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2011 Mitsubishi Lancer problems

The most common problem on the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer is engine and cooling. Its complaint count is close to a typical Lancer model year.

Typical yearClose to a typical year
Year score
74/100
Owner complaints
34
Recalls
3
Service bulletins
99
Worst area
Engine
Fuel economy
20-28mpg

The worst 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

  • Engine
    11
  • Transmission
    6
  • Body
    4
  • Electrical
    4
  • Seat belts
    3

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Engine
    11
  • Transmission
    6
  • Body
    4
  • Electrical
    4
  • Seat belts
    3
  • Steering
    3
  • Visibility
    3
  • Airbags
    2
  • Brakes
    2
  • Lights
    2
  • Suspension
    2
  • Driver assistance
    1
  • Fuel system
    1
  • Seats
    1
  • Tires
    1
  • Wheels
    1

Recalls 3

Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleysReported January 26, 2018 · 141,053 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
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.

Recall number 18V069000 · Recall details

Visibility: defroster/defogger/HVAC system: fan/motorReported April 20, 2015 · 76,958 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
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.
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.

Recall number 15V233000 · Recall details

Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleysReported September 12, 2014 · 165,923 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
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.

Recall number 14V562000 · Recall details

See all 3 recalls for the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer

Technical service bulletins for the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer 99

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 99 bulletins for the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer

2011 Mitsubishi Lancer fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
2.0L 4‑cylFWD24-2531-3327-28
2.4L 4‑cylFWD22-2329-3025-26
2.0L 4‑cylAWD182520

What 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Nov 22, 2022 · Electrical, Lights · IL

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 weather. My father is a retired auto mechanic and has been doing his best to troubleshoot the problem. I am experiencing financial hardship at the moment and I cannot afford to bring my vehicle anywhere that would charge. There are no warnings, the lights just stop working periodically and the tail light stopped working about a week ago.

Filed Sep 15, 2022 · Body, Steering · OH

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...

Filed Aug 11, 2021 · Suspension · 72,000 miles · PA

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 estimate, part to be replaced and was given $1150.19. Dealer would get the parts in a week.

Filed Aug 9, 2021 · Body · ME

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 can also be included in the recall. It is available for inspection through mid September when I expect to repair it. There were no warnings leading up to this discovery of the defect, as it is structural. I am not an expert, but I would expect this advanced corrosion could fully compromise the car structure in a catastrophic way, resulting in an accident and/or injury.

Filed Oct 27, 2020 · Visibility · 90,000 miles · TX

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 herring north mitsubishi (4225 w plano pkwy, plano, tx 75093) was contacted and advised that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v233000 (visibility). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

Filed Dec 1, 2019 · Electrical · 54,500 miles · WA

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 engine shut off.

Filed Sep 30, 2019 · Steering, Suspension · 25,000 miles · MD

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.

Filed Aug 12, 2019 · Electrical, Fuel system · 166,000 miles · CO

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 and stop, I was on a street turning to the next one. The transmission service required popped on.I turned the car off then off again and the car would not engage in any gear.

Filed Jul 31, 2019 · Body, Brakes · NJ

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 the transmission, engine, gas pedal, gear-speed-clutch stick, are not functioning as expected by the standards approved by mitsubishi automotive USA. The car cannot accelerate properly and it is consuming too much gasoline and engine oil. There were several recalls about the car and they were done but the main problem regarding acceleration has not even been considered as a recall yet as far as I know.

Filed Jun 13, 2019 · Engine · VI

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 number but gave me a url for the global website, which has no contact info. I'm at a loss and have no options left. I personally do not know if all these recalls pertain to my vehcile, but numerous mechanics told me that there is a problem with the engine around the belt area. I hope this reaches someone that can assist.

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Questions about the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer

Is the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer reliable?

Owners have filed 34 complaints about the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer, close to a typical Lancer model year.

What is the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer year score?

The 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer scores 74 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Mitsubishi Lancer: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.

What is the most common problem with the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer?

Engine and cooling, with 11 complaints. Next is transmission (6).

How many recalls does the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer have?

3 recalls, covering engine and engine cooling and visibility.

Was there a recall on the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer engine?

Yes, 2 recalls: 18V069000, 14V562000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Mitsubishi Lancer have bad engine?

The Mitsubishi Lancer model years with the most engine complaints are 2009 (27 complaints), 2002 (22 complaints) and 2010 (21 complaints).

What gas mileage does the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer get?

Official estimates for the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer range from 20 to 28 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.0L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 24-25 city and 31-33 highway.

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