2023 Mitsubishi Outlander Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 2023 Outlander most often describe a rear camera or infotainment screen that goes blank, and some complaints tie this to back-over prevention recalls. Other recurring reports involve sudden power loss or dashboard shutdowns while driving, airbags that deploy unexpectedly or do not deploy in a crash, and warnings that engine power is reduced. All of these complaints were filed in 2023 or later, and mileage is rarely stated.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Rear camera or infotainment screen goes blank

   • 8 complaints (16%)
   • median 79,057 mi at 3.1 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe a backup camera that does not appear, or appears late or not at all, when the car is put in reverse, and an infotainment screen that freezes or goes black. Some say a recall repair was completed but the camera still failed, and others were told the recall parts were not yet available. One owner says the dealer charged a fee for a diagnostic test that did not find the cause. Filed in 2025 and 2026, and where mileage is stated it ranges from 20,000 to 79,057 miles.

   Recall 25V369000Recall 23V3450001 related service bulletin

   What to check: On a test drive, confirm the rear camera image appears in reverse and that the infotainment screen does not freeze. Ask whether recall 25V369000 or 23V345000 has been completed and whether the restart procedure in the dealer bulletin was followed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Recall repair did not solve the camera problem. Rear camera and parking assist camera's do not come on. When car is shifted into reverse, camera does not appear. This issue was already reported and I have completed the recall maintenance for this issue and the problem still persists. This is a massive safety liability. I took the car into the dealership and they confirmed the recall maintenance has already been completed. They then charged me $100 to do a diagnostic test, but they couldn't determine why the cameras were failing. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11746298, filed 2026-06

   “The camera does not activate when the car is put into reverse. It also doesn't activate when you are parking the car. The parking camera doesn't show on the screen at all. The recall on this item was repaired on my car but didn't fix the issue and the dealer refused to service it further without significant cost. This is a fundamental safety issue that should be addressed by recall and repaired without cost to the owner. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11756554, filed 2026-08
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Sudden power loss or dashboard shutdown while driving

   • 15 complaints (30%)
   • median 79,057 mi at 3.1 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe the instrument panel going blank or shutting down while the vehicle is moving, which removes speed and warning information. Others report a sudden loss of power with no warning, including an electronic shifter that failed so the car could not be placed into neutral. One complaint describes a warning light in wet weather followed by a sudden loss of power and an airbag deployment. Mileage is rarely stated, and the one figure given is 79,057 miles; filings run from 2023 to 2026.

   What to check: Ask the dealer to scan for stored electrical or infotainment fault codes and whether any software updates were applied. On a test drive, check that the instrument panel and electronic shifter respond normally in every gear.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My tire went flat, went to pull over and when my tire went blow , the driver seat airbag came out that’s not right because it’s no wreck no accident no nothing. I just don’t understand what could’ve went wrong with just a tire going flat on the passenger sideand then the driver seat airbag went off no collision no damage no nothing to vehicle my screen go out in the car I lose power when driving it’ll just lose power and now you have to pull over and turn the car off and start it back up. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11623576, filed 2024-11

   “In any instance where the electronic shifter does not have power, vehicle cannot be placed into neutral manually to be pushed to safety. Vehicle shuts down, immobile, in place with no warning. I was in drive for approximately 30 minutes. I put the vehicle in park, then in reverse to back out of a parking space. The car was never turned off. When I went to put the vehicle into drive, the entire car lost power. There was no warning. The car was completely immobilized perpendicular to traffic. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11515346, filed 2023-04
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbags deploy unexpectedly or do not deploy in a crash

   • 7 complaints (14%)
   • median 43,525 mi at 3.1 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe airbags that deployed after a tire went flat or the vehicle hit a pothole, and in some of these complaints no crash is reported. Others say the airbags did not deploy in a rear-end collision or in a side-impact crash, with injuries reported. One complaint describes an airbag deployment that followed a warning light and a sudden loss of power. Filed between November 2024 and October 2026, and where mileage is stated it ranges from 50 to 87,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask the seller for any airbag or SRS fault codes and the history of any deployment. Check during the inspection that no airbag warning light stays on.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Hey I run over a pothole and. My tire went flat and then the air bag just came out that’s not supposed to happen just from a flat tire that’s a safety hazard”

   NHTSA complaint #11753656, filed 2026-07

   “During operation in wet and rainy conditions, a warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. Shortly thereafter, the vehicle encountered a roadway pothole, at which point the airbags deployed unexpectedly. Simultaneously, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of power, resulting in contact with a curb and minor damage to the wheel rim. The malfunction has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. To date, the vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11687728, filed 2025-09
4. 4
   Engine

   Power reduced warning or engine overheating

   • 5 complaints (10%)
   • typically at 3.3 yrs old
   • filed 2024–2026

   Owners describe a dashboard warning that engine power is reduced, in one case with an EGR valve fault code, and in a plug-in hybrid the EV mode does not deliver full power. Others report recurring high engine temperature readings, misfires, and overheating-related shutdowns while driving, with air found in the cooling system. A strong coolant smell and a leak were reported before a dealer said the engine may need replacement. All were filed in 2024 or later, and the only mileage given is 10,000.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask the dealer to scan for stored engine, EGR, and cooling-system fault codes and whether the engine control module reprogramming in the bulletin was done. A test drive that includes a long climb or highway cruising can show whether a power-reduced message appears.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I keep getting a message on my Dashboard that indicates my engine malfunction power reduced service now…. This is the second time this has happen … first time i took it to dealer they said oh they don’t see anything after taking to put it on machine and it said my engine was failing then today Easter it’s back and it’s really scaring me and the dealer is to far To be driving the car and this message keeps appearing”

   NHTSA complaint #11580334, filed 2024-03

   “My 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander has experienced recurring high engine-temperature readings, misfires, and two overheating-related engine shutdowns while driving, creating a risk of unexpected power loss in traffic. The vehicle has been evaluated repeatedly by authorized Mitsubishi dealerships without identifying the underlying cause. Air in the cooling system was documented in September 2025, with the dealership noting it could cause the engine to run hotter than normal. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11772262, filed 2026-10
5. 5
   Steering

   Steering noises and clunks when turning

   • 5 complaints (10%)
   • median 46,000 mi at 1.2 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners describe noises from the steering area, including a popping felt through the wheel after the car sits, a clunk when turning, and a crack-like sound when the car starts. In one case a strut bearing was identified and parts had to be ordered, and in another the dealer was said to know the problem without a fix yet available. One owner also reports a weird noise from loose parts inside the steering wheel. One complaint notes the knocking began at 15,000 miles, and the others do not state mileage; filings run from November 2023 to August 2024.

   What to check: Ask whether the strut or steering-related parts were inspected or replaced and whether any manufacturer bulletin or special coverage applies. On a test drive, turn the wheel slowly at low speed and after a short stop to check for popping or clunking.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The direction of the car where the wheel is when I turn it on sounds like a (crack)when I stop and start it sounds too, I called the Dealer and they know the problem but Mitsubishi still does not have a solution, they told me that they are investigating and they are not doing anything nothing to correct the problem. The technician told me that he would call in 3 months in case there is any recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #11554370, filed 2023-11

   “I took this car 2 times to the dealership about the same issue the steering wheel it has a lose parts inside keep giving a weird noise and the second issue the gas smell inside the cabin if you stop the vehicle on hot day and the ac running they are a very bad gas smell coming inside the cabin throw the ac vents i looked on this issue online alot of people have this issue dealership said can't smell nothing they don't want to put the work in to this issue i need help please even last night we smelled it its very bad alot they said On line …”

   NHTSA complaint #11607670, filed 2024-08

Buying note. Before buying a 2023 Outlander, ask whether the back-over prevention recall repairs have been completed and check that the rear camera and screen work in reverse on a test drive. Also ask about any power-reduced warnings, sudden power loss, or airbag and steering-noise repairs in the service history.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 44 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.