Engines ›
Mitsubishi 4B11 engine: known problems
Used in 2 guides · 1998cc · 7 known problems
Displacement
1998cc
Known problems7
Everything our guides list for the variants with this engine: the engine itself plus the gearbox and ancillaries it's paired with. Each shows which cars it's listed for.
High
CVT jerkiness, shudder and failure
The INVECS-III CVT (with six fixed stepped ratios) is the ASX's biggest weak point. Owners report jerky take-up, shudder, delayed response and whine under load, progressing to slipping or failure - more common on cars run with neglected or never-changed fluid, and worse on early (2011-2015) examples.
Fix: Use only the correct Mitsubishi CVT fluid and change it every ~60,000km (Mitsubishi's lifetime claim is optimistic). Pre-purchase: drive from cold, feel for shudder/hesitation, and ask for fluid-change records. Budget for a rebuilt/replacement unit on a tired car.
Listed for: Mitsubishi ASX XA-XD
High
Drive (traction) battery degradation
The 12-13.8kWh lithium-ion drive battery loses usable capacity with age and charge cycles; owners report displayed EV range falling well short of the original ~50km, and a failed/badly degraded pack is the dominant big-ticket risk on a used PHEV.
Fix: Check state of health and real EV range on inspection; favour cars with battery still in warranty; module-level repair or pack replacement by a hybrid specialist.
Listed for: Mitsubishi Outlander ZK / ZL
Medium
Excessive engine oil consumption
Higher-km 4B11s can burn oil through tired piston rings/valve stem seals, needing regular top-ups; if ignored it accelerates wear and can starve the engine.
Fix: Monitor and top up between services; ring/valve-seal work or short-block for heavy consumers. Check oil level on inspection and look for blue smoke.
Listed for: Mitsubishi ASX XA-XD
Medium
Accessory drive belt jumps off pulleys
The serpentine/accessory belt that drives the water pump and power-steering pump can jump off its pulleys, leaving the car with no power steering and no coolant circulation - risking overheating if not noticed.
Fix: Replace belt and check tensioner/idler and pulley alignment; inspect belt condition at every service.
Listed for: Mitsubishi ASX XA-XD
Medium
Timing chain stretch / cold-start rattle
While chain-driven for life, neglected high-km 4B11s can develop chain stretch and a brief rattle on cold start from a worn tensioner/guides; left unattended it can cause timing issues.
Fix: Replace chain, tensioner and guides if rattle persists beyond the first second or two; keep oil changes regular to preserve the tensioner.
Listed for: Mitsubishi ASX XA-XD
Medium
12V battery drain / accessory faults
The separate 12V auxiliary battery can flatten and cause no-start or odd electrical/charging behaviour, sometimes blamed on the high-voltage system when it is the 12V at fault.
Fix: Test/replace the 12V battery first; check parasitic draw before condemning the hybrid system.
Listed for: Mitsubishi Outlander ZK / ZL
Medium
On-board charger / charging faults
AC on-board charger and charge-port faults can stop the car charging from a wall socket, forcing it to run as a heavy, thirsty petrol.
Fix: Diagnose charger/port vs cable/EVSE; repair or replace the on-board charger via a Mitsubishi EV specialist.
Listed for: Mitsubishi Outlander ZK / ZL
Cars with the 4B112
From the FlamingCars guides for these cars. Specs are shown only where the guides agree and the value is verified.