2008 Mitsubishi OUTLANDER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
58 owner complaints analyzed
12 distinct recall campaigns
99,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 41 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 58 complaints (15.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 12.1% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 10.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 6.9% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.7% |
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 | 9 |
| Exterior Lighting | 8 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 7 |
| Power Train | 6 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
Suspension: 9; Exterior Lighting: 8; Electrical System: 7; Visibility/Wiper: 7; Power Train: 6; Engine: 5; Service Brakes: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 10
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 17 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 |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2018 | 11 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2008: 5; 2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 6; 2015: 4; 2017: 12; 2018: 11; 2019: 2; 2020: 3; 2021: 5; 2024: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 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 10465586 · 2012-07-13 (July 13, 2012)
THIS VEHICLE WAS RECALLED IN 2009 FOR A FAILURE OF THE SWITCH WHICH ACTIVATES THE BRAKE LAMPS. MITSUBISHI RECORDS INDICATE THAT WE HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED IN MARCH, 2009, ALONG WITH ANOTHER RECALL ITEM. HOWEVER, THROUGHOUT THE FIRST HALF OF 2011, MY WIFE AND I HAD PROBLEMS GETTING THE CAR TO COME OUT OF 'PARK', AND WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL COMPUTER INDICATING MALFUNCTIONS. ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THOSE ISSUES INVESTIGATED, I FOLLOWED THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THAT MOST OF THE TIME, THE BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT ACTIVATE WHEN THE BRAK…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10465586 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10652194 · 2014-11-03 (November 3, 2014)
WE HAVE A 2008 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER THAT WE PURCHASED IN 2010. I WAS FOLLOWING MY WIFE DOWN THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES THE BRAKE LIGHTS SOMETIMES DID NOT COME ON. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM. WHEN WE GOT HOME I TESTED IT AND FOUND THAT ABOUT 20% OF THE TIME NO BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE TO SEE HOW DIFFICULT IT WOULD BE TO FIX AND DISCOVERED THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH IT. IT ALSO EFFECTS THE SHIFT INTERLOCK WHICH PREVENTS SHIFTING THE CAR OUT OF P…
Owner-reported narrative. 94,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10652194 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10249579 · 2008-11-23 (November 23, 2008)
MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER '08, PADDLE SHIFTERS ARE A POORLY DESIGNED DEVICE FOR SHIFTING GEARS ON AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, THEY ARE ATTACHED TO THE STEERING WHEEL BESIDE THE RIGHT AND LEFT TURN SIGNALS AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. WHEN YOU USE THE NORMAL ABOVE TWO ITEMS YOUR FINGERS AUTOMATICALLY INVOLUNTARILY SHIFT THE CAR INTO FOR INSTANCE, LOW GEAR!!! HORRIBLY DANGEROUS DEVICE, POOR ENGINEERING DESIGN, TRYING TO "SOUP UP" A CHEAP, POORLY DESIGNED VEHICLE. THE CAR NEEDS TO BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY! *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10249579 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10778530 · 2015-09-29 (September 29, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V366000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10778530 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10651088 · 2014-10-29 (October 29, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V562000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10651088 at NHTSA ↗