Table 1 shows one common electronic stability control related problems of the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Electronic Stability Control problems |
The ayc pump failed by displaying a blinking tarmac light. It constantly flashes while driving. The ayc pump correlates with the steering and stability control for the rear differential. This is a big hazard. The ayc pump should be relocated to the trunk compartment so it is not exposed to weather conditions like snow and rain. This will protect the ayc pump from failing. The warranty will not cover this failed pump at all.
The issue first presented itself as a flashing all wheel control indicator light at approximately 35,000 miles while on the highway. It was initially an intermittent issue that occurred only occasionally. I arrived home from my trip and was at the dealership at 36,200 miles. Their scanner indicated a c161e code which indicates an acd pump actuator lock. The dealership stated this can happen under aggressive driving conditions and was normal. However, after informing them the issue occurred while cruising on the highway and also when stopped at a light they informed me to return if the issue persisted. I returned a week later after I confirmed the issue occurred every time I drove the vehicle, but they were unable to read codes because their diagnostic tool had broken. At 37,000 miles the vehicle displayed a message indicating I needed to service the all wheel drive system. The nearby dealership's scanner was still broken. At 37,900 miles I arrived at a different dealership and they found the codes c161e and c161f which indicates an acd pump failure. During the time since the issue first began I also noticed the traction control didn't appear to function. In wet conditions when I lost traction I did not see the dash indicator for traction loss / traction control nor did I feel the system kick in to compensate. I believe this presents a potential safety issue. This appears to be a common and well documented issue, especially in areas of varying climate. The root cause in my scenario is most likely volatile local weather where winters involve heavily salted roads and temperatures that range from warm to below freezing in the same day. This can lead to premature pump failure due to a known issue with a pump seal and rust.
Monday morning I warmed up my car for 5 minutes. Started to drive my car for about 15 seconds, awd service required popped up on my display. I stopped the car and brought it back home. Looked up what the issue could be and found out that the acd pump has failed. This is a well known problem from Mitsubishi for these cars and they have not issued a recall or real fix. Without the acd pump functioning, there is a possibility that the car can lose traction in certain situations or damage the entire drivetrain system. Mitsubishi claims that its not part of the drivetrain so there is no warranty and it's also a "luxury" system. Controlling wheel traction is not a luxury its a safety feature.
The ayc pump failed as noted by a trouble code. The ayc pump directly correlates with the steering and stability control for the rear differential.