YearToAvoid

2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

14/100

#13 most-complained of 15 Outlander years

The 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander has a Complaint Index of 14, ranking 13th worst out of 15 model years, and carries a "Best" verdict relative to other Outlander years. NHTSA lists 58 complaints and 8 recalls, with Engine issues being the top problem area at 45% of complaints.

Complaints
58
Recalls
8
Crashes / fires
3 / 0
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
23
20.5 city / 26.5 hwy

Top 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine26 (45%)
  2. Electrical System10 (17%)
  3. Other8 (14%)
  4. Visibility & Wipers8 (14%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain6 (10%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (9%)
  7. Airbags4 (7%)
  8. Brakes4 (7%)
  9. Fuel System3 (5%)
  10. Structure & Body3 (5%)

What owners report

  • Airbags failed to deploy in front-end and side-impact crashes despite significant vehicle damage.
  • Check engine light illuminated intermittently and the vehicle would not accelerate above 55 mph, with the issue persisting after multiple dealer visits.
  • Vehicle hesitated when accelerating from a stop, though dealers could not always duplicate the failure.
  • Dashboard indicator failed to distinguish between parking lights and headlights, creating confusion about which lights were active at night.
  • Snow packed into the wheel rims caused severe vibration in the tires during winter driving.
  • Vehicle unexpectedly stopped and entered a safe mode with a "service required" message while crossing traffic.
2011 Mitsubishi Outlander complaints: complaints filed per month4Mar 2011Feb 2013Apr 2015May 2017Aug 2018Feb 2020Apr 2023Oct 2025
81 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2011 to Apr 2026; peak Apr 2018 (4).

2011 Mitsubishi Outlander recalls

8 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V279000May 18, 2020Structure & Body141,200 vehicles

    Structure:frame and members

    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.

    Risk: A detached front control arm can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

    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.

  2. NHTSA 18V069000Jan 26, 2018Engine141,053 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:belts and associated pulleys

    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.

    Risk: If the drive belt detaches, the battery will discharge and the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

    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.

  3. NHTSA 17V461000Jul 20, 2017Visibility & Wipers100,082 vehicles

    Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor

    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.

    Risk: Failure of the wiper motor can cause a loss of visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

    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.

See all 8 recalls for the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander →

2011 Mitsubishi Outlander fuel economy and fuel cost

City
20.5 MPG
Highway
26.5 MPG
Combined
23 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,175
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2011 compared with other Outlander years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Best7601021.5
2011Best1458823
2012Best022623
2013Good4326523

All Mitsubishi Outlander years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander reliable?
Relative to other Outlander model years, the 2011 ranks well, with a Complaint Index of 14 and 13th worst out of 15 years tracked, earning a "Best" verdict.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Outlander?
NHTSA data shows Engine complaints make up 45% of all reports (26 complaints), followed by Electrical System issues at 17% and Visibility & Wipers problems at 14%.
Does the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander have recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 8 recalls for the 2011 Outlander, covering areas including Engine, Structure & Body, Visibility & Wipers, Steering, and HVAC. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How many complaints has NHTSA received for the 2011 Outlander?
NHTSA has logged 58 complaints for the 2011 Outlander, including 3 crashes and 3 injuries, with no reported fires or deaths.
What is the fuel economy of the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander?
The EPA rates the 2011 Outlander at 23 mpg combined (20.5 city / 26.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,175.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.