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U.S. public vehicle records

Mitsubishi OUTLANDER problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1,313 owner complaints analyzed

41 distinct recall campaigns

59,165 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2003 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 668 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 167 of 1,313 complaints (12.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior16412.5%
Transmission and shifting13310.1%
Steering behavior957.2%
Electrical and battery issues685.2%
Engine operation524.0%
Fuel system concerns272.1%

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.

Power Train
167
Electrical System
152
Suspension
151
Unknown Or Other
144
Engine
138
Structure:Body
121
Air Bags
100
Service Brakes
97
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Power Train167
Electrical System152
Suspension151
Unknown Or Other144
Engine138
Structure:Body121
Air Bags100
Service Brakes97

Power Train: 167; Electrical System: 152; Suspension: 151; Unknown Or Other: 144; Engine: 138; Structure:Body: 121; Air Bags: 100; Service Brakes: 97

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
204
25,000 to 49,999
96
50,000 to 74,999
102
75,000 to 99,999
87
100,000 to 149,999
120
150,000 and above
59
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,000204
25,000 to 49,99996
50,000 to 74,999102
75,000 to 99,99987
100,000 to 149,999120
150,000 and above59

Under 25,000: 204; 25,000 to 49,999: 96; 50,000 to 74,999: 102; 75,000 to 99,999: 87; 100,000 to 149,999: 120; 150,000 and above: 59

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (204). 645 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.

2003
15
2004
18
2005
14
2006
10
2007
25
2008
22
2009
21
2010
19
2011
14
2012
13
2013
26
2014
63
2015
47
2016
90
2017
114
2018
94
2019
93
2020
62
2021
92
2022
113
2023
93
2024
85
2025
85
2026
85
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
200315
200418
200514
200610
200725
200822
200921
201019
201114
201213
201326
201463
201547
201690
2017114
201894
201993
202062
202192
2022113
202393
202485
202585
202685

2003: 15; 2004: 18; 2005: 14; 2006: 10; 2007: 25; 2008: 22; 2009: 21; 2010: 19; 2011: 14; 2012: 13; 2013: 26; 2014: 63; 2015: 47; 2016: 90; 2017: 114; 2018: 94; 2019: 93; 2020: 62; 2021: 92; 2022: 113; 2023: 93; 2024: 85; 2025: 85; 2026: 85

Pattern summary

Power Train leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 164 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 133 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 95 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 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 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 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 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 ↗

Owner report 10182051 · 2007-02-08 (February 8, 2007)

SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH 2004 MISTSUBISH OUTLANDER. ALL FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, EXCEPT LATEST PROBLEM. CAR WON'T RUN. HAD TO TOW TO DEALERSHIP. CAR SHAKES AND ENGINE CUTS COMPLETELY OUT. DEALERSHIP NOT COOPERATING, FIXED THE WRONG THING, ENGINE STILL CUTS OUT/STALLS, NOW SAYING I "OVERFILLED THE GAS TANK, RUINING THE CHARCOAL FUEL CANISTER." THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY?! THERE HAS TO BE ANOTHER REASON THIS HAPPENED. I HAVE NEVER OVERFILLED OR TOPPED OFF MY GAS. I THINK THEY MESSED IT UP, OR PERHAPS THE GAUGES ARE WRONG. IF THE GAUGES ARE WRO…

Owner-reported narrative. 49,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10182051 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 ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2010
10
2011
8
2012
6
2013
5
2014
4
2015
5
2016
8
2017
6
2018
6
2019
5
2020
3
2022
7
2023
2
2024
1
2025
1
2026
1
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
201010
20118
20126
20135
20144
20155
20168
20176
20186
20195
20203
20227
20232
20241
20251
20261

2010: 10; 2011: 8; 2012: 6; 2013: 5; 2014: 4; 2015: 5; 2016: 8; 2017: 6; 2018: 6; 2019: 5; 2020: 3; 2022: 7; 2023: 2; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 1

Year-by-year records

Mitsubishi OUTLANDER model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
20031166Not available
2004524-2
2005191-3
20062110
20071259+8
20085812+3
20094613+1
20106010-3
2011588-2
2012226-2
2013265-1
2014454-1
2015525+1
20161448+3
2017516-2
20185560
2019295-1
2020313-2
20222137Not available
2023472-5
2024261-1
20251410
2026310