Why Are Mitsubishi Cars So Bad

It is no secret that Mitsubishi is struggling in the highly competitive automobile market of today. You must accept that the corporation has lagged behind other automakers no matter how you view its product lineup. The company’s cars aren’t horrible looking, and the most of them have All Wheel Control as an option, but aside from that, they’re not that fascinating. The only thing that distinguishes Mitsubishi vehicles from others is their inexpensive MSRPs. A lot of automakers also match or undercut Mitsubishi’s pricing.

Looking back at Mitsubishi in the 1990s, you’d never guess it would have fallen to such a low point by 2016. The manufacturer was still doing certain things correctly even ten years ago. It’s understandable that the company is struggling in America now that the Evo has been discontinued and the range has been replaced by an array of blander options. Even if we would like to dwell on every mistake, hindsight is always 20/20. It is preferable to analyze the company’s current mistakes and hold out faith that the wonderful people who work there can make things right. Here are some observations we’ve made.

Too Much Cheap-Looking Interior Materials

The inside materials in every Mitsubishi model we’ve either examined or personally observed are of poor quality, which is our first and perhaps major issue. How is it that a Mitsubishi Mirage feels and looks so much worse than a poor Ford Fiesta? The materials just don’t seem good. There are loads of harsh plastics all throughout, cheap-feeling buttons, knobs, and switches, and upgrade packages, when available, don’t really do much to spruce up the inside paneling.

The interior’s shoddy materials give the vehicle an old-fashioned vibe. The Lancer of 2017 shouldn’t feel like it could go back in time to 2006 and be at home. That’s how it actually feels. The Mitsubishi you’re riding in is made of materials that feel like they belong on a Mattel product, which may not be on the road when you’re in the middle of a turn, but whenever you’re not paying attention to driving, you’re reminded of this.

Poor Infotainment System

One of the most important selling elements for a vehicle in the modern world is infotainment. People must have access to apps, navigation, music, and other things. Mitsubishi utilizes systems that aren’t the finest in terms of the quantity of features they offer or user experience, despite the fact that the business undoubtedly tries to make its cars competitive with the market.

The versions we’ve driven feature lousy touchscreens, challenging user interfaces, and awkwardly positioned buttons and controls. Mitsubishi obviously understands the technology that must be included in its cars, crossovers, and SUVs, but its use of that technology is far from ideal. In our opinion, the company’s infotainment systems are among the worst.

None of The Vehicles Do Anything Different Than The Competition

The fact that none of the company’s models stand out is the last problem we have with Mitsubishi’s cars. They all attempt to play the frugal shopper card, but they fall short. There are many more fantastic cars available at the same price or less. Mitsubishi used to excel at creating unique automobiles. Even the Eclipse was pretty darn unique and fantastic, as were the 3000GT, Starion, Lancer Evo, and others. It was and still is frequently the vehicle for tuners.

We’re not arguing that successful, legendary sports vehicles are a requirement for Mitsubishi’s triumphant rise to prominence (although that would be awesome). All we’re saying is that the business needs to figure out how to differentiate itself. The brand’s application of its practical All Wheel Control 4WD system and its distinctive appearance are the only things that do that at the moment. Sadly, those two elements aren’t sufficient to make up for the other flaws. Nissan’s ownership of the majority share in the business should help things improve.

Do Mitsubishi’s issues frequently arise?

But it’s obvious that something has changed. Mitsubishi has slipped down the list of automotive brands in recent years and is now among the least trustworthy ones. They were listed by Consumer Reports as one of the worst automakers in 2016. They scored just 51, placing them third from the bottom. Although Consumer Reports gave them an average reliability rating, they were not given a model recommendation. Ouch.

Why are Mitsubishi vehicles bad?

Consumers appear to prefer Mitsubishi (or at least the Outlander) in general, according to Kelley Blue Book, but specialists are less enthusiastic about the company. Since 2000, Mitsubishi has not received any J.D. Power honors. Although this is a significant increase from the brand’s 2017 rating of 7th from the bottom, they were rated in 14th place in the 2022 J.D. Power Dependability Study with 183 faults per 100 vehicles, which is higher than the industry average of 192.

It’s no secret that Mitsubishi doesn’t have a great reputation, despite recent efforts at course correction. The business was just ranked by AutoGuide as Japan’s worst automaker of 2016. What happened to this trustworthy brand, then? Mitsubishi vehicles are or were good vehicles.

According to Indie Auto, Mitsubishi appears to have reached its height in the 1990s. Although the carmaker entered the automotive industry late in the 1980s, it competed successfully with other Japanese automakers like Subaru, Mazda, and Honda with its lineup. However, while Honda expanded its lineup to include well-known models like the Odyssey minivan and CR-V SUV, Subaru concentrated on a lineup of all-AWD models, and Mazda found its niche of customers for its style and quality, Mitsubishi struggled with an excessive number of subpar models, all of which had numerous issues. This quickly destroyed its sales and dependability as customers switched to its rivals and never looked back.

Unfortunately, those issues continue to affect contemporary Mitsubishi cars. OSV claims that problems with the Outlander often involve the engine and the brakes, with WarrantyDirect attributing 43.55 percent of difficulties to the engine and 20.97 percent to the brakes. It is clear from other Mitsubishi models’ low ratings that there are problems with other models as well. Actually, the Lancer, which represents the brand with a 4.4/5 rating, is likely the only factor in WarrantyDirect’s overall average reliability rating. Even so, one model cannot sustain a brand, particularly in light of the Mitsubishi Lancer’s discontinuation in the majority of countries after 2017.

The clutch, automatic transmission, and troubles with the clear coat peeling appear to be common issues with the Mitsubishi. However, if you’re set on this brand, the Colt or Lancer seem to be the most dependable models, and you can only seem to find them used.

What about Mitsubishi’s models that are the least reliable? These would be the Outlander and Shogun, with the Shogun (or Pajero or Montero) being phased out in 2021 while the Outlander is still in production. The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander at the very least appears to be a substantial improvement over its predecessor, but will that be sufficient to preserve the formerly proud brand?

What are typical Mitsubishi issues?

What issues with Mitsubishi are most typical?

  • sudden or unexpected breakdowns.
  • There are several problems starting the automobile.
  • shaking of the steering wheel.
  • low transmission fluid levels over time.
  • defective oil filters.
  • the pistons have a lot of issues.
  • automatic transmission failure that occurs too soon.

How trustworthy are Mitsubishi vehicles?

Breakdown of the Mitsubishi Reliability Rating. With a reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5, Mitsubishi is ranked 6th among all automobile brands out of 32. This evaluation is based on the average of 345 different models. The average yearly repair cost for a Mitsubishi is $535, which indicates that its ownership expenditures are higher than normal.

Are Mitsubishi vehicles durable?

The Mitsubishi Lancer is a reasonably dependable vehicle that, with routine maintenance and cautious driving, can go between 150,000 and 200,000 kilometers. It may operate for 1013 years at 15,000 miles per year before requiring any excessively costly or uneconomical repairs.

Which vehicle is the most dependable?

What Vehicles Are the Most Reliable?

  • Prius from Toyota Toyota. The most reliable hybrid vehicle is Toyota’s time-tested model, according to Consumer Reports.
  • Buick Encore. Buick.
  • Honda. Honda HR-V.
  • Prime Toyota Prius. Toyota.
  • Kona from Hyundai Hyundai.

Why is Mitsubishi not well-known in the USA?

Fewer than some luxury automakers, 46,021 automobiles were produced in the United States. That’s partly because Mitsubishi can’t advertise its products as broadly because it doesn’t have the same big coffers as many of its rivals. It also results from Mitsubishi’s constrained product selection, which mostly consists of crossovers and tiny cars with little variety. Additionally, the fact that the Mitsubishi dealer network is so much smaller and more dispersed than that of other marques doesn’t help the situation. To make matters worse, Mitsubishi models

Are Mitsubishi fixes affordable?

Mitsubishis receive above-average reliability ratings from RepairPal, and the typical yearly repair expense is $535. The purchase price of your Mitsubishi at the dealership is just the start of your car’s overall lifetime costs.

Which Mitsubishi is the most dependable?

According to Warranty Direct’s most recent Reliability Index, the Mitsubishi Lancer has been rated as the most dependable vehicle of the past 15 years.

What is the most typical Mitsubishi Outlander issue?

Premature brake wear is one of the frequent problems with the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander. Many owners have stated that their brakes began to fail only a few months after they purchased their car.