Mitsubishi Outlander

Where it stands out against its peers

• Power train: more complaints than 99% of 2015 cars — 61% of its 234 complaints, where an ordinary 2015 car has 15%.
• Vehicle speed control: more complaints than 96% of 2015 cars — 13% of its 234 complaints, where an ordinary 2015 car has 5%.

Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.

Before you buy one

Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.

• POWER TRAIN — 90 owners reported this, 1 involving a fire
• ENGINE — 9 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash, 1 involving a fire
• POWER TRAIN,ENGINE — 8 owners reported this
• POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE — 8 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash
• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — 7 owners reported this
• POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — 7 owners reported this
• AIR BAGS — 6 owners reported this, 3 involving a crash
• SERVICE BRAKES — 6 owners reported this
• POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — 5 owners reported this

Crash test

Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.

Specification

Recalls

Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.

18% of 2022 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 3. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.

• 14V366000

  A power steering fluid leak could result in a loss of steering assistance, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering pressure tube and return tube, free of charge. The recall began in August 2014. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-14-006.

• 16V458000

  A detached front control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

  MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front cross members. Depending on the level of existing corrosion, either a sealing/anti-corrosion agent will be applied or the front cross member will be replaced with a new one that has a sealing/anti-corrosion agent applied to it. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began January 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-16-003.

• 16V563000

  A hesitation during acceleration can increase the risk of a crash.

  MMNA has notified owners, and dealers will reprogram the CVT control unit with modified software, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2016. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-16-006.

• 16V791000

  Loss of wiper function can reduce visibility and increase the risk of a crash.

  MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rubber boot on the ball joint to prevent water intrusion. Additionally, they will inspect the wiper motor crank arm for excessive play, replacing it as necessary. These repairs will be done free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-16-009.

• 17V233000

  If a door opens while the vehicle is being driven, it can increase the risk of injury.

  MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door latches, free of charge. The recall began August 25, 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-17-002.

• 17V461000

  Failure of the wiper motor can cause a loss of visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

  MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiper motor, free of charge. The recall began July 28, 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-17-003.

• 17V609000

  If the engine stalls, there is an increased the risk of a crash.

  MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected relays, free of charge. The recall began October 24, 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-17-005.

• 18V069000

  If the drive belt detaches, the battery will discharge and the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

  MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the belt tensioner with one that has an improved shape, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 27, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-001.

17 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.

Regulator investigations

Opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation is a question the regulator asked about a possible defect, not a fault it found — most end without a recall.

• Electrical overstress

  Engineering analysis, opened April 2019, closed September 2024.

What the maker told its dealers

Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.

Mitsubishi filed 29 bulletins about the 2026 Outlander.

• Engine: 7
• Fuel/propulsion system: 7
• Electrical system: 4
• Structure: 3
• Seat belts: 1
• Other: 7

• This Service Campaign Bulletin sent to dealers provides instructions to reflash the ECU to address fault codes P0128-00, P2096-00 and P050A. · August 2026
• This Parts Bulletin sent to dealers explains and corrects a mislabeling issue caused by a mid-cycle design change. · August 2026
• This Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers explains the repair procedure for the front flap of the cup holder detaching. · August 2026
• This Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers explains that every front seat belt retractor concern must be documented through a Mi-Tech case before any repair or part replacement is performed. · August 2026
• This dealer letter informs dealers that the second edition of the High Voltage Safety online course is now available. · August 2026
• This Service Campaign Bulletin sent to dealers provides instructions to reflash the ECU to address fault code P0128-00, and effective 6/26/2026, fault codes P2096-00 and P050A as well. · August 2026
• This Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers provides guidance to assist dealers with reflashing the ECU-Audio AMP software to remedy issues with the Dynamic Sound Yamaha Ultimate 12-speaker… · August 2026
• This revised Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers provides instructions to reflash the Engine Control Unit with updated software when a diagnostic code of P0128-00 is found. · July 2026

21 more.

Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.