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⚑ NHTSA Official DataUpdated: May 2026Methodology

Mitsubishi Outlander Reliability by Year
Best & Worst Years, Problems & Recalls β€” NHTSA Data

Comparing used Mitsubishi Outlander options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.

πŸ“‹
456
Total Complaints
NHTSA filed
πŸ””
32
Safety Recalls
federal campaigns
πŸ’₯
43
Crash-Related
crash complaints
πŸ”₯
2
Fire-Related
fire complaints
πŸ₯
38
Injuries Reported
across all years
πŸ“ˆ
Poor
Reliability Signal
overall trend

Model-year trends show patterns. Run a VIN check for the exact Mitsubishi Outlander you plan to buy.

Quick Answer

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Mitsubishi Outlander has 456 owner complaints and 32 safety recalls across model years 2017–2026. The most reported issue area is STRUCTURE. 2022 drew the most complaints; 2025 drew the fewest.

Mitsubishi Outlander β€” key reliability facts
Make
Mitsubishi
Model
Outlander
Model years analyzed
2017–2026 (10 years)
Total NHTSA complaints
456
Safety recall campaigns
32
Crash-related complaints
43
Fire-related complaints
2
Worst model year (by complaints)
2022 (205 complaints)
Best model year (fewest complaints)
2025 (12 complaints)
Top reported issue area
STRUCTURE
Reliability signal
Poor
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) Β· Data last refreshed May 30, 2026
This Outlander has 32 open recall campaigns on record. Check whether yours is affected.Check my VIN free β†’

Mitsubishi Outlander: Which Years to Avoid & Which to Buy

Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used β€” lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.

⚠ Years to Avoid
2022 Mitsubishi Outlander205 complaints2018 Mitsubishi Outlander55 complaints2017 Mitsubishi Outlander51 complaints

These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.

βœ“ Best Years to Buy
2025 Mitsubishi Outlander12 complaints2024 Mitsubishi Outlander18 complaints2020 Mitsubishi Outlander28 complaints

These years have the fewest owner complaints on record β€” lower risk starting points.

⭐ NHTSA NCAP Crash Test Ratings

New Car Assessment Program

NCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.

2025
2025 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SUV AWD
Overall Safety
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5/5
Frontal Crash
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…4/5
Side Crash
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5/5
Rollover Risk
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…4/5
2024
2024 Mitsubishi OUTLANDER SUV AWD
Overall Safety
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…4/5
Frontal Crash
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…4/5
Side Crash
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5/5
Rollover Risk
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…4/5
How to Read NCAP Stars
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5 stars - Excellent
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…4 stars - Good
β˜…β˜…β˜…3 stars - Average
β˜…β˜…2 stars - Below average
β˜…1 star - Poor
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings

What the Complaint Data Suggests

Poor
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology

The MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER has 456 NHTSA complaints and 32 recalls on record. 43 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Key Findings
  • 456 total complaints filed with NHTSA
  • 32 federal recall campaigns
  • 43 crash-related complaints on record
Top Concerns
  • Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
  • Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Verify service records for frequently complained components
⚠️ Worst Years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.

βœ… Best Years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.

What to Check Before Buying Used
  • Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
  • Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
  • Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Data note: NHTSA complaints are consumer-submitted and do not confirm a manufacturing defect Complaint volume is influenced by sales volume β€” popular models naturally accumulate more complaints

πŸ“… Problems by Model Year (Best vs. Worst Years)

2017
51
2018
55
2019
29
2020
28
2022
205
2023
39
2024
18
2025
12
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: May 2026

πŸ”” NHTSA Safety Recalls

32 recalls found

Safety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.

Campaign #25V507000July 8, 2025

Safety Recall

Component: STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
Campaign #25V507000July 8, 2025

Safety Recall

Component: STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
Campaign #25V507000July 8, 2025

Safety Recall

Component: STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
Campaign #25V369000February 6, 2025

Safety Recall

Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
Campaign #25V369000February 6, 2025

Safety Recall

Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
Campaign #25V369000February 6, 2025

Safety Recall

Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
Campaign #23V345000June 6, 2023

Safety Recall

Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
Campaign #18V591000May 9, 2018

Safety Recall

Component: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Campaign #18V591000May 9, 2018

Safety Recall

Component: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Campaign #20V280000

Safety Recall

Component: SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
Campaign #26V252000

Safety Recall

Component: STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
Campaign #20V403000

Safety Recall

Component: SEAT BELTS: REAR/OTHER:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
Campaign #20V280000

Safety Recall

Component: SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
Campaign #26V252000

Safety Recall

Component: STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
Campaign #20V403000

Safety Recall

Component: SEAT BELTS: REAR/OTHER:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
Campaign #18V620000

Safety Recall

Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
Campaign #18V621000

Safety Recall

Component: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
Campaign #26V252000

Safety Recall

Component: STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
Campaign #20V403000

Safety Recall

Component: SEAT BELTS: REAR/OTHER:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
Campaign #18V621000

Safety Recall

Component: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.

πŸ”§ Most-Reported Problem Areas

Based on component keywords extracted from all 456 NHTSA complaints.

1
STRUCTURE
90 complaints
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
83 complaints
3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
74 complaints
4
SERVICE BRAKES
53 complaints
5
ENGINE
52 complaints
6
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
44 complaints
7
AIR BAGS
42 complaints
8
POWER TRAIN
31 complaints

πŸ“‹ NHTSA Complaint Reports

456 total

These are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.

UNKNOWN OR OTHERApr 2026

I made an appt for a recall on my touchscreen at Hayward mitsubishi on may 27th 2025. I was left in the waiting room for two hours even with an appt. I was told mona would come get me but never did. I was very upset. Eventually my information was taken and said the part would come in, in approximately 9 months. The time has passed and they dis not return my calls and blocked my number on the text messages. They also did not return any calls to the BBB and I also submitted a complaint to the BAR. They are refusing to help me and other dealerships are also ignoring me. Thank you for your attention to this message. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEMar 2026

Multiple times I have been driving at a safe speed with no other vehicles or people around and the dashboard will beep and light up brake! Brake!

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFeb 2026

The radio system failed two years ago Many drivers with the same car have similar problem.

STRUCTUREJan 2026

The contact owns a 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V507000 (Structure) and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHERDec 2025


I believe the locks should be recalled my Lock Actuatora on my 2020 Mitsubishi outlander keeps going out……both my passenger front and back are out for a second time. And driver side doesn’t always unlock and lock with the key fob. All have been fixed before and it has been less than a year after being fixed. This is a safety issue and I think they need to put a recall out!

UNKNOWN OR OTHEROct 2025

UNKNOWN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING,ENGINE,LANE DEPARTURESep 2025

The contact owns a 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander. While the contact’s wife was driving in a school zone, several unknown error codes became displayed. The Lane Departure warning light illuminated, and the automatic high beam headlights malfunctioned. While driving 70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power, and the driver shifted to neutral(N) and back to drive(D) and was able to continue driving. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the local dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 179,407.

SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEAug 2025

I was making a turn out of a driveway across a three-lane streets into the left turn lane on the street in front of my children's School, while pulling out of the driveway and crossing the lanes, having clear distance to cross the lanes and visual confirmation from the oncoming drivers as they were waiting for me to proceed, my car abruptly stopped, it breaks on its own and left me across the three lanes sideways exposed to be t-boned. It would not start or move out of the stopped position. I tried to put the car in park and again in drive to no avail the car still would not budge. I had to completely turn off my vehicle and restart it in order to get out of the way of oncoming traffic.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATSJun 2025

The driver's seat goes forward but doesn't life up. It is stuck in a reclined position. The motor doesn't work to lift the sit up but does for the forward movement,. When you revlind seat it does not incline. Chair motor is not sold separately but was told the whole drivers seat have to be replaced

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHERJan 2025

The touchscreen does not work. This creates a safety issue as hands free driving is no longer am option. There are 1000s of complaints directly to Mitsubishi and they're not doing anything about it. The response is basically "we're aware our equipment failed, go to a dealership and pay to have it replaced" That should not be the consumer's out of pocket cost as Mitsubishi is fully aware of faulty equipment and needs to be held responsible. Everyone's safety is at risk because of this default.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMJan 2025

The touchscreen controlling many functions and settings of the vehicle failed. That means there are numerous settings and driving options that can no longer be accessed and that any functions requiring touch such as navigation, music, and others requires using your connected device while driving (meaning looking and touching your phone while driving). This creates unsafe driving conditions for the many thousands of drivers that have experienced this problem. There is a very large community on the internet saying that Mitsubishi should issue a recall, but Mitsubishi doesn't seem to care at all. They do, however, encourage the many that are having the problem to go to their service department and have the whole infotainment/ control computer replaced to the tune of about $4000. Seems like a blatant money grab to me-- one that is causing thousands of drivers who cannot or will not undergo that $4000 expense to drive a vehicle where they do not access to all setting controls and are required to fiddle with their phone while driving. Very unsafe.

AIR BAGSDec 2024

Airbag system Service Required. I came on when I had passer in 2 row seat.I just brought this vehicle.

πŸ’₯ CrashWHEELS,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCENov 2024

The brakes keep giving out, this is the second Mitsubishi and the brakes gave out [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHERSep 2024

The touch screen is inoperable so you can't control the radio or aspects of the car such as how the lights, wipers, maintenance, etc. are set. This is a hazardous situation. I contacted the dealer, and they knew exactly what I was referring to as they said they don't repair the system but only replace and it is $3.200. My auto was only 3 years old but had over 36,000 miles (the warranty). Why is an electrical component that controls much of the car warrantied on milage and only 36K. They know of this problem.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMJul 2024

The touchscreen does not work. This impairs use of the hands free telephone usage, volume levels, and altering of settings. This is a known problem, and Mitsubishi has recalled it in Australia. It is unsafe for any driver to not have ready access to hands free phone usage as it is well known how often distracted driving due to phones has caused accidents.

LANE DEPARTUREMay 2024

Got in my car to go to work and blind spot service required light came on

πŸ’₯ CrashπŸ₯ 1 InjuryAIR BAGSJan 2024

The contact owns a 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that while crossing an intersection at 35 MPH; another vehicle ran a red light and crashed into the contact's front driver-side door. The contact was knocked across the two-lane road and hit a telephone pole on the passenger side of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The authorities arrived on the scene and assisted the contact out of the vehicle through the passenger side of the vehicle. The contact was treated at the scene and was later taken to the emergency room for treatment. The contact was given an X-ray ,CT scan and an MRI. The contact was treated for pain and stiffness to the left side of the back, neck, elbow, and shoulder. The whereabouts of the other driver were unknown. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to two separate independent mechanics; however, the contact was unaware if the vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMJan 2024

In less than 60k miles since manufacture of the vehicle, the infotainment screen began to be insensitive to touch. 6k miles later it no longer works. During that time it was inconsistently working. This is a safety issue due to the driver focusing their eyes on the infotainment screen, while repeatedly pressing the same button, instead of the road. Most times, the driver had to pull over to make the change. Sometimes, due to urgency of the change, the driver had to pull over where little to no shoulder existed which could have resulted in a fatality had a vehicle struck the driver's vehicle. It has recently be learned that a standard computer mouse can be used to operate the infotainment unit. Without saying, this is completely unacceptable procedure for a moving vehicle. Mitsubishi will no do anything to honor this failure, and based on discussions in various forums, the screen dies within the first couple years of owning the vehicle. In the subject late model 2020, the screen had no longer worked by 3Q24.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMAug 2023

Touch screen radio stopped working by touch reported the problem and was told by our dealer they couldn’t fix it it had to go to another dealer. That dealer said they could fix it and sent us back by the time they had time for us the warranty was out and they want us to pay for it after only 2 years. A family member had this say issue and sued and got a settlement and radio fixed

STEERING,SUSPENSION,UNKNOWN OR OTHERMar 2023

After reversing out of say the drive way or parking spot there is a thump noise after putting the car into drive and proceeding to go. I have taken it to the dealer and they state multiple people are experiencing the same thing and that they have been in contact with Mitsubishi about it and they say it is normal. I have never had this happen in any vehicle I have ever owned before and for it to be told to me that multiple people are experiencing this is not very satisfactory. And should be something they look into. Another issue I recently brought to the dealers service department is the ac has a foul odor after the change of the filters. And that it smells like stagnant water or mildew and again I was told the same thing that it is common. Why would I want to ever purchase another Mitsubishi if they are saying all this is common among their brand. Seems to me the unit collecting the fluid that then gets drained from the unit when sitting still is just collecting and going stagnant and causing the smell. I have a warranty on the vehicle however everything is a normal thing people have going on with their vehicle. Seems they don't want to put in the work until say the warranty is expired. A warranty they offer along with the extended warranty to cover bumper to bumper items I purchased. Ac problem is what it is it's not a safety concern but the thump in the tire after reversing seems like it should be a recall of something to do with the suspension and I don't think it has been investigated as it should. Who is to say I'm on the interstate driving and get in an accident that not only effects myself but others.

Showing 20 of 456 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database

Before You Buy, Check the Exact Mitsubishi Outlander

These pages show model-year patterns across 10years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.

πŸ“– Understanding This Data

πŸ“‹

What is an NHTSA Complaint?

An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is β€” but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Mitsubishi Outlander has 456 complaints on record across 10 model years.

πŸ””

What is a Safety Recall?

A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Mitsubishi Outlander has 32 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.

πŸ’₯

What Are Crash Complaints?

Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 43 of the Mitsubishi Outlander's 456 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions β€” a key safety signal beyond general reliability.

🧭

How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?

The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.

πŸ“Š

Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?

Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable β€” simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.

πŸ”

Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN

Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Mitsubishi Outlander vehicles on the road β€” not any specific car. Two Mitsubishi Outlander vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.

πŸ”Ž

What Are NHTSA Investigations?

When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage β€” NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Mitsubishi Outlander has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.

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