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Mitsubishi Outlander: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Mitsubishi Outlander problems by model year, from 1,312 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2015 (75%, 166 drivetrain complaints), 2016 (59%, 89 drivetrain complaints) and 2011 (55%, 41 drivetrain complaints). 10 of the 13 Mitsubishi Outlander years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 1 of them is at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2022 (20%), 2023 (29%) and 2020 (29%). 2023 and 2020 rest on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat them as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2019 (46%) to 2020 (29%), down 17 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2015 drew the most drivetrain complaints (166 of 501 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2021 has fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Mitsubishi Outlander year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Outlander | high | 43% | 23 | 60 | 5/13 | 10 |
| 2011 Outlander | high | 55% | 41 | 88 | 3/13 | 14 |
| 2012 Outlander | high | 41% | 11 | 36 | 6/13 | 10 |
| 2013 Outlander | elevated | 37% | 19 | 68 | 8/13 | 14 |
| 2014 Outlander | elevated | 37% | 23 | 86 | 7/13 | 9 |
| 2015 Outlander | very high | 75% | 166 | 235 | 1/13 | 12 |
| 2016 Outlander | high | 59% | 89 | 171 | 2/13 | 11 |
| 2017 Outlander | elevated | 35% | 21 | 78 | 9/13 | 6 |
| 2018 Outlander | elevated | 34% | 18 | 78 | 10/13 | 6 |
| 2019 Outlander | high | 46% | 18 | 55 | 4/13 | 6 |
| 2020 Outlander | no elevated signal | 29% | 14 | 57 | 11/13 | 4 |
| 2021 Outlander | too few to score | – | 8 | 19 | – | 1 |
| 2022 Outlander | no elevated signal | 20% | 44 | 227 | 13/13 | 8 |
| 2023 Outlander | no elevated signal | 29% | 14 | 54 | 12/13 | 2 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Mitsubishi Outlander years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Mitsubishi Outlander engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns on the Mitsubishi Outlander involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 44 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2013 | 13V112000 | fuel system, gasoline | 2013 |
| Mar 2013 | 13V116000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2013 |
| Sep 2014 | 14V562000 | engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys | 2010–2011 |
| Jul 2016 | 16V548000 | power train: automatic transmission: cooling unit and lines | 2015 |
| Jul 2016 | 16V563000 | power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) | 2015–2016 |
| Jan 2018 | 18V069000 | engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys | 2010–2012 |
| Jan 2022 | 22V027000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2022 |
| Aug 2022 | 22V563000 | power train: automatic transmission: control module: software | 2019, 2020, 2022 |
36 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2012 | 12V001000 | exterior lighting: turn signal | 2012 |
| Jun 2013 | 13V255000 | visibility: sun/moon roof assembly | 2011 |
| Jul 2013 | 13V300000 | suspension: front | 2013 |
| Feb 2014 | 14V031000 | air bags | 2013 |
| Jun 2014 | 14V366000 | steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections | 2010–2013 |
| Sep 2014 | 14V560000 | service brakes, hydraulic | 2011 |
| Nov 2014 | 14V744000 | seat belts | 2013–2015 |
| Apr 2015 | 15V232000 | electrical system | 2010 |
| Apr 2015 | 15V233000 | visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: fan/motor | 2010–2011 |
| Sep 2015 | 15V579000 | equipment: other: labels | 2011 |
| Jun 2016 | 16V458000 | suspension: front: control arm: lower arm | 2010–2013 |
| Oct 2016 | 16V791000 | visibility: windshield wiper/washer: linkages | 2010–2013 |
| Oct 2016 | 16V792000 | visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor | 2011–2015 |
| Dec 2016 | 16V867000 | structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments | 2011, 2012, 2016 |
| Apr 2017 | 17V233000 | latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch | 2016 |
| Jul 2017 | 17V461000 | visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor | 2010–2013 |
| Sep 2017 | 17V609000 | electrical system: starter assembly: relay | 2015–2017 |
| Jan 2018 | 18V070000 | parking brake | 2013–2016 |
| Jan 2018 | 18V071000 | visibility: sun/moon roof assembly | 2010 |
| Feb 2018 | 18V103000 | visibility: windshield wiper/washer: linkages | 2011–2016 |
| Sep 2018 | 18V591000 | equipment: other: labels | 2018–2019 |
| Sep 2018 | 18V620000 | electrical system: software | 2017–2018 |
| Sep 2018 | 18V621000 | forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control | 2017–2018 |
| May 2020 | 20V279000 | structure: frame and members | 2010–2016 |
| May 2020 | 20V280000 | seat belts: rear/other | 2019–2020 |
| Jul 2020 | 20V403000 | seat belts: rear/other: buckle assembly | 2014–2019 |
| Nov 2020 | 20V741000 | parking brake | 2016 |
| Mar 2021 | 21V144000 | suspension: front: control arm: lower arm | 2013–2015 |
| Aug 2021 | 21V596000 | seat belts: front: retractor | 2022 |
| Oct 2021 | 21V821000 | structure: body: roof and pillars | 2022 |
| May 2022 | 22V335000 | seat belts: front: retractor | 2022 |
| Jul 2022 | 22V470000 | back over prevention: display function | 2022 |
| Jun 2023 | 23V345000 | back over prevention: display function | 2022–2023 |
| Jun 2025 | 25V369000 | back over prevention: software | 2022–2023 |
| Aug 2025 | 25V507000 | structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: support device/strut | 2014–2020 |
| Apr 2026 | 26V252000 | structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: support device/strut | 2014–2020 |
What the free pages leave out on the Mitsubishi Outlander
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Mitsubishi Outlander
What are the worst years for the Mitsubishi Outlander?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Mitsubishi Outlander years are the 2015 (75% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2016 (59% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2011 (55% of relevant complaints, high). 10 of 13 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Mitsubishi Outlander?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Mitsubishi Outlander years are the 2022 (20%), the 2023 (29%) and the 2020 (29%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Mitsubishi Outlander have transmission problems?
In some years. Across the 13 scored years, 501 of 1,116 relevant NHTSA complaints (45%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train. The years with an elevated share are 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Is the Mitsubishi Outlander reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 10 of 13 Mitsubishi Outlander years we score have an elevated complaint share and 3 do not. Pooled across those years, 45% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Mitsubishi Outlander?
Yes. NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Mitsubishi Outlander years we track, out of 44 in total: 18V069000 (Jan 2018, 2010–2012), 22V027000 (Jan 2022, 2022), 22V563000 (Aug 2022, 2019–2022), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.