Mitsubishi Lancer problems
Light NHTSA footprint — 49 owner complaints. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
- No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record
- Reliability score 8.2/10 — above the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Top trouble spots 6 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
This car we own was in a accident the whole front end was pushed in cause it hit a mercury mountaineer. The geico adjuster couldnt beleive that the airbags did not deploy nor the seatbelt retracted! The only thing that saved my wife was the seatbelt for a sec and hitting the…
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Mitsubishi lancer. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14v562000 (engine and engine cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of…
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Mitsubishi lancer. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14v562000 (engine and engine cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of…
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Mitsubishi lancer sportsback. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the service engine light illuminated and the vehicle vibrated while turning the steering wheel. The contact had to exert excessive force in order to maneuver the…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.2 out of 10 based on 49 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer?
On the NHTSA data, the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 8.2/10 — above the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 15 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 43,317 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The powertrain is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 43,317 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Mitsubishi Lancer has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 49 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $2,500, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.