2007 Mitsubishi Outlander Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2007 Outlander most often report front suspension problems, especially broken front coil springs and heavily rusted front crossmembers and subframes, many of them at high mileage. Wipers, brake lights, and assorted electrical glitches also come up, and several complaints ask whether existing recalls should have covered their vehicle.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Rusted front crossmember / subframe

   • 29 complaints (23%)
   • median 122,250 mi at 11.7 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2026

   Complaints describe the front crossmember or subframe rusting through, in some cases to the point where the control arm or steering components separate from the frame. Owners report loud noises, sudden loss of steering control, and vehicles that had to be towed. Several mention that their VIN was not included in the related recall or that the anti-corrosion treatment did not stop further corrosion. Typically reported from about 50,000 to 230,000 miles, often on older vehicles in areas that use road salt.

   Recall 16V458000

   What to check: Have the front subframe and crossmember inspected from below for rust perforation, and check with a dealer whether the vehicle's VIN is covered by recall 16V458000 and whether that work was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This is a safety recall - control arm has become detached while driving. They are saying it will take more than a month to get it fixed yet refuse to give a car. We have been waiting patiently for our letter that the parts are available and this let to the steering going out while we were driving. - this is not reasonable!”

   NHTSA complaint #10909995, filed 2016-09, 166,600 miles

   “I was driving at approximately 5mph braking to take a left hand turn when I heard a loud clunk and came to an abrupt stop. After existing the vehicle it appears my front suspension had snapped and my drivers side tire was pushed into the quarter panel hindering my drivers side door and my passenger tire was pointing to the right. After getting it towed to the nearest auto body place, I was informed that the front sub frame snapped due to rust. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10885659, filed 2016-07, 120,000 miles
2. 2
   Suspension

   Front coil springs broken or snapped

   • 18 complaints (14%)
   • median 120,500 mi at 8.8 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • filed 2011–2019

   Owners describe a loud bang from the front end, sometimes while driving and sometimes while the car sits in a driveway, followed by a broken front coil spring. Several say one spring broke and the other followed shortly after, and some report a broken spring damaging a tire. Complaints mention that a warranty extension for this part existed, and owners say dealers either did not cover the repair or declined reimbursement when the work was done outside a dealership. Mostly reported between roughly 60,000 and 125,000 miles, with a few at very low mileage and some occurring in cold weather.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Inspect both front coil springs for cracks, corrosion, or recent replacement, and ask whether the spring warranty extension repair was done and documented.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On january 2, 2018 our local overnight temperature was a negative (-)20 degrees f. That morning while still in my driveway, both front coil springs broke and the right front coil spring penetrated the inner sidewall of the 18 tire and this resulted in the tire becoming two distinct pieces. If this had happened while driving on the road, it could have resulted in a serious and possible deadly accident. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11062645, filed 2018-01, 132,619 miles

   “Mechanic said my axle boot lock and strut spring broke and I need a new passenger front axle coil spring. Loud bang woke us up while car was in driveway. Related to recall NHTSA campaign id: 16v458000? Also power steering leaking every time we fill it, that also might have a recall from what I saw. Mitsubishi dealer said there are no recalls for my car but seeing similarities with what is wrong with my car. Car was just sitting in my driveway when it anpped”

   NHTSA complaint #11265298, filed 2019-10, 123,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Dimming or failing lights and dash display

   • 11 complaints (9%)
   • median 79,000 mi at 8.4 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2007–2025

   Owners describe headlights and instrument panel lights that dim intermittently, with some reporting the headlights cutting out entirely while driving at night. A few complaints describe the entire dash cluster or its gauges failing, requiring replacement. In some cases the dealer replaced a multifunction switch or fuse panel wiring without fully resolving the problem. Reported from very low mileage up to around 160,000 miles in the sample.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: At night, watch for flickering or dimming headlights and dash lights, and check that all gauges and the odometer read correctly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The headlights on my 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander ls suddenly stopped working while I was driving at night on a country road. The high beams worked fine. I had to leave them on when I was crossing other cars, which caused the other drivers to furiously flash their high beams on and off at me. It was very dangerous and scary! Took it to a local Mitsubishi dealer who first checked the fuses, then tried to fix the problem by replacing the multifunction switch next to the steering wheel, which did not help. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11039152, filed 2017-10, 75,000 miles

   “Entire dashboard cluster failed: speedometer, tach, odometer, fuel gauge, computer. Car still ran, but there was no way to determine speed or gas remaining. Dealer had to replace entire dashboard.”

   NHTSA complaint #10280385, filed 2009-08, 12,500 miles
4. 4
   Exterior lighting

   Brake lights not illuminating

   • 7 complaints (6%)
   • median 53,080 mi at 5.4 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2007–2025

   Complaints describe brake lights that fail to come on when the pedal is pressed, which owners often link to the brake light switch. Several owners report being told their vehicle was not included in a related recall, and some note that parts for the repair were unavailable at the time. Reported across a wide mileage range, from around 28,000 to 142,000 miles.

   Recall 14V564000Recall 08V680000

   What to check: With the key on, have someone press the brake pedal and confirm both rear brake lights illuminate; ask whether the brake light switch recall was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The brake switch malfunctioned. There is failure of the brake lamps to illuminate when the brakes are applied. This can result in an accident. I was told that my particular vehicle was not included in the initial recall for this issue. This vehicle should be included in the recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #10448549, filed 2012-02, 41,000 miles

   “While driving my 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander the right rear brakes locked up and wore down the brake pad to nothing causing metal on metal contact with the rotor. I contacted Mitsubishi and had the vehicle towed to the closest Mitsubishi dealership. The mechanic at the dealership told me that the emergency brake cable had adjusted itself causing the brakes to do this. I questioned if it was a mechanical failure so it would be covered under warranty and he said no. Mitsubishi replaced the rear brake pads as good will . …”

   NHTSA complaint #10318095, filed 2010-03, 53,080 miles

Buying note. Given the number of suspension and subframe corrosion complaints, a pre-purchase inspection underneath the car and a VIN check against the open recalls are worth doing. Ask for records showing whether the front spring and subframe campaigns were completed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.