2012 Mitsubishi OUTLANDER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
22 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
86,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 22 complaints (27.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 22.7% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 9.1% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 4.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 4.5% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 4.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 6 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Suspension | 3 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
Power Train: 6; Unknown Or Other: 4; Engine: 3; Service Brakes: 3; Suspension: 3; Visibility/Wiper: 3; Air Bags: 2; Electrical System: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 11 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2013: 2; 2014: 1; 2017: 3; 2018: 4; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2021: 2; 2022: 3; 2023: 1; 2024: 2; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 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 11124074 · 2018-09-03 (September 3, 2018)
TRANSMISSION IS FAILING TO CHANGE GEARS. THE CAR WON'T SHIFT THROUGH 3RD GEAR. WE WERE ON THE INTERSTATE GOING65 WHEN IT HAPPENED.
Owner-reported narrative. 137,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11124074 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11124483 · 2018-09-05 (September 5, 2018)
FOLLOWING I JUST SENT TO MITSUBISHI HEADQUARTERS I SEE RECALLS FOR TRANSMISSIONS FOR MY MAKE AND MODEL AND YEAR THAT STATES TRANSMISSION FAIL PREMATURELY BETWEEN THE MILES OF 114,000! AND 179,000 AND MINE DID AT 137,000 IT IS NOW STATING FOR 4 MODEL YEARS 2 OF WHICH ARE 2011&2013. WHAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE FOR 2012 TRANSMISSION WHEN YES INDEED MY YEAR OF 2012 TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY? IT DID JUST AS YOUR RECALL STATES AND THEN WHEN I PUT IN MY VIN# I AM TOLD IT WASN'T MY SKIPPED YEAR THAT WAS PART OF THE RECALL. LATER DOWN THE ROAD M…
Owner-reported narrative. 137,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11124483 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11270402 · 2019-10-23 (October 23, 2019)
WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION CAUSES THE POWERTRAIN TO STOP WORKING MAKING THE CAR IMPOSSIBLE TO REMAIN IN MOTION. THIS WILL HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. THE TRANSMISSION WILL HOWL AND SQUEAL RIGHT BEFORE IT NO LONGER WORKS. WAS TOLD BY MITSUBISHI THAT THE CVT TRANSMISSION WAS NOT BUILT FOR LONG DISTANCE DRIVING, TOWING(EVEN THOUGH IT IS OFFERED WITH A TOWING PACKAGE), MOUNTAINOUS DRIVING OR UPHILL ACCELERATION. THIS IS UNSAFE AS IT CAUSES A SUDDEN STOP IN HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC WITH A CAUSE FOR SERIOUS INJURY IF ANOTHER VEHICLE WERE TO HIT TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11270402 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11692172 · 2025-10-08 (October 8, 2025)
My Mitsubishi vehicle has an open recall related to a drive belt issue. Mitsubishi confirmed the recall, but the company have not completed the repair or scheduled an appointment, even after several attempts to contact them. The vehicle has stalled multiple times while driving, including on city roads. When it stalls, the check engine light comes on, and the car loses all power. I have to restart it to keep driving. This is a serious safety risk because it happens suddenly and could lead to an accident. The alternator and battery were both te…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11692172 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11066960 · 2018-02-05 (February 5, 2018)
THE REAR BRAKES GET SO HOT THAT WHEN THEY GET SNOW OR RAIN THEY SMOKE AND SMELL REAL BAD THAT I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO OPEN DOORS. IT IS REAL BAD ONCE YOU STOP. I CANT DO MY TRANSPORTATION JOB BECAUSE OF IT. THE DEALER TELLS IT IS NORMAL.
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11066960 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10508705 · 2013-04-18 (April 18, 2013)
WHILE IN MOTION, AN ANCHORING SCREW HOLD THE PASSENGER SIDE VISOR TO THE ROOF PANEL FELL OUT INTO MY LAP. AS THE PASSENGER AT THE TIE, I CHECKED THE VISOR, NOTICING THE SCREW FELL FROM ABOVE AND NOTICED THE SECOND OF THE TWO ANCHORING SCREWS WAS NEAR FALLING OUT, ALSO. PREVIOUSLY, A SIMILAR SCREW HAD BEEN FOUND ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR AREA, BUT THE LOCATION IT CAME FROM WAS NOT APPARENT AS THE VISOR MOUNT FROM WHICH IT FELL WAS HIDDEN BY THE POSITION OF THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR. CHECKING THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR, I NOTICED THE SECOND AND LAST A…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,915 miles reported. Look up ODI 10508705 at NHTSA ↗