2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Engine Problems

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection? The engine experienced catastrophic internal failure. A connecting rod broke and punctured the engine block, rendering the vehicle completely inoperable. This failure is consistent with overheating and internal engine damage. The vehicle is currently available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The failure occurred suddenly while driving, without warning. The vehicle lost power immediately, which could have resulted in loss of control, inability to accelerate, and exposure to traffic hazards. This created a serious safety risk to myself and others on the road. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? An independent mobile mechanic inspected the vehicle and confirmed catastrophic engine failure. Based on the condition of the engine and damage observed, the failure is consistent with severe overheating and internal mechanical breakdown. Full written diagnosis may be pending. Dealer inspection: UNKNOWN”) Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer. Insurance has been notified and may conduct an inspection. The MD state trooper deemed the car inoperable and tagged it. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or symptoms prior to the failure? There were no warning lights, messages, or indications of an issue prior to the failure. The incident occurred suddenly and without warning the same day the vehicle was purchased. At the time of failure, the vehicle had an open and unremedied safety recall (SR-18-001 – Drive Belt Auto Tensioner, NHTSA Campaign #18V069). This defect can cause the drive belt to detach, disabling the water pump and leading to rapid engine overheating. The failure I experienced is consistent with this defect. . The incident occurred day of pur

NHTSA ID

11732167

Incident

Apr 4, 2026

Consumes ( Burns ) good amount of oil

NHTSA ID

11566013

Incident

Jan 17, 2024

The engine is shutting off while In traffic and from a full stop on red light. This happened so many times. I had to put on park and start the engine for it to work again.

NHTSA ID

11519749

Incident

May 1, 2023

I purchased the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander in 2015. In January 2018 the engine seized up while driving and was not repairable. Thankfully I was able to pull over and no one was hurt. The vehicle was only 7 years old with only 112,846 miles and I still had a loan on the vehicle for approxiamtly $10,000. The vehicle was at the time worth the cost left to pay it off. I consulted many Mitsubishi dealerships around the country and the only fix as a new engine for the vehicle which was an additional $10,000 and there were no engines anywhere in the country that could be found. The reason is that Mitsubishi decommissioned this Outlander model in 2013 due to the issue with the engine - essentially it was built like a snowmobile engine. The belt snapped and there was no repairing it - only replacing the entire engine. Mitsubishi knew this was an issue with this model - they decommissioned it only after 2 years on the market and they didn't issue a recall until 2018 - 5 years later! In the mean time I had found others around the coutnry with the same issue and we were all left with auto loans and no working vehicle. This is extremely poor business tactics and dishonest and very unsafe. I was lucky I was not driving on a freeway at the time when the engine seized up and the vehicle bucked like wild horse - it could have resulted in a major accident. It is dishonest to issue a recall 5 years after the company knew the vehicle had an issue and most likely all of the models had been sold or abandoned by this time so they don't have to pay for many repairs since there are not many that have lasted until 2018 to be repaired. A complaint has also been filed with the Minnesota State Attorney General. I was stuck with the $10,000 loan on a car that was now worth $0 and Mitsubishi at that time acted they had no idea what was wrong with it or why this happened. All lies.

NHTSA ID

11424428

Incident

Jan 11, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED UPON COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF AN UNKNOWN FUSE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,600.*DT CONSUMER STATED ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT SHORTS DRAINS THE BATTERY CONTINUOUSLY. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS VEHICLE HAS SHUT OFF COMPLETELY WHILE IN TRAFFIC. *JB

NHTSA ID

11323646

Incident

May 1, 2020

Mileage

99,600 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON I 75, ME, 2 PASSENGERS AND 7 ANIMALS DEEP. WHEN OUT OF NO WHERE MY ACCELERATION STOPPED AND THE RPMS REVED, THE CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN, I WASN'T ABLE TO ACCELERATE ANYMORE. I COSTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WE WERE STUCK.! MY CVT TRANSMISSION IS BAD.

NHTSA ID

11310303

Incident

Feb 16, 2020

BRAKES MAKE A DIFFERENT SOUND (LIKE A BLOW) WHEN IT BRAKES SUDDENLY. AIR CONDITIONING STOPPED WORKING TWO WEEKS AGO. WHEN THE A / C IS TURNED ON, THE SOUND OF THE COMPRESSOR IS HEARD BUT NO AIR IS VOTED. OPAQUE OR NOT ILLUMINATE WELL. LOW INTENSITY OF THE LIGHTS.

NHTSA ID

11156405

Incident

Nov 16, 2018

Mileage

22 mi

2011 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. CONSUMER WRITES WITH REGARD TO BELT TENSION TIGHTENER RECALL REPAIR. *AS THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER CHARGED FOR A PORTION OF THE REPAIR THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER THE RECALL.*JS *JS

NHTSA ID

10918395

Incident

Jun 28, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 18V103000 (VISIBILITY), 18V103000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), 18V103000 (STRUCTURE), AND 18V103000 (VISIBILITY). THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE NEAREST DEALER WAS TWO STATES AWAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

11082529

Incident

Apr 2, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT INSPECTED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE MUFFLER WAS DETACHED. THE CONTACT CALLED BELL MITSUBISHI (1500 U.S. 1, RAHWAY, NJ 07065, (732) 388-8800) IN AN ATTEMPT TO TRADE-IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

NHTSA ID

11082432

Incident

Mar 31, 2018

Mileage

125,000 mi

THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PROBLEMS THE LAST COUPLE YEARS WITH MY CAR, I NOTICED LAST YEAR WHEN I WAS ON A LONG DISTANCE ROAD TRIP THAT MY TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING LIGHT WAS COMING ON? I HAD TO PULL OVER A COUPLE TIMES AND LET IT COOL DOWN BEFORE I COULD CONTINUE... IT STOPPED DOING IT FOR AWHILE, AND THEN NOW MY CAR IS LOSING ACCELLERATION ON THE FREEWAY AND SEEMS TO BE STALLING , IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND NO ONE AT MITSUBISHI OR OTHER SHOPS KNOWS WHATS WRONG? PLEASE HELP

NHTSA ID

10994053

Incident

Jul 7, 2016

Mileage

70,000 mi

2011 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DRIVE BELT SYSTEM RECALL. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10704693

Incident

Oct 1, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. 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

10683152

Incident

Oct 17, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V562000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

NHTSA ID

10683041

Incident

Nov 1, 2011

Mileage

64,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V562000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND STATED THAT THE 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. THE VEHICLE WAS FINALLY REPAIRED. UPDATED 06/04/15.*JB

NHTSA ID

10679660

Incident

Jan 29, 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 14V562000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10678579

Incident

Sep 16, 2014

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR 1.5 MONTHS AND COUNTING FOR A LOCAL MITSUBISHI DEALER TO REPLACE MY DRIVE BELT PER INSTRUCTIONS IN THE "IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL" NOTICE. I HAVE CALLED EVERY LOCAL DEALER WITH THE PROMISE OF RETURNING MY CALL WHEN THEY RECEIVE THE PARTS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS AND THE NHTSA CONSIDER TO BE "PROMPT" CONSIDERING THESE ARE SAFETY RISKS THAT PUT MYSELF, MY FAMILY, AND OTHERS AT RISK ON A DAILY BASIS UNTIL THE PART IS REPAIRED. IS IT 45 DAYS? 180 DAYS? THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT I HAVE TO SIT AND WAIT, DRIVING MY POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CAR EVERY DAY, WHEN THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND A KNOWN SOLUTION. WHEN ISSUING A RECALL, I WOULD EXPECT THAT THE MANUFACTURER AND NHTSA WOULD BE ADEQUATELY PREPARED TO ADDRESS THE SAFETY ISSUE TIMELY RATHER THAN ALLOWING THIS ISSUE TO CREATE EXTRA RISK. PLEASE ADVISE ON HOW TO PROCEED AND PROVIDE MORE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS RATHER THAN BROAD TERMINOLOGY LIKE "PROMPT". *JS

NHTSA ID

10669127

Incident

Dec 30, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V562000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DELAY. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 2/10/15*CN UPDATED 10/2/2015*JS

NHTSA ID

10668998

Incident

Nov 15, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V562000 (ENGINE). HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED 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 NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10658531

Incident

Nov 10, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V562000 (ENGINE) 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 DID NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10652273

Incident

Nov 3, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V562000 (ENGINE). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED TO REMEDY THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10652025

Incident

Oct 6, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14B562000 (ENGINE); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO ADVISE WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10650643

Incident

Oct 28, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 55 MPH. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THE FAILURE WHERE THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE. THE DEALER DID NOT REPLACE ANY PARTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,300.

NHTSA ID

10427471

Incident

Sep 1, 2011

Mileage

600 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SIX TIMES FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE WHERE BOTH ENGINE OIL FEEDERS WERE REPLACED YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 9,000.

NHTSA ID

10398784

Incident

Apr 26, 2011

Mileage

9,000 mi