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U.S. public vehicle records

2020 Mitsubishi OUTLANDER: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

31 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

53,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 31 complaints (35.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior412.9%
Transmission and shifting13.2%
Electrical and battery issues13.2%

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.

Electrical System
11
Unknown Or Other
8
Air Bags
4
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings
4
Engine
2
Seats
2
Service Brakes
2
Exterior Lighting
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System11
Unknown Or Other8
Air Bags4
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings4
Engine2
Seats2
Service Brakes2
Exterior Lighting1

Electrical System: 11; Unknown Or Other: 8; Air Bags: 4; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 4; Engine: 2; Seats: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Exterior Lighting: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
3
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
2
100,000 to 149,999
1
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0003
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9991
75,000 to 99,9992
100,000 to 149,9991
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 22 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.

2020
1
2021
6
2022
1
2023
2
2024
7
2025
7
2026
7
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20201
20216
20221
20232
20247
20257
20267

2020: 1; 2021: 6; 2022: 1; 2023: 2; 2024: 7; 2025: 7; 2026: 7

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 11328690 · 2020-06-13 (June 13, 2020)

2020 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER WAS STRUCK IN THE REAR END AND SLAMMED AGAINST A SOLID FOUNDATION IN THE FRONT THAT CAUSE THE DASHBOARD TO BREAK AND ALL THE SEATS TO BREAK FROM THE FLOOR OF THE CAR. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SEVERE INJURIES RESULTED. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY ON THE HIGHWAY IN ROUTE TO TURN WHEN STRUCK. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11328690 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11390090 · 2021-01-26 (January 26, 2021)

MY CAR IS 4 MONTHS OLD WITH 5500 MILES ON IT. DRIVING AT 70MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON, CAR STARTED TO KNOCK AND BUCK. I REDUCED SPEED. THE SERVICE TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON AND THE D FOR GEAR SELECTION STARTED TO BLINK. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. I RESTARTED AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF. I DROVE HOME AT A REDUCED SPEED. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. 5500 MILES!

Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11390090 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11391077 · 2021-02-01 (February 1, 2021)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ANOTHER DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH, THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED A MEDICAL EMERGENCY AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE OCCUPANT IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURIES AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS PROVIDED. THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT WERE AT THE SCENE. THERE WAS NO REPORT OF A FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT LOT. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTUR…

Owner-reported narrative. 6 miles reported. Look up ODI 11391077 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11405790 · 2021-03-31 (March 31, 2021)

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY STARTED FLASHING WARNINGS OF "EV SYSTEM REQUIRED STOP SAFELY", "RBS SERVICE REQUIRED!", AND THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. ALSO, I WASN'T ABLE TO ACCELERATE OVER 20MPH. I QUICKLY EXITED THE FREEWAY AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. WHEN I RESTARTED IT, THE CAR SEEMED TO OPERATE NORMALLY AS FAR AS THE ACCELERATION, BUT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT SOON LIGHT REMAINED AND THE "BRAKE!" FORWARD COLLISION MITIGATION SYSTEM STARTED TO RANDOMLY KICK IN. INTERESTINGLY, IN THE WEEK LEADING UP TO THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11405790 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11408641 · 2021-04-18 (April 18, 2021)

SUNROOF GLASS SHATTERED

Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11408641 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11430374 · 2021-08-24 (August 24, 2021)

I was at a 24 hr storage unit. It was dim & I needed to unload from the rear hatch door so I backed to the open storage unit door in its upright position as high as I could get it & stopped at a safe distance from the doorway so the car door would not catch the storage unit door. I put the vehicle in PARK to have some lighting & double checked before I got out- gear shift securely in PARK. I opened the car's rear door & started unloading without overly disturbing the vehicle or causing any unnecessary movement. I had just turned my back to t…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11430374 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11437428 · 2021-10-20 (October 20, 2021)

Forward collision warning light comes on with no car in front of me and car starts braking. I did see that Mitsubishi was recalling these cars with this particular problem but I have not received a recall notice.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11437428 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11493095 · 2022-11-10 (November 10, 2022)

The left back seat on the 2nd row rocks. I’m expecting twins and it’s not safe for the babies.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11493095 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

20V280000 · Seat Belts:Rear/Other

Reported: 2020-05-18 (May 18, 2020)

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Outlander and 2019 Outlander PHEV vehicles. The seat belt for the right side second-row seat may have been assembled incorrectly.

Consequence: An incorrectly assembled seat belt may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the right side second-row seat belt and replace it as necessary, free of charge. This recall began June 17, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-20-002.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
25V507000 · Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Support Device/Strut

Reported: 2025-08-07 (August 7, 2025)

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Outlander PHEV and 2014-2020 Outlander vehicles sold and/or currently registered in Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The liftgate gas spring cylinders may corrode and lose pressure, which can result in a gas spring cylinder rupture or the liftgate falling unexpectedly.

Consequence: A gas spring cylinder rupture or a liftgate falling unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: MMNA will replace the left and right liftgate gas springs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 6, 2025. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-25-002

NHTSA campaign record ↗
26V252000 · Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Support Device/Strut

Reported: 2026-04-20 (April 20, 2026)

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Outlander PHEV and 2014-2020 Outlander vehicles. The liftgate gas spring cylinders may corrode and lose pressure, which can result in a gas spring cylinder rupture or the liftgate falling unexpectedly.

Consequence: A gas spring cylinder rupture or a liftgate falling unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: MMNA will replace the left and right liftgate gas springs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 17, 2026. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-26-001. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov June 3, 2026. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V507.

NHTSA campaign record ↗