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Mitsubishi ASX: 4N13 Diesel Piston Ring Soot Seizure — Safety Recall (2011-2012)

4N13 Diesel Piston Ring Soot Seizure — Safety Recall (2011-2012) is a common engine fault on the Mitsubishi ASX on the 2011–2012 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $0 to $6,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 26 documented faults on the Mitsubishi ASX.

Vehicle
Mitsubishi ASX
Engine
1.8L
Years
2011–2012
Fuel
diesel
System
Engine

This page covers the Mitsubishi ASX as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Mitsubishi ASX faults26 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph for this fault yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of something else.

What goes wrong

A software defect in the ECU pilot-injection timing allowed soot to accumulate in the piston ring grooves of the 1.8D 4N13 engine, causing the rings to seize in their lands and pistons to overheat. Mitsubishi issued a formal safety recall covering approximately 1,588 diesel ASXs built in 2011 and 2012; the remedy was an ECU reprogram to alter pilot-injection timing and prevent soot accumulation. Vehicles on which the recall was not completed face risk of sudden catastrophic engine stall with no restart capability due to seized pistons overheating and potentially melting.

What you would notice

  • Sudden engine stall without warning at any speed, engine cannot be restarted
  • Engine warning light or loss of power before full stall event
  • Abnormal knocking or rattling before stall in severe seizure cases
  • Visible smoke from exhaust prior to catastrophic failure
  • Post-failure engine turns over but will not fire due to ring seizure

How to check it

Where to look. Engine internals — piston ring grooves in cylinder block; ECU in engine bay

For any 2011 or 2012 1.8D ASX, verify recall completion via the NZTA recall check tool or the Mitsubishi NZ dealer recall lookup before purchase. Request the dealer service history showing ECU reprogram. Do not assume age means it was done — recall completion rates were not 100%. If a workshop inspection is possible: If recall status is unknown, have a Mitsubishi dealer scan the ECU software version before committing to purchase.

What it costs to put right

$0 to $6,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

  • “Has this vehicle had the ECU software updated under the Mitsubishi piston ring soot recall?”
  • “Can you provide dealer service records confirming the recall was completed?”
  • “Has the engine ever stalled unexpectedly and failed to restart?”

Now check the Mitsubishi ASX you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Mitsubishi ASX buyer questions

Is 4n13 diesel piston ring soot seizure — safety recall (2011-2012) serious on a Mitsubishi ASX?

We rate it critical and common on the Mitsubishi ASX. A software defect in the ECU pilot-injection timing allowed soot to accumulate in the piston ring grooves of the 1.8D 4N13 engine, causing the rings to seize in their lands and pistons to overheat. Mitsubishi issued a formal safety recall covering approximately 1,588 diesel ASXs built in 2011 and 2012; the remedy was an ECU reprogram to alter pilot-injection timing and prevent soot accumulation. Vehicles on which the recall was not completed face risk of sudden catastrophic engine stall with no restart capability due to seized pistons overheating and potentially melting.

How much does it cost to fix on a Mitsubishi ASX?

$0 to $6,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Mitsubishi ASX years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2011–2012 Mitsubishi ASX. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

For any 2011 or 2012 1.8D ASX, verify recall completion via the NZTA recall check tool or the Mitsubishi NZ dealer recall lookup before purchase. Request the dealer service history showing ECU reprogram. Do not assume age means it was done — recall completion rates were not 100%. If a workshop inspection is possible: If recall status is unknown, have a Mitsubishi dealer scan the ECU software version before committing to purchase. Look here: Engine internals — piston ring grooves in cylinder block; ECU in engine bay