Mitsubishi Outlander Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 1,323 consumer complaints across the 22 model years of the Mitsubishi Outlander (2003–2025) that have at least 5 complaints. 2022 has the most, with 217. Across all years, the part named most often is transmission and drivetrain (184 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
Best and worst Outlander years →
All Outlander model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | 19,000 | 1 | 43 | — | Too new |
| 2024 | 26 | 5,000 | 1 | 78 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2023 | 50 | 33,000 | 2 | 108 | 50 · Typical | Too new |
| 2022 | 217 | 10,000 | 7 | 189 | 100 · More | Stable |
| 2020 | 32 | 66,000 | 3 | 96 | 25 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2019 | 29 | 20,000 | 5 | 123 | 51 · Typical | Rising |
| 2018 | 57 | 27,500 | 6 | 116 | 66 · More | Rising |
| 2017 | 51 | 34,000 | 6 | 139 | 62 · Typical | Falling |
| 2016 | 145 | 60,518 | 8 | 142 | 86 · More | Falling |
| 2015 | 53 | 35,000 | 5 | 116 | 53 · Typical | Rising |
| 2014 | 45 | 30,000 | 4 | 130 | 50 · Typical | Falling |
| 2013 | 26 | 61,400 | 5 | 106 | 8 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2012 | 22 | 86,000 | 6 | 104 | — | Falling |
| 2011 | 58 | 64,000 | 8 | 114 | 37 · Typical | Rising |
| 2010 | 60 | 62,000 | 10 | 115 | 33 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2009 | 46 | 92,500 | 13 | 106 | 15 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2008 | 58 | 99,000 | 12 | 104 | 21 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2007 | 125 | 88,789 | 9 | 79 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2006 | 21 | 100,000 | 1 | 35 | — | Stable |
| 2005 | 19 | 88,000 | 1 | 49 | — | Falling |
| 2004 | 52 | 63,250 | 4 | 52 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 116 | 68,250 | 6 | 41 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Transmission and drivetrain184 15%
- Suspension173 15%
- Electrical system165 14%
- Body and structure157 13%
- Other or unknown146 12%
- Engine137 11%
- Brakes120 10%
- Air bags110 9.2%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2017: “The 2017 has the same CVT transmission as the recalled 2015 and 2016 models. I have owned the car for 4 years and its now hesitating on acceleration - a classic sign of CVT failure. Mitsubishi mechanic advises me to pay 8 thousand dollars to replace this as its out of warranty (124k miles) I contend that this should be recalled as the prior years models are.”
NHTSA complaint #11404540, filed 2021-03, 124,000 miles2016: “On random when driving on several occasions my headlight will go out. Both at the same time. This morning while driving on the highway to work, the lights both just went completely out leaving me in the dark. I had to drive with my brights on for safety. The second problem in the acceleration, you can push the gas but it is has no power to go and hesitate.”
NHTSA complaint #11318114, filed 2020-03, 61,036 miles2010: “Early failure of the transmission on outlanders is known problem and puts drivers at risk for serious injury when the car goes into a safe mode leaving the car stranded in the road. My car gave me no warning prior to the car shutting down. I was stuck in the middle of an intersection on a sunday morning. It took > 1 hour to have the car towed out of harms way.”
NHTSA complaint #11384940, filed 2020-12, 139,000 milesOther Mitsubishi models
2,131 complaintsMitsubishi Galant
1,781 complaintsMitsubishi Lancer
861 complaintsMitsubishi Montero
770 complaintsMitsubishi Mirage
689 complaintsMitsubishi Diamante
502 complaintsMitsubishi Outlander Sport
472 complaintsMitsubishi 3000GT
459 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology