Most common 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer problems
Share of the 34 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mitsubishi Lancer complaints by model year
Best Lancer years: 2007, 2013, 2017. Years to avoid: 2003, 2002, 2009, 2008, 2004. Compare all years →
2011 Mitsubishi Lancer recalls (3)
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and associated pulleys
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.
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.
Visibility › Defroster/defogger/HVAC system › Fan/motor
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,…
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.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and associated pulleys
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.
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.
What 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer owners say
Engine & cooling
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer. While driving 40 MPH, the vehicle accelerated rapidly on its own without warning and there was a loss of power. The contact replaced the battery himself. The vehicle was taken to the dealer (taino motors, carr 8887 km 7.5bo. San anton, carolina, 00986, puerto rico, [phone]) where it was diagnosed that the tires needed to be rotated. The contact also received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18V069000 (engine and engine cooling). Upon contacting the dealer, the contact was informed that the parts were not available. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 68,533. Parts distribution disconnect.
"Takata recall" manufacturer recall numbersr-18-001 NHTSA recall number18v069 recall statusrecall incomplete summary due to repetition of high load operations, the flange of the drive belt automatic tensioner May crack, causing the drive belt detachment. Safety risk if the drive belt detaches, the alternator will not charge the battery, causing engine stall, and/or the power steering assist will be disabled, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy owners of all affected vehicles will be notified and encouraged to bring their vehicles in to replace the auto tensioner with a countermeasure unit.
Transmission & drivetrain
At slow speeds when your foot off the accelerator or holding it steady and you apply the pedal down to go forward there is a delay as if the transmissions trying to find a speed to go to. My mechanic checked out the engine all computers systems are good and the engine runs fine he is linking it to the transmission being a CVT and possibly a defective or bad design. This long delay has resulted in causing an accident because I would try to accelerate and the car would stall out for that amount of time the engine that's not the problem it's the transmission
The transmission doesn't shift into gear easily as well as jumps out of first gear when taking off from stop. When shifting into 3rd and 5th it is difficult to shift into while moving. This is a dangerous situation when driving. All upper gears are difficult to shift into. The clutch failed twice in less than 40K miles then the replacement failed after only 1,000. Not sure if they are related.
Body & structure
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.
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...
2011 Mitsubishi Lancer engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | 25 / 33 / 28 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 24 / 32 / 27 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | 23 / 30 / 26 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 22 / 30 / 25 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed dual-clutch | AWD | 18 / 25 / 20 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed manual | AWD | 17 / 23 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer a good car?
Based on 34 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Lancer rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Lancer at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer?
The engine & cooling — 11 complaints, 32% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (6) and body & structure (4).
How many recalls does the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer, the most recent from January 26, 2018 (belts and associated pulleys). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mitsubishi Lancer?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2007, 2013 and 2017. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2003, 2002, 2009, 2008 and 2004. See the full Mitsubishi Lancer years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 55,000 miles; 50% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.