Mitsubishi ASX problems, reliability and known faults
If you are considering buying a used Mitsubishi ASX, these are the common problems worth knowing about first. Our garage database tracks 2 known faults for this model. Every one below is a repair bill a seller has good reason not to mention.
Free advert check
Found a Mitsubishi ASX for sale?
Paste the advert and we read it against its known faults, its MOT history and the DVLA record, and tell you what the seller has not. Free, about a minute, no card.
Works with any listing: paste the text from AutoTrader, Gumtree, eBay, Facebook Marketplace or a dealer’s own site.
Is the Mitsubishi ASX reliable?
The Mitsubishi ASX has 2 known faults in our database, 0 of them rated high severity. The most serious are engine (the diesel particulate filter regenerates about every 200 miles) and brakes (water gets past badly sealed boots on the rear calipers' handbrake shafts and rusts them). None of them makes the car a bad buy on its own; the risk is a seller who knows and says nothing.
That is a count of the faults we hold, not a reliability score. Popular cars get written about more, and a newer generation has had less time to show its faults.
Generation 1 of 12 known faults · 15 owner reports · 4 good notes
Mitsubishi ASX Mk1 (2010 to 2019) problems
Brakes/SuspensionMedium severity🏛️ Official recall
Water gets past badly sealed boots on the rear calipers' handbrake shafts and rusts them, the shaft sticks and the handbrake loses its hold; in the worst case a parked car can roll away. DVSA safety recall R/2018/180 covers Outlander PHEV, Outlander and ASX built between July 2012 and January 2016 (the build window differs by model and VIN range), with an inspection and new parts where needed. Owners have still had rear calipers seize and need replacing.
Rough guide
£0 (free safety recall)
Typical symptoms
handbrake does not hold the car on a slope
handbrake lever travelling further than it used to
rear brake dragging or a seized rear caliper
Affected vehicles
Engines:
All
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
Engine/EmissionsMedium severity💬 5 owner reports, 2012 to 2019
The diesel particulate filter regenerates about every 200 miles and needs a sustained run to finish. Cars used for short trips from cold never complete it, the DPF clogs, and the extra diesel injected to burn it off ends up in the sump, so the oil level rises and the oil thins. Owners reported rising oil levels on 2013 and 2014 cars and 6% fuel dilution on a 2.2. Separately, a 2014 dealer software update was issued to prevent sticking piston rings that could lead to blow-by and piston damage.
Rough guide
£150 for an oil change, 800-1500 for a DPF, far more for an engine
Typical symptoms
oil level on the dipstick above the maximum mark
DPF warning light or frequent regeneration with poor economy
oil smelling of diesel and feeling thin
loss of power or limp mode
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.8 DI-D and 2.2 DI-D diesels (not the later 1.6 diesel)
Typical mileage:
15000-60000 miles
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
What owners report on the Mk1
15 single reports, unconfirmed
One owner each, in their own words rewritten as a line, and not counted in our risk scoring. A fault joins the list above once a second report or an editorial source backs it.
Engine · November 2019A 2014 ASX 1.8 diesel experienced rising engine sump oil levels because the DPF active regeneration system was not firing off correctly.
Bodywork · March 2019The tailgate on a 2011 Mitsubishi ASX Di-D failed to lock, indicating a problem with the latch mechanism.
Bodywork · October 2018The rear hatch of a Mitsubishi ASX commercial model rusted through around the release catch.
Brakes · May 2018A 2014 ASX 1.8d 4x4 with 66,000 miles had repeated issues with a rear brake dragging due to the handbrake sticking.
Brakes · November 2017A 2010 Mitsubishi ASX 1.6 with 58,000 miles suffered three brake caliper cylinder failures within 18 months.
Engine · November 2016A 2.2 diesel ASX engine experienced 6% sump oil dilution due to a failure in the DPF active regeneration system.
Engine · January 2016A 2013 Mitsubishi ASX diesel at 16,000 miles experienced a rising engine oil level because its DPF active regeneration cycles were unsuccessful.
General · December 2015A new Mitsubishi ASX had a stiff gearchange and significant condensation on the windscreen, which the dealer could not resolve.
Fuel system · December 2015The fuel tank on a 2012 Mitsubishi ASX developed rust at its seam and began leaking at 34,000 miles; the manufacturer eventually replaced it free of charge.
Electrics · September 2015A new Mitsubishi ASX had issues with its Kenwood DAB radio/satnav unit, including poor reception and delayed power-on.
Interior · July 2015A new Mitsubishi ASX had a driver's seat heating element that created an uncomfortable lump within the seat cushion.
Engine · April 2015A March 2011 Mitsubishi ASX developed a drivetrain vibration, eventually traced to a worn engine mount in February 2015.
Bodywork · February 2015The roof rails on a 2014 Mitsubishi ASX were incompatible with roof bars, with dealer offering new rails for £1,500.
Suspension and steering · April 2014An ASX4 2.2 automatic was criticised for noisy low rolling resistance tyres that provided poor grip in wet and icy conditions.
Suspension and steering · July 2012A Mitsubishi ASX showed severe wear on the outer edges of its front 215/60 R17 tyres after only 8,500 miles.
What owners like about the Mk1
4 notes
The Mitsubishi ASX received a five-star NCAP safety rating, indicating strong performance in crash tests.
The Mitsubishi ASX is well-equipped as standard, offering a good level of features without extra cost.
The Mitsubishi ASX achieved impressive Real MPG scores, demonstrating good fuel efficiency in everyday driving.
The Mitsubishi ASX offers plenty of room for five occupants and their luggage, providing practical cabin space.
Sellers rarely admit these faults outright
We track 6 specific phrases sellers use in adverts to soft-pedal these exact issues. Paste any Mitsubishi ASX advert and we check it in seconds.
Repair costs are typical UK ranges, not quotes. Actual cost depends on condition and garage.Data last verified: October 2026
Mitsubishi ASX buying questions
What should I check when viewing a used Mitsubishi ASX?
Ask the seller about the engine and brakes faults on this page and whether they have been fixed, with invoices. On the test drive watch for oil level on the dipstick above the maximum mark and handbrake does not hold the car on a slope. Read the MOT history for repeat advisories, then paste the advert into the free check, which reads it against its known faults before you travel. Check a Mitsubishi ASX advert →
What is the real MPG of a Mitsubishi ASX?
Owners report 43.7 mpg on average across the Mitsubishi ASX engines with data, about 84% of the official combined figure. The gap between official and real-world economy varies a lot by engine, so the Real MPG page lists every engine and generation separately, from 241 owner submissions. Mitsubishi ASX Real MPG by engine →
If you used to check the Honest John “Good & Bad” section before the site closed in 2026, this page is where that information now lives. We rebuilt the Mitsubishi ASX owner-report history from the archived Honest John dataset, added our own research, specialist and owner-club sources and DVSA recall data, and we keep it free. Each fault above is badged with its source. The same data feeds our free advert check, which reads a listing against every known fault for the exact engine and year.
Knowing what a Mitsubishi ASX goes wrong with is half of it. The rest is reading the advert and checking the car's history before you hand any money over.