2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander most often describe the engine shutting off or dying, airbag warning lights or deployment faults, and brake warnings with reduced stopping. Headlights that burn out repeatedly and liftgate gas spring failures also come up, and some complaints describe delays in getting recall repairs. Reports span very low mileage to about 215,000 miles, and several describe problems that began soon after purchase.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine stalling, dying or sudden power loss

   • 10 complaints (18%)
   • median 19,500 mi at 3.1 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners describe the engine shutting off or dying while driving, including on the highway and at stops, and some report a propulsion power warning followed by a loss of speed. Others say the vehicle struggles to start or does not crank after going over a bump in a parking lot. In several complaints the dealer or mechanic could not identify the fault, and another describes a camshaft-related part breaking and the engine being replaced. Where mileage is given, reports range from about 7,800 to 65,000 miles, and some describe the problem starting soon after purchase.

   What to check: On a test drive, check starts after the car has sat, reverse-to-drive shifts, and low-speed stops, and watch for check-engine or power-reduced warnings. Ask for diagnostic records for any stalling, no-start or power-reduced event, and whether any camshaft or engine replacement was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving in a parking lot and slowed down because of a bump the car immediately died as soon as I passed the bump with no engine light errors. The battery was car jump and nothing happened. The battery was tested with voltage meter and same issue. When you turn on the car nothing happens, no sound, no cranks, no engine light. I had the car towed at home. This is a safety issue and very concerning. The car is 2018 Outlander es and have 34k miles.”

   NHTSA complaint #11383195, filed 2020-12, 34,000 miles

   “Within 10,000 miles of owning my new car I noticed it would randomly stall sometimes at the stop light of an intersection. It doesn't take long to start back up. Other times my car struggles to start all together. I'll turn the key 2-3 times before it starts. Several months went by where the issue was no longer present but over the past month it started again. Likely related to the whether now that winter is near. Finally my ebrake has never worked since I bought the car in early 2019 with 21k miles.”

   NHTSA complaint #11364788, filed 2020-10, 25,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light and deployment faults

   • 11 complaints (19%)
   • median 36,542 mi at 2.0 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners describe an airbag warning light that comes on, flashes, or stays on, sometimes after the driver seat is moved, and airbag system codes that keep returning after repair. Other complaints describe airbags that did not deploy or only partly deployed in a crash, and curtain airbags that deployed over a pothole with no collision. According to complaints, a dealer repaired a wire and later replaced a harness for the same warning light, and a dealer erased codes without diagnosing the fault. Where mileage is given, reports range from about 14,000 to 215,000 miles, and some warning-light complaints began when the driver seat was moved.

   What to check: Check whether the airbag warning light is on at startup and after moving the driver seat, and ask for repair records on the airbag system and seat harness. Ask whether any airbag or harness recall work is still open, and whether a warning code was actually diagnosed rather than only cleared.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On march 11 th, my Outlander was unable to stop and had minimal traction in about a quarter of an inch of snow causing my vehicle to hit a tree head on. I was driving under 30 miles an hour when the accident occurred. After hitting the tree, the steering wheel began to smoke. I was able to exit the vehicle and turned around to see the airbag only partially deployed. From there, my vehicle was declared a total loss. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11202533, filed 2019-04, 14,000 miles

   “I was in a head on collision on 12/13/2022, and the air bag failed to deploy. The failure of the air bag deployment cause my chest to slam into the steering wheel along with my knees on the steering column. I went to the hospital for observation and any unknown injuries. My chest hurts and knees along with consistent visions of my life flashing in my mind due to the trauma of this incident. The police, nurses, family, and friends said that I’m lucky to not have serious injuries from the failure of the air bag deployment. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11497480, filed 2022-12
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brake warnings, pad wear and reduced stopping

   • 12 complaints (21%)
   • median 14,000 mi at 1.5 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2025

   Owners describe an ABS warning that appears while turning at low speed, a car that could not stop well on snow, and braking that felt delayed in an emergency. Other complaints describe rear brake pads wearing out early, which a dealer attributed to driving habits, and a parking brake that an owner says has not worked since purchase. A crash complaint says the failure matches a forward collision recall, and that the dealer was not contacted. Where mileage is given, reports range from about 13,000 to 84,000 miles, and several came in the first 15,000 miles.

   Recall 18V6210001 related service bulletin

   What to check: During a test drive, check for ABS or brake warning messages and confirm the parking brake applies and releases normally. Ask whether the parking brake maintenance in the related service bulletin was performed, and whether the forward collision and braking software recall work was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I bought my car july 31, 2018, 0 miles vehicle Mitsubishi Outlander gt 2018. I have notice dangerous condition on the break system. - first of all, when the vehicle was about 6 month of use the rear break start to sound. When I take my vehicle to the Mitsubishi service department and the rear break pads was worn out with only 12,000 miles. They claim that is my driving habits was what causes the premature worn of the break pad. I told them that my last car I change rear break pad at 60,000 miles with the same driving habits they alleged. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11278513, filed 2019-11, 15,000 miles

   “'takata recall' I got into a three collision accident on a city highway. When I was braking to avoid the accident it kept on moving like it ways delayed. I believe that the accident could of been preventable if my brakes was aware that my feet was on it. It's like the car was doing it's own thing. There could be more things unknown going on with the car. I just brought this car 2 months ago.”

   NHTSA complaint #11162079, filed 2018-12
4. 4
   Exterior lighting

   Headlights burn out or fail repeatedly

   Mentioned in 4 of 51 sampled complaints

   Owners describe headlights that stop working or burn out again soon after being replaced, sometimes alternating between the left and right sides. In some complaints the dealer replaced a headlight and the failure returned. An owner says they may not notice a light is out until someone else or the police points it out, and another speculates that static buildup might play a role. Where mileage is given, reports range from about 11,000 to 53,500 miles, and several describe repeated replacements within about a year.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: During a test drive, check that both low and high beams work on each side, including after several minutes of driving. Ask for records of headlight or bulb replacements, and whether the headlight electrical circuit was checked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have replaced the lowbeam headlights 7 times in the past year. I dont realize they are out until someone or the police tell me. This is a safety problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #11363636, filed 2020-10, 11,000 miles

   “2018 Mitishichi Headlights, left, then right stop working. Dealer replaced first one within 6 months. So far I have replaced one or the other 4 or 5 Times. I did complain to NHTSA . These lights have been out more than they have worked. Google indicates a large number of these issues but no recall from NHTSA.”

   NHTSA complaint #11562456, filed 2023-12
5. 5
   Body and structure

   Liftgate gas spring failures and recall delays

   Mentioned in 4 of 51 sampled complaints

   Owners describe a liftgate that falls unexpectedly, including a complaint about it falling onto the owner's head while reaching into the trunk. The owner was told the VIN was not included in a related recall, and another complaint describes a liftgate that does not stop when an obstruction is in the way and makes no sound while moving. A complaint says the gas springs failed and were replaced before the recall, and that reimbursement had no set timeframe. Another says the dealer had exceeded a reasonable time for the recall repair, and a callback was promised to schedule it. Where mileage is given, reports are from about 120,000 to 132,000 miles, and a recall-repair complaint says no failure has occurred.

   Recall 25V507000Recall 26V2520001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the VIN against NHTSA campaigns 25V507000 and 26V252000, and confirm whether the liftgate gas springs have been replaced. Test that the liftgate holds its position when opened, and listen for unusual noise when it moves.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The rear liftgate on this vehicle does not stop if there is an obstruction, i.e., a hand, a head or other body part. Not only does it not stop in case of obstruction, there is no audible sound made to indicate the door is in motion. I was hit in the head hard this morning - hard enough to cause stars and get a nice golf-ball sized bump on my skull. This is dangerous and should be remedied. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11503424, filed 2023-01

   “The contact owns a 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that after opening the liftgate, while reaching into the trunk, the liftgate fell and hit the contact on the head. The contact had not sustained an injury. There was no warning light illuminated. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall related to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11690762, filed 2025-10, 120,000 miles

Buying note. Before buying, check the VIN against open recalls and ask for proof of any liftgate gas spring, airbag, or brake repairs, along with the engine service history. A test drive that includes restarts, reverse-to-drive shifts, and low-speed stops can help show whether these symptoms are present.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 51 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.