-WORKER SHOWED UP, I WAS TALKING TO HIM WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG, BY THE TIME I LOOKED THE DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYED. I LIFTED MY ARM UP TO COVER MY FACE. IT BURNT MY LEFT SIDE ARM AND BRUISED MY FACE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 46,711 miles reported. Look up ODI 10515375 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10554305 · 2013-12-02 (December 2, 2013)
I OWN A MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION X GSR 2011. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON FEBRUARY 2013 BRAND NEW. BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER 2013 (7 MONTHS) I HAD ABOUT 15,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND I STARTED EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH THE ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE. THE GEAR WAS ENGAGING PROPERLY BUT THERE WAS A DELAY ON GETTING TRACTION TO THE WHEELS. THE ENGINE RAMPED UP SEVERAL RPMS BEFORE THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING IN ANY GEAR. ON OCTOBER 2ND 2013 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH BE…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10554305 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10594068 · 2014-06-04 (June 4, 2014)
LETTER FROM SENATOR TOOMEY ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE 2011 MITSUBISHI (ATTN: ROBERT SIMPSON). *SMD ACCORDING TO THE INVOICES, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, AND THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10594068 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
14V562000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
Reported: 2014-09-12 (September 12, 2014)
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Lancer, Lancer Evolution, and Outlander; 2009-2011 Lancer Sportback, Lancer Rilliart, and Lancer Sportback Ralliart; and 2011 Outlander Sport vehicles. The affected vehicles, manufactured with 4B1 engines, have an engine pulley and belt arrangement for turning the alternator, the cooling fan and the power steering pump (if equipped). These pulleys may experience unusual wear and allow for belt detachment.
Consequence: If the drive belt detaches, the battery may discharge, resulting in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the drive belt with a rubber belt. Drive pulleys that are excessively worn will be replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 15, 2014. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-14-009.
NHTSA campaign record ↗15V233000 · Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Fan/Motor
Reported: 2015-04-20 (April 20, 2015)
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Lancer vehicles manufactured March 16, 2009, to March 30, 2011, 2010-2011 Lancer Sportback vehicles manufactured June 17, 2009, to December 1, 2010, 2010-2011 Lancer Evolution vehicles manufactured July 14, 2009, to January 7, 2011, 2009-2011 Outlander vehicles manufactured February 10, 2009, to June 22, 2011, and 2011 Outlander Sport vehicles manufactured August 26, 2010, to November 19, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the blower motor may fail.
Consequence: Failure of the blower motor may reduce the performance of the windshield defroster, diminishing the driver's visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace a suspect blower motor, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2015. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-15-003.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V069000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
Reported: 2018-01-26 (January 26, 2018)
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Lancer, 2008-2012 Outlander, 2010-2012 Lancer Sportback, and 2011-2012 Outlander Sport vehicles equipped with either a 4B11 or 4B12 engine. The drive belt automatic tensioner flange may crack, allowing the accessory drive belt to detach.
Consequence: If the drive belt detaches, the battery will discharge and the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the belt tensioner with one that has an improved shape, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 27, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-001.
NHTSA campaign record ↗