2010 Mitsubishi Outlander Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about the engine drive-belt recall and the difficulty getting the remedy parts, and about the front crossmember and lower control arm rust recall and the corrosion they still find afterwards. A second cluster of reports covers sunroofs shattering, windshield wiper linkage and motor problems, ABS warning lights with pump replacement costs, and occasional stalling or rough idling. Many complaints have little or no mileage listed, so mileage patterns are only approximate.

1. 1
   Engine

   Drive belt / belt tensioner recall and parts delays

   • 20 complaints (33%)
   • median 45,000 mi at 5.1 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2014–2023

   Owners describe receiving notice of the drive-belt and pulley campaign and then being told by the dealer that the parts were on back order, with no date given. A few report the vehicle stalling or dying shortly after leaving the dealer following belt-related work. Others note that belt replacement done earlier at their own expense was not reimbursed. Complaints are largely about waiting for the remedy rather than a failure the owner experienced. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 40,000 to over 110,000 miles, often in the months after the notice arrived.

   Recall 18V069000Recall 14V5620001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask the seller for proof that the belt tensioner campaign remedy was completed, and check for any belt or pulley work in service records. Listen for belt squeal or a rough idle at start-up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On october 20th I received a recall to have the drive belt changed. I called the dealership to have the drive belt changed, but they didn't have the parts from the manufacturer yet. I called again today, and they still don't have it. They also don't know when are they getting it.”

   NHTSA complaint #10659407, filed 2014-11, 40,000 miles

   “Received a letter in the mail in early october 2014 regarding a drive belt recall for 2010 Outlander. Have made several calls to the dealership regarding the replacement only to be told the required parts on are national back order and to call back every 2 weeks. They were advised by the manufacturer that there is no estimated date for the parts to be received.”

   NHTSA complaint #10659224, filed 2014-11
2. 2
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield wiper linkage or motor trouble

   Mentioned in 5 of 56 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the wipers staying upright after being switched off, or mentioning the wiper link and motor campaigns. Several complaints are about being told the remedy parts were unavailable after receiving the notice. Other reports mention water getting in around the wiper area. Reported from about 38,000 to 130,000 miles, and in the recall-related cases soon after the notices were mailed.

   Recall 17V461000Recall 16V791000

   What to check: Run the wipers through all speeds and confirm they park correctly, and ask whether the wiper link and motor campaigns were completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I received a recall notice in the beginning of december 2016 that concerning windshield wiper link seperation. It is now 3 months and I am still being told by Mitsubishi customer service that they still don't have the part to correct the problem. I think I have been more than patient after waiting 3 months. The manufacturer recall number is sr-16-009 and the NHTSA recall number is 16v791. I hope you can help me get this resolved.”

   NHTSA complaint #10958306, filed 2017-03, 38,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that after turning the front windshield wipers off, the driver’s side and passenger’s side windshield wipers remained in the upright position. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V791000 (Visibility). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11462725, filed 2022-04, 130,000 miles
3. 3
   Other or unknown

   Crossmember and front control arm rust

   • 5 complaints (8%)
   • median 75,000 mi at 10.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2017–2023

   Owners describe severe rust on the front crossmember and lower control arms, sometimes found during routine service or when the dealer inspected the underside. Some say the vehicle had already had the corrosion campaign applied yet the same areas rusted again, and others report the vehicle being unusable because of it. Complaints also mention being told the VIN was not covered even though the symptoms matched the campaign description. Mostly reported on vehicles with 70,000 miles and up, often in states that use road salt in winter.

   Recall 20V279000Recall 16V4580002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have the underside inspected on a lift, especially the front crossmember and lower control arm mounting points, and ask whether the corrosion remedy was applied and when. Look for flaking or perforation rather than surface rust.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Dealer wants to replace rear lower control arms due to corrosion and the car control arms were never addressed when I took it into the dealer for recall 16V458. The dealer was supposed to add a anti corrosion spray to the control arms in the front and back. The corrosion is very bad with these parts on my car and I am very concerned about safety.”

   NHTSA complaint #11535688, filed 2023-08

   “High Point Mitsubishi in High Point NC preformed the recall in regards to rust forming on the underside crossmember of this vehicle. Less than 3 years later this vehicle is immovable because of the exact same reason as the original recall. The technician obviously overlooked areas of which to spray the rust preventative in which caused the structural integrity to completely fail at the front mounting location of the driver side control arm onto the crossmember. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11452025, filed 2022-02

Buying note. Ask for documentation that the open campaigns for this model year were completed, and have the underside and sunroof inspected before purchase. Pay particular attention to brake warning lights and to any wiper or sunroof repairs already done.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 56 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.