2003 Mitsubishi OUTLANDER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
116 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
68,250 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 80 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 20 of 116 complaints (17.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 9 | 7.8% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 6.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 5.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 5.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 3.4% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 20 |
| Exterior Lighting | 12 |
| Steering | 10 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Suspension:Rear | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
Suspension: 20; Exterior Lighting: 12; Steering: 10; Electrical System: 5; Suspension:Rear: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5; Visibility/Wiper: 5; Air Bags: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 21 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 14 |
| 150,000 and above | 14 |
Under 25,000: 21; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 14; 150,000 and above: 14
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 36 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 13 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2003: 14; 2004: 13; 2005: 10; 2006: 2; 2007: 7; 2008: 9; 2009: 10; 2010: 8; 2011: 2; 2012: 2; 2013: 3; 2014: 6; 2015: 3; 2016: 10; 2017: 7; 2018: 3; 2019: 5; 2023: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10037336 · 2003-09-06 (September 6, 2003)
STEERING/SUSPENSION OUTLANDER XLS CAR PULLS AND DRIFTS TO THE RIGHT, CAR HAS BEEN TO AUTO SERVICE 3 TIMES AND PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037336 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038310 · 2003-09-05 (September 5, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. DEALER DID AN ALIGNMENT, AND CHECKED THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALER INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL PROBLEM AND THERE WAS NO SOLUTION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10038310 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10114293 · 2005-03-18 (March 18, 2005)
FRONT BRAKES SQUEAK AND LOCK UP WHEN COLD, (MORNINGS) DEALER SAY IT'S NORMAL. MY FRIEND HAS AN OUTLANDER AND HE DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE TAKEN IT IT 4 TO 5 TIMES. THE BRAKES LOCKING UP NEARLY CAUSED A COLLISION FROM THE CAR BEHIND ME.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10114293 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10129169 · 2005-07-18 (July 18, 2005)
DT: VEHICLE IS A 2003 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. TOOK IT TO IDEAL MITSUBISHI AUTOMOTIVE GROUP 645 S. HIGHWAY 92 SIERRA VISTA, AZ 85635 [phone removed]. THEY FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION ON 6-13-05, AND ON 6-14-05 SHE WAS ON A PULL OUT WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND THE WHEELS STARTED TO SPIN. SHE CONTACTED DEALERSHIP ON 6-14-05 AND LEFT A MESSAGE. ON 6-20-05 SHE WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION WHILE ACCELERATING VERY SLOWLY AND TURNING RIGHT, IT HAD A POWER SURGE, WHICH CAUSED IT TO BE PUSHED INTO THE OTHER LANE…
Owner-reported narrative. 53,794 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129169 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10042431 · 2003-10-07 (October 7, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STICK SHIFT INDICATOR BROKE, MAKING HARD TO SHIFT THE GEAR. DEALER STATED THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PART, AND DIDN'T KNOW WHEN THEY WILL HAVE IT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10042431 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055561 · 2004-01-21 (January 21, 2004)
CONSUMER CANNOT UNLOCK THE FRONT AND REAR DOORS FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. WATER WENT UNDER FLOOR AND CORRODED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS PROBLEM WAS SIMILAR TO NHTSA RECALL 03V194000: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, WATER COULD ENTER THE FRONT FLOORBOARD AREA FROM OPENINGS IN THE SIDE SILL OR UPPER DASH AREA. THIS WATER COULD COLLECT UNDER THE SEAT AND CAUSE ELECTRICAL CORROSION TO OCCUR IN THE HARNESS CONNECTORS THAT CONTAIN THE WIRING FOR THE SEAT BELT RETACTOR, SIDE AIR BAG IMPACT SENSOR, AND STOP LAMPS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055561 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10214300 · 2008-01-09 (January 9, 2008)
THIS IS FOR A MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER 2003. THERE WAS A LOT OF WATER UNDER THE SEATS, DON'T KNOW HOW, AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON DUE TO BAD OXYGEN SENSOR AND THERE MIGHT BE CORROSION IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, THIS CAN CAUSE A FIRE, REAR STOP LIGHT STOP WORKING, THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER CAN GO BAD. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE MANUFACTURER SAID THAT I ONLY HAVE 1 RECALL WHEN THE NHTSA SAYS THAT THERE'S A RECALL FOR THIS,=NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 03V194000. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 70,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10214300 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10579658 · 2014-04-14 (April 14, 2014)
OVER THE LAST 4-6 MONTHS I NOTICED A GASOLINE ODOR AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK (AFFECTED PART). THE GAS ODOR HAS GOTTEN SIGNIFICANTLY STRONGER OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE VEHICLE EACH MONTH. IF I FILL THE GAS TANK TODAY THERE IS AN EXTREME GAS ODOR/FUME THAT IS LEAKING FROM THE GAS TANK. AS THE GAS TANK EMPTIES THE ODOR DECREASES. THERE ISN'T A GAS LIQUID LEAKAGE THAT YOU WOULD SEE ON THE GROUND, BUT A FLUME LEAKAGE THAT FILLS THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND SURROUNDS THE OUTSIDE REAR AREA OF THE VEHICLE. I THINK IF THERE WAS SPARK, OPEN FLAME, REAR EN…
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10579658 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10723966 · 2015-06-08 (June 8, 2015)
THE VEHICLE IS WAS PURCHASED USED WITH NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. AFTER DRIVING FOR A WEEK THE LIGHT CAME ON AND THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL SMELL AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK. A DIAGNOSIS CHECK WAS DONE AND IT WAS FOUND THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL TANK. IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A HOLE IN THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK CAUSING FUMES TO LEAK. THE TANK CANNOT GO BELOW A QUARTER TANK OR THE ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF AS WELL. AFTER RESEARCHING THROUGH THE INTERNET IT WAS FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PRO…
Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10723966 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10897984 · 2016-08-23 (August 23, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10897984 at NHTSA ↗