Mitsubishi ASX
Solid 4-cylinder naturally aspirated engine with port injection and MIVEC variable valve timing. No turbo, no direct injection — mechanically simple and long-lived. Known weaknesses are oil leaks at the intake manifold and a KBA recall for piston rings on 2011/2012 vehicles.
Base engine without bite
The 1.6 is out of its depth in the ASX — sluggish on hills, loud on the motorway. Only acceptable as a pure city car.
Engine Weaknesses 4
KBA recall for ASX models from 2011 and 2012: deposits and sticking on the piston rings lead to loud, rough engine operation and power loss.
Worn piston rings and failed valve stem seals cause creeping oil consumption. Particularly on vehicles above 100,000 km with neglected maintenance. Threshold: above 300 ml per 1,000 km.
Symptoms: Blue smoke from exhaust especially on cold start or overrun, rising oil consumption, faint engine oil smell
The gasket between the intake manifold and cylinder head frequently develops oil leaks. The gasket hardens and loses elasticity. Typically occurs in the 80,000–120,000 km range.
Symptoms: Oil trail on the engine block below the intake manifold, oil smell in the engine bay, dropping oil level
The 4A92 uses mechanical bucket tappets with no hydraulic self-adjustment. Valve clearance must be checked every 60,000 km. Neglecting this causes ticking noise and accelerated wear.
Symptoms: Ticking or tapping after cold start at idle, noise disappears after reaching operating temperature or persists continuously
Vehicle Weaknesses 6
From the third MOT onwards (approx. 7+ years) steering ball joints fail comparatively often and regularly result in inspection advisories. Replacement requires a specialist because wheel alignment work is necessary.
Older ASX models show an above-average defect rate for foot brake and handbrake at MOT inspections. Brake discs and pads wear unevenly; the parking brake is prone to corrosion in wet conditions.
Particularly older examples (pre-2015) show rust formation on the tailgate as well as wheel arches, door sills, and underbody. Mitsubishi frequently covered tailgate repairs under goodwill. Underbody treatment in the first year is strongly recommended.
With age, window regulator motors and the central locking system fail due to corroded connectors, faulty relays, and broken wiring harnesses. Airbag warning lights can be triggered by contact issues in the steering wheel.
Particularly on vehicles from 2010–2016, leaking AC condensers and compressor failures occur, causing loss of cooling performance. Leaks are often caused by stone chip damage to the front-mounted condenser.
The chrome-trimmed rings around the gauge needles become loose over time and produce annoying rattling from the instrument cluster. The problem is widespread and well known but can be fixed cheaply with some skill.
Reports & Tests
864 owner complaints filed with NHTSA (2010–2023). Most reported: Powertrain (287), Engine (149), Electrical (128).