Mitsubishi Outlander Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls β NHTSA data
Comparing used Mitsubishi Outlander options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017β2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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Model-year trends show patterns β they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Mitsubishi Outlander has 496 owner complaints and 33 safety recalls across model years 2017β2026. The most reported issue area is STRUCTURE. 2022 drew the most complaints; 2025 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Mitsubishi
- Model
- Outlander
- Model years analyzed
- 2017β2026 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 496
- Safety recall campaigns
- 33
- Crash-related complaints
- 47
- Fire-related complaints
- 2
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2022 (216 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2025 (15 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- STRUCTURE
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
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.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record β lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP 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.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER has 496 NHTSA complaints and 33 recalls on record. 47 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 496 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 33 federal recall campaigns
- 47 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- 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
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Oct 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
33 recalls foundSafety 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.
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
SEAT BELTS: REAR/OTHER:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
SEAT BELTS: REAR/OTHER:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
SEAT BELTS: REAR/OTHER:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017β2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 496 NHTSA complaints β these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
496 totalThese 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.
My 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has experienced recurring, severe powertrain failures causing a dangerous 'PHEV System Fault / Power Reduced' limp mode at highway speeds, dropping instantly from 60+ MPH to severely restricted speeds. This creates an immediate risk of a high-speed rear-end collision. The vehicle is currently fully dismantled at Jidd Motors Mitsubishi while technicians execute an extensive internal mechanical teardown of the engine's valve cover and cylinder valvetrain assembly to look for top-end structural damage. The vehicle has been non-functional and out of service for 38 days with no fix in site and at this point no communication from Mitsubishi.
I rented this car from Drivo on July 17th. On the 21st we noticed the tire light. When we went to the garage to get this checked the two rear tires were bald, with the wires showing through the tires. We have photos of this, and a statement from the garage that the tires were in an illegal/unroadworthy condition. Despite raising this in many emails with the company, Drivo/Ace, nobody has made any response to our safety concerns. I think that this car may still be in an unroadworthy condition.
When driving with the adaptive cruise control on, the cruise will shut off without notice at random times. The forward collision warning light then comes on. After driving for some time the light will go out and the adaptive cruise will work again. This repeats many times on a trip randomly. This also leaves the vehicle without forward collision protection and automatic emergency braking. This is very dangerous at highway speed when you lose power driving with traffic. When reported to the dealer, they said it was a known issue without a solution and to not use the adaptive cruise and drive carefully without the forward collision protection active. This has been an issue since the car was new in November of 2024.
Vehicle: 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV I am filing this safety complaint regarding a recurring electrical/software defect in my 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV affecting the backup camera display and infotainment screen. The backup camera screen repeatedly freezes and goes completely black while the vehicle is in reverse gear. This eliminates all rear visibility during backing maneuvers, posing a serious risk of striking pedestrians, cyclists, or objects β especially children in blind spots who cannot otherwise be seen. In addition, the infotainment screen has shut off entirely at least once while the vehicle was being driven, creating a dangerous distraction and loss of vehicle controls. I want to be clear that my dealership has acted in complete good faith and has done everything within their power to diagnose and resolve this issue. They have worked diligently on my behalf and are not the source of the problem. The failure to provide a fix lies squarely with Mitsubishi Motors North America, which has been unable or unwilling to supply an adequate repair, software update, or resolution despite being made fully aware of this ongoing safety defect. I have contacted Mitsubishi Motors North America directly on multiple occasions. They have failed to provide a satisfactory explanation, a committed timeline for a fix, or any path toward resolution. This is not a dealer-level issue β this is a manufacturer-level failure to address a known defect. This is not a convenience issue β the failure of a federally mandated backup camera system is a safety defect. Federal law (49 CFR Part 571, FMVSS 111) requires rear visibility systems to function properly at all times. I respectfully request that NHTSA open a formal investigation into this defect and determine whether a recall or technical service bulletin is warranted for the 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
I was parked in a parking spot and when returned to my car and turned my car on a loud bang came from the front of the vehicle. Both of my front tires were facing inward. The drivers side front tie rod snapped with a clean break for no reason. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where after inspection there was no obvious reason for this to happen, no damage to the tire, aluminum wheel, or any other component under the car. There was no warning of any kind, the vehicle was driving perfectly smooth and not pulling to one side just before this happened. The vehicle and damaged tie rod are available for inspection. Needless to say If i were driving at highway speeds there could have been catastrophic injury. As of right now Mitsubishi only viewed pictures, I asked them to inspect the vehicle but they did not. I would prefer NHTSA inspect the tie rods because if this happened while parked the tie rod could be defective and dangerous.
David the Mitsubishi technician drove with me today and witnessed the issues with the adaptive cruise control system. 1. Slow to gain speed on resume in any situation. 2. Car slamming on brakes when sensing a car at a red light, when a car leaves the lane that I am in and there is a stopped car at a red light or not stopping at all. 3. When making a turn into a left or right lane, car will not sense the other car or it will slam the brakes unsafely
Read 14 more owner reports
1. Driver side seat belt is not retracting as it should. 2. Causing a slower exit when getting out of the vehicle. 3. A compliant has been made to Glassman Southfield MI. Mitsubishi service department not only for the driver side seat belt but the passenger seat belt as well. 4. Just by Glassman Southfield MI. Mitsubishi service department. 5. No
I am reporting a safety defect involving my 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport (VIN [XXX] ). On five separate occasions between December 2025 and February 2026, my vehicle ran completely out of fuel despite the dashboard displaying between 18 and 48 miles of remaining driving range. Four of these events occurred on active highways, resulting in sudden loss of engine power and creating immediate collision risk. The dealership diagnosed and replaced the fuel tank gauge unit, fuel level sensor, and sub sensor under warranty. Service documentation references Technical Information Notice TIN #XXX, indicating this is a known issue. This defect caused unexpected highway shutdowns and serious safety exposure. I am concerned other drivers may experience similar failures. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The seatbelt retraction system failed to retract fast enough, which caused the seatbelt to become jammed in the passenger door. This resulted in damage to the passenger front and back door and opening of the passenger door. Yes, the vehicle and the affected components (seatbelt assembly and passenger door) are available for inspection upon request. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The slow seatbelt retraction created a door jam condition, which could have prevented or delayed exit from the vehicle in an emergency situation. This posed a safety risk to the passenger, as the door could not open or close properly. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? The issue has been observed by Glassman of Southfield Michigan the service men was not interested at all. In fact when I arrived to have the vehicle inspected the driver seatbelt did not retract back at all and the service guy stated, I should pay attention when unfasten my seatbelt. The guy at the collision shop stated that the seatbelt on the passenger side was not retracting back as it should. I have had two incidents with the passenger seatbelt becoming jammed in the door since I leased the vehicle in August of 2025. 4.Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. Just the service men at Glassman and Glassmen collision shop. 5.Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No
I rented this vehicle from Alamo/Enterprise at Denver Airport on 9/7/2025, and that day, while enroute to Casper WY hit a large deer on I-24 N in Wyoming where the posted speed limit is 80 mph, which was exactly the speed I was travelling. The deer was struck by the drivers side front of vehicle, causing extensive damage , loss of headlight and many small parts and electronic sensors as there were a number of dangling wires. The deer was killed instantly. My safety concern is that the air bags failed to deploy, which was surprising given the speed and over $17,000 damage estimate from: Enterprise, case # 23039354, contact person [XXX] can be reached at [XXX] at extension [XXX] . The car was drivable, after tying down all of the loose parts and wires and front grill. I feel that hitting a large deer at 80 mph should have set off air bags, but I could be wrong, since the radiator did not leak and the vehicle remained drivable- but I thought it was worth alerting you and being put in your data To see if other Mitsubishi Outlanders from 2025 have same problem. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Initial Oil Change Visit: Brought leased vehicle under full warranty to the dealership for its first oil change. No issues were mentioned at this time. First Return (After 5 Minutes Driving): After leaving the dealership, warning lights and unusual sounds began within 5 minutes of driving. Returned immediately. The service team claimed the issue was due to the 'oil gun not being recalibrated' and that they had topped the oil off using a jug. This was later revealed to be a lie. Second Return (After Another 5 Minutes Driving): The same warning lights and noises returned after driving only 5 minutes. Returned again to the dealership. This time, they admitted that no oil had ever been put into the vehicle after the oil was drained. The service manager stated that the engine was 'cooked' and would need to be replaced. Admission by Service Manager: The service manager personally drove me to the rental car location. During this time, he admitted that the technician had simply forgotten to refill the oil after draining it, stating they had 'just gotten busy.' He had no explanation for why the dealership had lied during the first return visit. Safety Concerns: This negligence could have had catastrophic consequences. If the engine had blown up while driving, I could have crashed, potentially injuring or killing myself, my pregnant fiancΓ©e who was with me, and our unborn child. This was not just an inconvenience but a severe, reckless breach of safety and trust. Dealerβs Resolution: The dealership later acknowledged fault and offered to replace the engine with a new one. However, given the severity of the negligence and the safety risk, we refused and ultimately walked away from the lease when they would not provide an equivalent vehicle under the same terms. They instead paid off the remaining lease balance ($42,286.94). -Sent certifed formal demand letters to dealer and manufacturer -sent follow up emails to both -have not received response to my complaints.
I had the car for less than a month. It had about 850 miles on it. I was driving on a flat service going between 25-30 mph. I was NOT using the Adaptive Cruise Control. Without any warning, the car suddenly accelerated and I immediately felt like I had no control. I do not know how fast the car was going at that point. I tried to brake - I was practically standing on the brake pedal. It all happened very quickly but knew that I had no control over the car. The Forward Collision Warning system did not activate and I hit the car in front of me, which in turn, hit the car in front of her. The airbags on the driver's side deployed. The car was deemed a total loss by the insurance adjuster. I informed the dealer. It is also mentioned in the police report.
The contact and wife rented a 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that while driving 80 MPH with the cruise control activated, the feature unexpectedly ceased to operate as intended. The contact stated that a message that "Radar Interrupted," was displayed. The contact stated that the failure had occurred five times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 19,000.
I tried to do remote start on my car and it said that it had failed. I went out to the car to try to turn it on, and when I hit the unlock button, it would not unlock. I had to manually use the key to open the driver side door, where I was met with the instrument panel showing that the RPMs, the gas gauge, and the miles per hour were all maxed out and stuck on one another. I have an infant in his car seat base was trapped in the backseat, there is no way to open the vehicle to get to the car seat base. I have only owned this car four days.
Vehicle trips the GFI on disconnect from charging. If vehicle finishes charging, no issue. If you pull the cable before completing full charge, trips the GFI. Have a Prius Hybrid using same charger and no issue. Have checked this with another Outlander and same issue. Unplugging it during charge cycle trips the GFI.
The contact owns a 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low beam headlights were significantly dim and progressively worsened and became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer several times, where unknown repairs were performed; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that while driving on the interstate at an undisclosed speed, there was wind underneath the hood, and the hood was vibrating. The contact was concerned about the hood becoming ajar. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was associated with TSB: 21-42A-001. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was test-driven, and the dealer was able to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 95,730.
The contact owns a 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at 25 MPH, a "be careful due to icy roads" message appeared, but it was the middle of May and there was no ice or cold weather in sight. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.
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)
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!
Showing 20 of 496 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Mitsubishi Outlander
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations β hereβs what each number actually tells you about a used Mitsubishi Outlander, in plain English.
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 496 complaints on record across 10 model years.
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 33 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 47 of the Mitsubishi Outlander's 496 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.
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.
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.
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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Mitsubishi Outlander reliability β frequently asked questions
Is the Mitsubishi Outlander reliable?
Poor. The Mitsubishi Outlander has 496 NHTSA owner complaints and 33 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is STRUCTURE. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Mitsubishi Outlander years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2022 (216 complaints), 2018 (57 complaints), 2017 (51 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Mitsubishi Outlander problems?
Top reported issues: STRUCTURE (92 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (88 complaints); UNKNOWN OR OTHER (77 complaints).
Does the Mitsubishi Outlander have recalls?
Yes β 33 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Mitsubishi Outlander. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.