2011 Mitsubishi Lancer: Problems & Reliability
AVOID2011 Mitsubishi Lancer: AVOID — 49 owner complaints, 1.3× the Lancer median year by raw count.
CarWhere's verdict score for the 2011 is 1.63, where 1.00 is a typical Lancer year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; the avoid line is 1.60, so this year clears it by 0.03. Severity drives it: 73% of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury or involve a safety-critical system (engine, powertrain, steering, brakes or fuel).
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Model years 2006–2017 compared · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
49
NHTSA complaints
1.3×
vs. median Lancer year
99
Service bulletins
3
Recall campaigns
2011 Mitsubishi Lancer recalls
3 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2011; the campaign list is on NHTSA's record for the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer.
2011 Mitsubishi Lancer service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 99 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2011 — more than the 76 of the median Lancer year from 2006 to 2017. Coded bulletins most often cover electrical system (27), engine & cooling (25), powertrain / transmission (18). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2011 vs. the year before and after
From the 2010 to the 2011, owner complaints fell 42% (85 → 49) — an improvement. The 2012 that followed fell by more than half (49 → 19), so the 2012 has the lighter record so far.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Lancer | AVOID | 85 | 110 | 6 | — |
| 2011 (this page) | AVOID | 49 | 99 | 3 | — |
| 2012 Lancer | BEST | 19 | 88 | 1 | — |
Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Mitsubishi Lancer years to avoid.
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FAQ
Is the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer reliable?
2011 Mitsubishi Lancer: AVOID — 49 owner complaints, 1.3× the Lancer median year by raw count. CarWhere's verdict score for the 2011 is 1.63, where 1.00 is a typical Lancer year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; the avoid line is 1.60, so this year clears it by 0.03.
What are the most common 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer problems?
The 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer has 49 NHTSA owner complaints and 99 manufacturer service bulletins on file; the component breakdown is on NHTSA's record for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer have?
3 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer. Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Sources & method
Complaint, recall and service-bulletin counts for the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer come from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; the verdict is CarWhere’s severity-weighted, time-on-road-adjusted score compared with the model’s own median year. The live complaint feed was unavailable at render, so the complaint count is the verdict engine’s stored count. Complaints are owner allegations, not verified defects. Full methodology.