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Light NHTSA footprint — 49 owner complaints and 3 active recall campaigns. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.
The 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer has 49 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is powertrain at 15 complaints, typically surfacing around 43,317 miles (~$2,500 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 Lancer | 91 | 5 |
| 2009 Lancer | 121 | 8 |
| 2010 Lancer | 85 | 6 |
| 2011 Lancer (this page) | 49 | 3 |
| 2012 Lancer | 19 | 1 |
| 2013 Lancer | 5 | 0 |
| 2014 Lancer | 23 | 0 |
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
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.
Driver-assist features on the tested model: Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: No · Lane departure warning: No
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer 4 DR AWD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
Run the VIN from the listing — 3 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 7.6/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
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…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
If the drive belt detaches, the battery will discharge and the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
If the drive belt detaches, the battery may discharge, resulting in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.6 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.
The 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 7.6/10 — above the segment average; 3 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the powertrain first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 15 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 43,317 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 7.6 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 49 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is powertrain. Typical failure occurs around 43,317 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
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.
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.
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.
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.