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2020 Mitsubishi Outlander problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
29%
14 of 48 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 29% of relevant complaints.

Better than 72% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 9 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 25%).

NHTSA data checked October 17, 2026
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The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 14 of 48 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (29%). For comparison, the 2019 scores 46%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
14
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
57
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
4
6 crashes · 8 injuries

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM16 · 28%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER15 · 26%
ENGINE10 · 18%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE7 · 12%
POWER TRAIN7 · 12%
AIR BAGS5 · 9%

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 235
2016
59%
89 of 171
2017
35%
21 of 78
2018
34%
18 of 78
2019
46%
18 of 55
2020
29%
14 of 57
2021
too few complaints
2022
20%
44 of 227
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.

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander

What one owner reported

EXTERIOR LIGHTING,ENGINE,LANE DEPARTURE09/17/2025
The contact owns a 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander. While the contact’s wife was driving in a school zone, several unknown error codes became displayed. The Lane Departure warning light illuminated, and the automatic high beam headlights malfunctioned. While driving 70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power, and the driver shift…

One of 14 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

power train: automatic transmission: control module: software22V563000 · Aug 2022

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Outlander Sport vehicles equipped with continuously variable transmissions and mechanical key ignition systems. A software error in the transmission control unit (CVT-ECU) may incorrectly reduce the transmission gear ratio at high speeds, which can result in an engine stall.

Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will update the CVT-ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 24, 2022. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-22-004.

3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: support device/strut26V252000 · Apr 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…
structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: support device/strut25V507000 · Aug 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,…
seat belts: rear/other20V280000 · May 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…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.

Checking one particular 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

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Questions people ask about the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander

Does the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 14 of 48 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (29%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total: 22V563000 (power train: automatic transmission: control module: software). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Mitsubishi Outlander years are better?

Among the Mitsubishi Outlander years we track, the 2022 (20%) has a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2020 (29%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.

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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. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.