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2010 Mitsubishi Outlander: engine and transmission complaints

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
43%
23 of 53 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

43% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 53% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 7 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 38%).

NHTSA data checked September 13, 2026
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Drivetrain complaints
23
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
60
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
10
4 crashes · 2 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE12 · 20%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER7 · 12%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING7 · 12%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6 · 10%
POWER TRAIN6 · 10%
SERVICE BRAKES6 · 10%

The years either side

2010
43%
23 of 60
2011
55%
41 of 88
2012
41%
11 of 36
2013
37%
19 of 68
2014
37%
23 of 86
2015
75%
166 of 234
2016
59%
88 of 170
2017
35%
21 of 78
2018
33%
17 of 77
2019
46%
18 of 55
2020
29%
14 of 57
2021
too few complaints
2022
20%
43 of 224
2023
29%
14 of 54

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

Cleaner alternatives

Same car, a better year

Other compact SUVs with no elevated signal in 2010

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

POWER TRAIN12/25/2020
EARLY FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION ON OUTLANDERS IS KNOWN PROBLEM AND PUTS DRIVERS AT RISK FOR SERIOUS INJURY WHEN THE CAR GOES INTO A SAFE MODE LEAVING THE CAR STRANDED IN THE ROAD. MY CAR GAVE ME NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE CAR SHUTTING DOWN. I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION ON A SUNDAY MORNING. IT TOOK >…
ENGINE04/16/2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V069000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE…
ENGINE04/15/2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED MORE THAN ONCE AND WAS BECOMING A HINDRANCE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ARROW MITSUBISHI (3995 S 1ST ST, ABILENE, TX 79605, (325) 692-9500) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A FLANGE FOR TH…

Three of 23 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on this model year (10)

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2008-2010 Lancer, 2009-2010 Lancer Sportback, 2008-2013 Outlander, and 2011-2016 Outlander Sport vehicle…
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2007-2013 Outlander vehicles. In the affected vehicles, water may drop between the hood and the windshi…
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Lancer, 2008-2012 Outlander, 2010-2012 Lancer Sportback, and 2011-2012 Outlander Sport vehicle…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.