2011 Mitsubishi Outlander: problems, recalls and reliability
8 recalls and 58 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine (26% of complaints); the 2012 and 2013 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall May 2020
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 58 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Was driving the car and it totally lost power to everything. Had to pull over immediately with whatever power I had left to have the car roll to a stop. Multiple lights came on the dash. Notification came on the screen saying car can not communicate, engine is over heating. Tried to turn off car and back on and it would do nothing at all. Car has been at mechanic for 3 weeks they believe it is the ecu/psu but when replacing car continue to act up and not start.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jun 2023
“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.”Owner report · Engine · May 2023
“The Transmissions in these vehicles are junk and very dangerous. I was driving out of town and all of a sudden the RPM´s started revving up. Then I tried to slow down and pull over and the vehicle did not want to down shift and it stalled on the highway with traffic. This is not the first time the transmission went out on the same vehicle. I had a hard time finding a transmission to put in and when I did it only lasted a year. Please, you can not put these cars out there with this type of transmission in them. They are junk. Please make this right.”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Feb 2023
Show 7 more owner reports
“Since I bought my car in 2021 the air bag system sensor goes off as well as the seatbelt light even if my seatbelt is on.”Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 2021
“Harpswell auto illegally sold me a vehicle with 5 safely recalls on the vehicle before I bought the vehicle. Safety recall codes are c1611z, c1614z, c1801r, c1806z, c2003r. I bought the vehicle 4/25/2020 and 2 recalls were due in 2016 and 3 were due in 2019. Where these are very big safety recalls I think harpswell auto needs to have their license revoke for service and inspection stickers because my vehicle should never have passed inspection with the crossmember recall completely rotted out.”Owner report · Seat Belts · Feb 2021
“Vehicle was stationary and smelled of gas. Took to mechanic who provided evidence that the fuel tank is leaking fuel. The mechanic provided pictures of the tank which looks to have abnormal damage. Does not seem that tanks would leak in the evidenced manner. Contacted both mitsubishi dealership and mitsubishi manufacturer who could not provide replacement tank in timely manner and were not willing to address the safety issue raised regarding the status of the fuel tank. The vehicle has not been driven far at all due to the pandemic and there has not been a reason to be concerned about damage to the fuel tank from the perspective of the driver/owner.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Oct 2020
“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”Owner report · Engine · May 2020
“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.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Feb 2020
“Tl* the contact owns a 2011 mitsubishi outlander. The contact noticed that the heater and defroster stopped working without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the blower wire motor failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer (oakland mitsubishi, 2500 webster st, oakland, ca 94612, (510) 267-0688) was contacted to schedule an appointment. The failure recurred. The manufacturer was made ware of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The contact was referred to NHTSA. The failure mileage was 69,000.”Owner report · Visibility/Wiper · Nov 2018
“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.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Nov 2018
When filing, owners marked a crash in 3 of these complaints and injuries in 3 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 8 campaigns
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Lancer, Lancer Evolution, and Outlander; 2009-2011 Lancer Sportback, Lancer Rilliart, and Lancer Sportback Ralliart; and 2011 Outlander Sport vehicles. The affected vehicles, manufactured with 4B1 engines, have an engine pulley and belt arrangement for turning the alternator, the cooling fan and the power steering pump (if equipped). These pulleys may experience unusual wear and allow for belt detachment.
Remedy: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the drive belt with a rubber belt. Drive pulleys that are excessively worn will be replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 15, 2014. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-14-009.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2007-2013 Outlander vehicles manufactured September 8, 2006, to March 29, 2013. In the affected vehicles, water may enter between the hood and windshield and cause the front wiper link ball joint to corrode, possibly resulting in the wiper link separating and the wipers becoming inoperative.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rubber boot on the ball joint to prevent water intrusion. Additionally, they will inspect the wiper motor crank arm for excessive play, replacing it as necessary. These repairs will be done free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-16-009.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2008-2010 Lancer, 2009-2010 Lancer Sportback, 2008-2013 Outlander, and 2011-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The front lower control arms may detach due to the front cross member corroding from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front cross members. Depending on the level of existing corrosion, either a sealing/anti-corrosion agent will be applied or the front cross member will be replaced with a new one. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-20-003.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2002-2007 Lancer, 2004 Lancer Wagon, 2003-2006 Lancer Evolution, 2003-2006 Outlander and 2007-2013 Outlander V-6 vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. In the affected vehicles, the front lower control arms may detach due to the front cross member corroding from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front cross members. Depending on the level of existing corrosion, either a sealing/anti-corrosion agent will be applied or the front cross member will be replaced with a new one that has a sealing/anti-corrosion agent applied to it. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began January 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-16-003.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2013 Outlander vehicles equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Additionally, Mitusbishi is recalling certain 2007-2012 Outlander vehicles that received replacement 6-speed automatic transmissions during servicing. The transmissions in these vehicles have insufficient clearance between the power steering pressure tube and the converter housing of the automatic transmission. As a result of the contact, the power steering pressure tube may develop a hole and leak power steering fluid.
Remedy: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering pressure tube and return tube, free of charge. The recall began in August 2014. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-14-006.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2007-2013 Outlander vehicles. In the affected vehicles, water may drop between the hood and the windshield and leak into the wiper motor breathing hole. The water may cause internal corrosion of the windshield wiper motor and the possible failure of the motor.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiper motor, free of charge. The recall began July 28, 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-17-003.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Lancer, 2008-2012 Outlander, 2010-2012 Lancer Sportback, and 2011-2012 Outlander Sport vehicles equipped with either a 4B11 or 4B12 engine. The drive belt automatic tensioner flange may crack, allowing the accessory drive belt to detach.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the belt tensioner with one that has an improved shape, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 27, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-001.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Lancer vehicles manufactured March 16, 2009, to March 30, 2011, 2010-2011 Lancer Sportback vehicles manufactured June 17, 2009, to December 1, 2010, 2010-2011 Lancer Evolution vehicles manufactured July 14, 2009, to January 7, 2011, 2009-2011 Outlander vehicles manufactured February 10, 2009, to June 22, 2011, and 2011 Outlander Sport vehicles manufactured August 26, 2010, to November 19, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the blower motor may fail.
Remedy: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace a suspect blower motor, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2015. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-15-003.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2011 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Outlander by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander reliable?
NHTSA has 58 owner complaints and 8 recall campaigns on record for the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander. The most complained-about area is engine (26% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 68,500 miles or less.
Does the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander have open recalls?
8 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:belts and associated pulleys. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.