Mitsubishi Outlander Reliability: Best and Worst Years

The Mitsubishi Outlander is a compact crossover SUV that reached North America in 2003, replacing the Montero Sport. Later generations added a V6 option, seven-seat versions and a plug-in hybrid, the Outlander PHEV. It is offered with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive and is a separate model from the smaller Outlander Sport. We put all 15 Mitsubishi Outlander model years from 2010 to 2024 side by side, using the same rule for every year.

Why these years stand out

2010: most complaints. The 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander scored 480 complaints per 100,000 sold, 2.3 times the model average. Of its 60 complaints, 25 involve the engine or transmission, and the parts named most often are engine (12), electrical system (6) and engine and engine cooling (6). NHTSA lists 10 recalls for this model year.

2011: most complaints. The 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander scored 593 complaints per 100,000 sold, 2.9 times the model average. Of its 58 complaints, 30 involve the engine or transmission, and the parts named most often are engine (19), electrical system (9) and visibility/wiper (8). NHTSA lists 8 recalls for this model year.

2016: most complaints. The 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander scored 546 complaints per 100,000 sold, 2.6 times the model average. Of its 145 complaints, 84 involve the engine or transmission, and the parts named most often are power train (63), engine (20) and service brakes (14). NHTSA lists 8 recalls for this model year.

2019, 2021 and 2023: fewest complaints. The 2019 drew 30 complaints, or 74 per 100,000 sold; The 2021 drew 0 complaints, or 0 per 100,000 sold; The 2023 drew 51 complaints, or 104 per 100,000 sold. These years have been on the road at least three years, which gives owners time to report problems, so a low count means something.

What Mitsubishi Outlander owners report most

Transmission complaints lead for the Mitsubishi Outlander, at 17% of all complaints for 2010-2024. Engine and transmission reports together make up 33%. One complaint can name more than one system, so the bars can add up to more than the total.

When problems are reported: mileage

386 Mitsubishi Outlander complaints list the odometer reading at the time of the problem. 57% were reported before 50,000 miles and 13% after 100,000. The reports are spread across the mileage range rather than bunched at one point.

Mitsubishi Outlander compared with other compact suvs

In 10 of 15 model years the Mitsubishi Outlander drew fewer complaints per 100,000 sold than the average compact suv we track for the same year. For 2024, the Mitsubishi Outlander scored 50 against a class average of 65. The class average only uses models with clean, published sales figures.

Mitsubishi Outlander generations

• 2003-2006
  First generation

  2.4L four · 5-speed manual; 4-speed automatic

  The North American Outlander used a longer front end than the Japanese Airtrek it was based on.

• 2007-2013
  Second generation

  3.0L V6; 2.4L four · 6-speed automatic; CVT

  This generation added a 3.0L V6 for North America, and a facelift arrived for the 2010 model year in the U.S.

• 2014-2021
  Third generation

  2.4L four; 3.0L V6; four-cylinder plug-in hybrid (PHEV) · CVT; 6-speed automatic (V6)

  The U.S. launch of the Outlander PHEV plug-in hybrid was delayed from 2014 until mid-2017.

• 2022-2024
  Fourth generation

  2.5L four; 2.4L four plug-in hybrid (from 2023) · CVT

  The redesign shares its platform with the Nissan Rogue and keeps a seven-seat layout.

North American Outlanders stayed on the second-generation design through the 2013 model year, and the third generation went on sale in early 2014. The plug-in hybrid version moved to the new fourth-generation design for the 2023 model year. The Outlander Sport is a different, smaller vehicle with its own model history.

Mitsubishi Outlander fuel economy

The 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander is rated at 25 to 28 MPG combined by the EPA, depending on the version. Every year and engine will be on its own MPG page.

Crash test stars

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave the Mitsubishi Outlander these overall ratings (out of 5) for the model years it tested: 2012: 4, 2013: 4, 2014: 4-5, 2015: 4-5, 2016: 4-5, 2017: 4-5, 2018: 4-5, 2019: 4-5, 2020: 4-5, 2023: 4, 2024: 4. Ratings can differ between body styles and drive types of the same year.

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