Head-to-head reliability
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport vs FORD F 150
How the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport vs FORD F 150: The Outlander Sport has 206 complaints over 10 years (about 21 per year), while the F-150 has 11,311 (over 1,100 per year). The F-150 also has 145 recalls versus 6 for the Outlander Sport. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is a compact SUV with a relatively low complaint volume: 206 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 21 per year. Owners most often report electrical glitches, transmission and engine power problems, and brake noise. While the overall rate is low, the complaints that do exist describe issues that can affect drivability and safety, such as stalling and unresponsive screens.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a very high complaint volume: 11,311 complaints over 10 years, averaging over 1,100 per year. The most common trouble spots are the powertrain, electrical system, and exterior lighting. Many owner reports describe hard shifting, loss of power, and warning messages, which can be disruptive and costly.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mitsubishi Outlander Sport | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 206 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 6 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 27 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 20.6 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 19 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM49
- 02POWER TRAIN41
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER36
- 04SERVICE BRAKES34
- 05ENGINE33
Owners report the infotainment touchscreen becoming unresponsive, which can distract the driver and cause swerving. Others mention brake grinding and fluctuating mileage with maintenance warnings, pointing to electrical or sensor issues.
Complaints include repeated ignition-coil failures, engine misfires, and catalyst efficiency faults, leading to intermittent power loss and hesitation. One owner described the vehicle stalling at 65 mph, which is a serious safety concern.
A owner reported grinding brakes and erratic mileage readings, suggesting brake wear or sensor problems that could affect stopping performance.
Engine-related complaints often involve misfires and catalyst faults, which can cause rough running and failed emissions tests, potentially leading to costly repairs.
“The touchscreen for the main infotainment system is becoming unresponsive. It’s impossible to use the most basic functions while driving without being distracted. It’s caused me to swerve & almost lose control of the vehicle on multiple occasions— as it distr…”
“Dec 1,2023 tried to stop and the brakes was grinding and the milage goes up and down as you are driving and it says routine maintenance required when you put the key in to start the outlander as got it from Todd Judy ford in Charleston WV and according to Mit…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Many owners report hard or delayed shifts, jerking, and clunking from the 10-speed automatic transmission, with some experiencing sudden loss of power. These issues can make the truck unpredictable to drive and may require expensive transmission repairs.
Complaints include warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available,' as well as loud bangs from the transmission area. These electrical glitches can disable safety features and are frustrating for owners.
Exterior lighting problems are frequently reported, though specific symptoms are not detailed in the sample. Issues with headlights or taillights can reduce visibility and increase crash risk.
Engine complaints are common, often related to power loss or rough operation. While the sample text does not specify, these issues can lead to breakdowns and costly repairs.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport — 6 recalls
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Outlander Sport vehicles equipped with continuously variable transmissions and mechanical key ignition systems. A software error in the transmission control unit (CVT-ECU) may incorrectly reduce the transmission gear ratio…
The risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the CVT-ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 24, 2022. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-22-004.
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Outlander Sport vehicles equipped with continuously variable transmissions and mechanical key ignition systems. A software error in the transmission control unit (CVT-ECU) may incorrectly reduce the transmission gear ratio…
The risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the CVT-ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 24, 2022. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-22-004.
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Outlander Sport vehicles equipped with continuously variable transmissions and mechanical key ignition systems. A software error in the transmission control unit (CVT-ECU) may incorrectly reduce the transmission gear ratio…
The risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the CVT-ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 24, 2022. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-22-004.
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Outlander Sport, 2018-2019 Eclipse Cross, and 2017-2018 Outlander vehicles equipped with a Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) system that detects pedestrians. Due to incorrect software, the FCM-ECU (Electron…
The risk: If the FCM-ECU software activates the brake for longer than necessary, the driver may react by applying additional braking. The resulting rapid deceleration of the vehicle can increase the risk of a rear-end collision.
The fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the FCM-ECU software with updated software, free of charge. The recall is began October 16, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall…
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport has far fewer complaints per year (about 21) compared to the Ford F-150 (over 1,100). This means an Outlander Sport owner is statistically less likely to experience repeated problems, but the F-150's higher volume also reflects its much larger sales. In practice, the Outlander Sport may be less troublesome overall, while the F-150 has more widespread and varied issues.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has over 11,000 complaints in 10 years, while the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport has just over 200, indicating a much higher reported problem rate for the F-150.
- Ford F-150 owners frequently report transmission problems like hard shifting and loss of power, whereas Outlander Sport complaints often involve electrical glitches and ignition-coil failures.
- The F-150 has 145 recalls versus 6 for the Outlander Sport, suggesting more widespread safety-related fixes for the Ford.
- Crash-related complaints are much higher for the F-150 (328) than the Outlander Sport (27), though this may reflect the larger number of F-150s on the road.
- Check the infotainment touchscreen for responsiveness and test all electrical functions, as unresponsive screens are a common complaint.
- Listen for engine misfires or hesitation during a test drive, and ask for maintenance records related to ignition coils and catalytic converter.
- Test drive the truck at various speeds to feel for hard or delayed shifts, especially between 4th and 8th gears, which is a frequent complaint.
- Check for warning messages on the dashboard related to front camera or pre-collision assist, and ensure all electrical features work properly.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website.
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the transmission, electrical system, and brakes before purchase.
- For the Outlander Sport, specifically test the touchscreen and infotainment system for lag or unresponsiveness.
- For the F-150, take a longer test drive that includes highway speeds to check for transmission shudder or power loss.
- Ask the seller for all maintenance records, especially any related to transmission or engine repairs.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Mitsubishi Outlander Sport | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 24 |
| 2025 | 1 | 329 |
| 2024 | 1 | 617 |
| 2023 | 7 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 11 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 17 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 26 | 33 |
| 2019 | 47 | 36 |
| 2018 | 21 | 56 |
| 2017 | 73 | 43 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Mitsubishi Outlander Sport or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mitsubishi Outlander Sport vs FORD F 150
- Mitsubishi Outlander Sport total complaints
- 206
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Mitsubishi Outlander Sport total recalls
- 6
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Mitsubishi Outlander Sport avg complaints/year
- 20.6
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
- Mitsubishi Outlander Sport top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN