2018 Mitsubishi OUTLANDER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
55 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
27,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 32 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 55 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 9 | 16.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 9.1% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 7.3% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 5.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 11 |
| Air Bags | 10 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
| Structure | 4 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 3 |
Engine: 11; Air Bags: 10; Electrical System: 9; Unknown Or Other: 7; Exterior Lighting: 4; Service Brakes: 4; Structure: 4; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 14 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 14; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (14). 23 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 |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 9 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 8 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2018: 7; 2019: 9; 2020: 6; 2021: 6; 2022: 3; 2023: 9; 2024: 5; 2025: 8; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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 11098228 · 2018-05-27 (May 27, 2018)
ON 27MAY2018, I STARTED MY 2018 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV AND PUT IT IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE GARAGE. FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, THE ALARM DINGED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT REVERSE. MY CONSOLE INDICATED THE CHARGE CORD WAS STILL PLUGGED IN. SO I JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR TO UNPLUG THE CORD, NOT REALIZING THAT I NEVER PRESSED THE 'P' BUTTON TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK. I DIDN'T EVEN THINK TO PRESS THE 'P' BUTTON TO INITIATE PARK BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD NO MOTION. ANYWAY, I QUICKLY UNPLUGGED THE CHARGER, AND IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER, THE CAR STARTED MOVING I…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,010 miles reported. Look up ODI 11098228 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11144247 · 2018-10-30 (October 30, 2018)
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH WHEN I ACCELERATE AND BRAKE. THIS BECAME EVIDENT DAYS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER TRIED TO FIX THE ISSUE BUT THEY DAMAGED THE VEHICLE EVEN MORE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11144247 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11192398 · 2019-03-29 (March 29, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V621000 (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). WHILE DRIVING 28 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED FROM THE SCENE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES, BUT DID NOT RECEIVE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11192398 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11229722 · 2019-07-06 (July 6, 2019)
8 RECALLS ON BRAKES. ELECTRICAL. WHEELS. COLLISION. STABILITY. EMERGENCY BRAKING. ANTILOCK BRAKES. HYDRAULICS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11229722 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11202533 · 2019-04-19 (April 19, 2019)
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. NOW, AFTER REQUESTING MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO DEMAND A SAFETY INSPECTION FROM THE MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP TO NO AVAIL, I'VE CONTACTED…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11202533 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11327258 · 2020-06-04 (June 4, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF THE DRIVER HIS DAUGHTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS DAUGHTER WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, A VEHICLE DRIVING AT 50 MPH FAILED TO STOP AND CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT REAR REMOVING THE VEHICLE REAR BUMPER, AND TAIL LIGHTS, THE DRIVER PROCEEDED TO SPIN THE CONTACT VEHICLE IN A CIRCLE, AND PUSHED THE CONTACT VEHICLE INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE DRIVER AIR BAG, PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG, THE STEERING AIR BAG, THE SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER HEAD HIT THE S…
Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11327258 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11217306 · 2019-06-01 (June 1, 2019)
WHEN REVERSING THE VEHICLE IF YOU SWITCH IT INTO DRIVE TO FAST THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLS OUT, REQUIRING YOU TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, SHUT IT OFF, RESTART THE VEHICLE THEN GO. THIS IS COMPLETELY DANGEROUS. IT IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN AND SHOULD NOT BE HAPPEN ON A BRAND NEW VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW WITH LESS THAN 50 MILES ON IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT A LOCAL GROCERY STORE, TO BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY TO TAKE THE KIDS TO SCHOOL.
Owner-reported narrative. 7,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11217306 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11364788 · 2020-10-17 (October 17, 2020)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11364788 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11428954 · 2021-08-13 (August 13, 2021)
The contact owns a 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who stated that there was a code for leak in the fuel tank however, the mechanic was unable to determine the location of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure recurred four times. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11428954 at NHTSA ↗