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KLUNK
KLUNK

2011 Mitsubishi Lancer

The Verdict

88 Smooth Ride

The 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer has 49 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (15 complaints) and transmission (15 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 88/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Mitsubishi Lancer, consider the 2007 model year which has 95% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2007 has 95% fewer complaints

View the 2007 Mitsubishi Lancer dashboard →

88

Klunk Score: Smooth Ride

This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Get notified if a recall hits this car.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
20026517252919
200313163122120
20044122287
2005721221
20061431811
200700200
2008409122010
20092413253128
201015972826
201113151515
201260175
201311021
201452547
2015401156
2016403319
201710302

By Category

Engine
15
Transmission
15
Body
13
Electrical
5
Brakes
1

By Severity

1
24
2
23
3
1
4
1

Worst Problems

Complaints

Electrical 1

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.

44mo ago
Body 1

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...

46mo ago
Body 2

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.

60mo ago
Body 1

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.

60mo ago
Body 2

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.

69mo ago
Electrical 2

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.

80mo ago
Body 1

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.

82mo ago
Engine 1

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.

84mo ago
Engine 2

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.

84mo ago
Engine 2

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.

86mo ago
Transmission 1

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

91mo ago
Engine 2

"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.

92mo ago
Body 2

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.

96mo ago
Engine 1

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.

100mo ago
Transmission 1

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.

104mo ago
Engine 1

AFTER FILLING UP ON GASOLINE, MY 4 YEAR OLD MENTIONED THAT SHE SMELLED GAS IN THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY GOT HOME AND PULLED INTO MY GARAGE AND SMELLED IT, TOO. THEN NEXT MORNING, MY GARAGE WAS OVERWHELMED WITH THE FUMES. AFTER HAVING A MECHANIC INSPECT THE CAR, HE FOUND GAS WAS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK, WHERE THE FUEL PUMP GOES. APPARENTLY, IT WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED, WHICH CAUSED THE PLASTIC FUEL PUMP HOUSING ATTACHED TO IT TO CRACK AND SUBSEQUENTLY LEAK FUEL EVERYWHERE. THIS FUEL PUMP HOUSING IS LOCATED DIRECTLY BENEATH MY SON'S CAR SEAT, ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BACK SEAT. THIS IS A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD. AFTER REACHING OUT TO OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE, APPARENTLY THIS CORROSION IS VERY COMMON. BUT MY CAR IS NOT EVEN 6 YEARS OLD, WITH ONLY 48K MILES (PURCHASED IT NEW ON 12/27/2011). THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING ON SUCH A RELATIVELY NEW CAR.

104mo ago
Transmission 2

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

106mo ago
Engine 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MITSUBISHI LANCER EVOLUTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED AT ANY SPEED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 44,000.

116mo ago
Body 1

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.

119mo ago
Transmission 1

TC-SST REVS UP IN REVERSE AND IN FIRST BEFORE TAKE OFF

126mo ago

49 total

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