2011 Mitsubishi Lancer problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (6) · Structure:body (3) · Engine And Engine Cooling (3)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mitsubishi Lancer model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
20 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:belts And Associated Pulleys 2018-01-26 · campaign 18V069000 · 141,053 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: If the drive belt detaches, the battery will discharge and the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Visibility:defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:fan/Motor 2015-04-20 · campaign 15V233000 · 76,958 vehicles
Defect: 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 a
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:belts And Associated Pulleys 2014-09-12 · campaign 14V562000 · 165,923 vehicles
Defect: 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 detachme
Risk: If the drive belt detaches, the battery may discharge, resulting in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (99)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Seat Belts 2025-11-21 · TECH TALK 289 · Other
tech talk is a service newsletter that was sent out to dealers. it covers various topics and reviews the previous months publications.
Electrical System 2024-07-23 · TSB-16-54-001REV · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this technical service bulletin instructs the dealer to update the hands free module software to improve the bluetooth connection when certain devices are connected to wi‐fi.
Power Train 2023-07-21 · TSB-23-22-001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this technical service bulletin provides service manual corrections and additional information for the transaxle assembly removal and installation of the roll stopper bracket.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-07-21 · DEALER LETTER · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a dealer letter sent to dealers informing that mitsubishi technical training has launched the 3rd quarterly technician quiz for 2023.
Structure 2023-04-24 · TSB-23-00-004 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this technical service bulletin provides instructions and material safety data sheets for removal of rap-film adhesive residue.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-04-24 · TSB-23-00-001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this technical service bulletin reviews the regulations that require a label showing the reduction in load carrying capacity be affixed to vehicles when the total net weight of accessories is more than 1.5 percent of the vehicle's gross vehicle weight rating (gvwr) or 100 lbs.
Showing the 6 most recent of 99 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2022-11-22 · Exterior Lighting“while driving the vehicle the headlights will turn off at random intervals. the passenger side rear tail light is out and remains out despite changing the bulb. water leaks through a gap in the body into the light and the trunk. headlights need to be reliable in order to ensure safety and visibility, especially at night and during inclement weathe…”
2022-09-15 · Structure:body“i got a service needed warning for the electric power steering and i lost all power steering... as it turned out, the rack and pinion was bad because the subframe rotted out where the rack and pinion mounts up and a custom built subframe and rack and pinion had to be installed on the car at a cost of almost $5,000... …”
2021-08-11 · Suspension:front · 72,000 mi“the contact owns a 2011 mitsubishi lancer. the contact stated that while having the vehicle inspected, the front crossmember was corroded. the dealer was not notified of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 72,000. consumer called the local dealer back for an es…”
2021-08-09 · Structure:body“routine service at 112 mitsubishi dealer/service center noted that my front crossbar was severely corroded and “coming apart in chunks”. they noted that this defect is known and was recalled on later model years of my car, but not my 2011. considering it was recalled already and is the same issue, i would recommend and hope the 2011 model year ca…”
2020-10-27 · Visibility:defroster/Defogger/Hvac System · 90,000 mi“tl* the contact owns 2011 mitsubishi lancer. the contact stated while driving 70 mph, the defogger failed to operate as air stopped flowing through the vents. the contact stated that the heater, air conditioner and defogger failed to operate as intended. the vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. don…”
2019-12-01 · Electrical System · 54,500 mi“car was parked on the parking spot in the evening. next morning car did not start for no reason. etac ecu failure caused a return signal to be blocked on a communication channel wire. also what was found later after a communication channel wire connections clean up, that a cooling fan started to run continuously all the time even when the car engin…”
2019-09-30 · Suspension · 25,000 mi“vibration of the steering wheel when driving over 60 mph. persist after changing tires, wheels, brake pads and discs. this shaking makes the car unstable and is a safety issue.…”
2019-08-12 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 166,000 mi“i smell fuel in my car fairly often, also i have a recall on my car and the dealership will do nothing about it. i ran codes and they all point back to an issue with th computer. when i'm driving it will just start smelling like fuel. i am usually on a city street or freeway. the last thing to happen to me is the car drove like it wanted to start a…”
2019-07-31 · Structure:body“the vehicle was chosen from a website called https://driveyourdream.truecar.com there was a select a dealer page that forwarded the price and payment plan to the selected dealer. the car was in extremely strange condition most likely was sitting a long time into a some kind of a vehicle storage. so far the car is working ok with the exception that …”
2019-06-13 · Unknown Or Other“this is regarding multiple recalls for my vehicle. i purchased the vehicle in st.thomas virgin islands from budget rent a car in 2013. there has been 3 recalls for my vehicle since then i was not notified, only through research i found out. i've called the budget dealer, essentialy told me its my problem, called mitsubishi, they have no contact num…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.