2011 Mitsubishi Lancer Owner Complaints

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.

NHTSA ID

11494649

Incident

Nov 7, 2022

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...

NHTSA ID

11484709

Incident

Jul 14, 2022

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.

NHTSA ID

11428725

Incident

Aug 11, 2021

Mileage

72,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11428338

Incident

Aug 7, 2021

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 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V233000 (VISIBILITY). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

NHTSA ID

11366664

Incident

Jun 25, 2020

Mileage

90,000 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 ENGINE SHUT OFF.

NHTSA ID

11283069

Incident

Oct 17, 2019

Mileage

54,500 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.

NHTSA ID

11258911

Incident

Sep 8, 2014

Mileage

25,000 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 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.

NHTSA ID

11243385

Incident

Aug 2, 2019

Mileage

166,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11240763

Incident

Dec 23, 2011

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.

NHTSA ID

11219758

Incident

Jun 13, 2019

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

NHTSA ID

11170650

Incident

Jan 1, 2012

Mileage

50 mi

"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.

NHTSA ID

11155408

Incident

Jan 28, 2018

Mileage

129,670 mi

PURCHASED 2011 LANCER IN 2011. IN MARCH 2013 MITSUBISHI ISSUED A TECH SERVICE BULLETIN AND REVISED IT IN JUNE OF 2013. THE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON AND MUST BE TAKEN TO DEALER FOR SERVICE. MITSUBISHI DOES A SIMPLE SOFTWARE UPGRADE TO THE ECM AND RESETS. THE PROBLEM IS THAT IS MITSUBISHI IS SIMPLY LETTING THESE VEHICLES GET TO THIS FAILURE POINT AND VEHICLES CAN GO INTO LIMP MODE (MEANING DRIVE NO FASTER THAN 45MPH) RATHER THAN PROACTIVELY AVOIDING THE PROBLEM. FURTHER, THEY ARE KNOWINGLY ALLOWING VEHICLES TO GET PAST THE WARRANTY PERIOD WITHOUT REPAIR THUS FORCING CUSTOMERS TO PAY TO HAVE THIS KNOWN ISSUE RESOLVED. TO ADD TO THE PROBLEM IS MITSUBISHI WILL NOT ALLOW NON-MITSUBISHI SERVICE CENTERS, MECHANICS OR REPAIR SHOPS TO UPDATE THE ECM AND I AM FORCED TO TAKE IT TO AN AUTHORIZED MITSUBISHI DEALER FOR FIXING. BECAUSE THESE VEHICLES HAVE HAD OTHER SAFETY RECALLS AND WARRANTY REPAIR WORK, THEY SHOULD HAVE SIMPLY TAKEN 15 MINUTES TO UPGRADED THE ECM SOFTWARE AND RESET AT THE TIME TO AVOID THIS FROM HAPPENING RATHER THAN LETTING THE WARRANTY EXPIRE AND CHARGING ME TO FIX A KNOWN ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11121215

Incident

Jul 16, 2018

Mileage

88,600 mi

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, 787-762-5000) 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.

NHTSA ID

11088595

Incident

Apr 12, 2017

Mileage

68,533 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11054459

Incident

Sep 15, 2017

Mileage

40,000 mi

VEHICLE OPERATING AT >3000 RPM CVT AND ENGINE WHINE AND LOSS OF POWER.

NHTSA ID

11031968

Incident

Jul 4, 2017

Mileage

65,000 mi

HI MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MHE 2011 LANCER WHILE SHE WAS TURNING TOWARD THE RIGHT TO ANOTHER STREET THE WHEEL AND STEERING WHEEL TURN A LITTLE THEN LOCKED UP ON HER ALMOST STRUCKING ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN THAT HAPPEND SHE ALSO STEPED ON HER BRAKES AND DINT ALSO WANYED TO STOP. ALMOST CUASING HER AND MY SON TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. IT HAPPEND ON A STATE ROUTE INTO A STREET. NEXT DAY CAR HAS A WIERD SOUND EVERY TIME U TURN LEFT AND STEERING FEELS FUNNY.

NHTSA ID

10910096

Incident

Sep 26, 2016

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 STEERING WHEEL. THE ADJUSTER ALSO HAD SAID THAT THE SENSORS FOR THE AIR BAGS WERE TRIPPED AND IT DID NOT WORK. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE! GEICO IS FILING A SUBROGATION CLAIM AGAINST MITSUBISHI SINCE WE CALLED MISTSUBISHI AND THEY DIDNT WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. MARIAS AT MISTUBISHI JUST SAID TO FILE A CLAIM WITH OUR INSURANCE WITHOUT EVEN SENDING THEIR OWN PEOPLE TO CHECK OUT THE VEHICLE. MARIEAS CAN BE REACHED AT 18886487820 CLAIM NUMBER 1254613189. HE DIDNT EVEN HAVE THE COURTESY TO SEND HIS OWN INVESTIGATORS TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED! THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE MITSUBISHI LANCER WAS PUSHED IN AND WAS PRONOUNCE A TOTAL LOSS FROM GEICO. GEICO'S EXAMINER WAS JOSE MEJIA 3053079614. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED! MY WIFE AT TIME OF ACCIDENT WAS ON HER WAY HOME ON HIGHWAY 874 SOUTHBOUND.

NHTSA ID

10816176

Incident

Dec 18, 2015

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V2333000 (VISIBILITY) AND 14V562000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10735443

Incident

Oct 28, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MITSUBISHI LANCER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS TURNED ON, IT BLEW WARM AIR AFTER APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA ID

10733982

Incident

Jul 11, 2015

Mileage

62,000 mi

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 REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10681333

Incident

Oct 31, 2014

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 REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10672960

Incident

Oct 6, 2014

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 TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10667919

Incident

Dec 23, 2014

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 TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10664878

Incident

Dec 17, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MITSUBISHI LANCIER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V562000 (ENGINE). HOWEVER, THE NEEDED PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO INFORM WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10651653

Incident

Oct 31, 2014