182 of the
1,874 complaints filed about the Mitsubishi Outlander
are about the engine —
10% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2011.
This is the issue I’m having with this vehicle since I purchased it July3,2026 car shuts off in middle of road and car also loss of power in middle of road while still trying to press gas then jerks backfire issue was reported to dealership. Brand new vehicle but keep having issues that’s not being reported
NHTSA complaint #11758470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact rented a 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander from Drivo Car Rental. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound. The contact stated that there was a vibrating sound coming from the hood. The front windshield was fractured on the passenger's side, and the instrument cluster failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the safety features were inoperable, and the vehicle was almost involved in a crash. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while traveling with the family. The contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The vehicle was returned to Drivo Car Rental. The contact stated that while returning the vehicle to the agency, the contact was informed that the vehicle should not have been rented. In addition, the contact researched and became aware of an unrepaired recall associated with the VIN under NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V369000 (Back Over Prevention). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.
NHTSA complaint #11753974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The car itself should not be sold considering the number of complaints about the transmission issues. I’ve only had the car a month and Its started to stall and jerks when in acceleration. The gears started to not shift properly and the car would not go over 20 miles without jerking. I took the car back to the lot to get it fixed and then it stopped, was driving back smoothly. The car shop said they changed the transmission oil which supposedly was the problem. 2 weeks later the car is back stalling and jerking with the “transmission service required” light back on yet again.
NHTSA complaint #11752307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE MALFUNCTION SERVICE NOW APPEARED (ERROR) I took the vehicle to the dealership for evaluation. The mechanic checked, reset, and reprogrammed the module. I was instructed to return if the error occurred. It did after driving 5 miles. The mechanic rechecked for possibly having different errors. I was instructed that it was okay to drive with the errors. Unfortunately, after coming to a stop, I was unable to accelerate! I was on a major road and I was unable to move off to the side of the road. The vehicle in this state is life-threatening. (A tanker truck thankfully was able to stop!) I was able to limp to the dealer where I purchased the vehicle. NOTE: This has been a well-documented issue (Check OUTLANDER FORUM). My 2024 Outlander briefly had the errors, but they cleared themselves. I feel this needs expedited to severe, requiring a mandated software update before a life is lost! This error inhibits frontal collision sensors!
NHTSA complaint #11742499 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, however the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The RPM's increased. In addition, the vehicle hesitated and jerked. o warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact has an upcoming diagnostic testing appointment scheduled. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
NHTSA complaint #11738722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The vehicle experienced an apparent engine failure involving the engine cooling system and possible head gasket and/or engine damage. Prior to failure, the vehicle had a strong sweet coolant smell and was later diagnosed by the servicing dealership as having a coolant leak and possible engine-related damage requiring engine replacement. The vehicle is currently located and available for inspection at Don Herring Mitsubishi. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? While driving after leaving the dealership, the vehicle began jerking, hesitating during acceleration, and losing power unexpectedly. A flashing check engine light briefly appeared and disappeared. The sudden loss of normal engine performance created a serious safety hazard because the vehicle could have stalled in traffic, increasing the risk of an accident or collision. I also have eight children, including [XXX] twins, and the loss of transportation has prevented me from reliably getting my children to school, medical appointments, and obtaining necessities. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. Don Herring Mitsubishi inspected the vehicle and identified a coolant leak and possible major engine damage. The dealership advised that the engine may need replacement. The warranty company, CNA Extended Warranty, stated the dealership’s submitted notes referenced a blown head gasket and requested further teardown and inspection before approving repairs. The vehicle remains unrepaired while awaiting further action and/or engine replacement. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The vehicle has been inspected by Don Herring Mitsubishi and reviewed through CNA Extended Warranty as part of the repair claim process. Prior to the failure, the vehicle was also inspected on Marc INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF
NHTSA complaint #11736808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Following sustained highway operation and varied elevations in tropical conditions, the vehicle’s Auto Start-Stop system may activate during traffic congestion. In certain instances, the battery warning light illuminates upon engine automatic restart. If the auto start stop is activated once more on the engine restart the battery warning light will turn off. I went to the dealership and they wanted me to leave the vehicle for diagnostics or kept using it which will change the Mild Hybrid battery and avoid recurrence. But the issue keeps happening.
NHTSA complaint #11736169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The EV portion of the PHEV is often not providing power to the motors, even though, there are still plenty of battery power available. The vehicle sometimes gave "Power Reduced" warning that usually went away after 30 minutes, and the vehicle cannot go into EV mode. When in EV mode and just cruising on the highway, it barely has power to keep up with traffic and sometimes it is losing speed just on a slight incline on the road causing me to move over or take it out of EV mode just to get power from the gas engine. In one occasion, I driving in EV mode and merging onto the highway. I stepped on the gas and the car was barely, if at all, accelerating. Fortunately, there wasn't vehicle coming from the highway.
NHTSA complaint #11734374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The electrical system in my 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander has repeatedly malfunctioned since September 2023. The primary failure involves the dashboard completely shutting down while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in the loss of critical driving information such as speed and system warnings. The issue is intermittent but ongoing and may be available for inspection upon request. This failure creates a serious safety risk because I am unable to see essential driving information while operating the vehicle, placing both myself and my family at risk. The vehicle has been taken to authorized Mitsubishi dealerships multiple times for these issues. Repairs have been performed during these visits; however, none have permanently resolved the problem. The issue temporarily stops after repairs but eventually returns and continues to recur. The problem has been reproduced multiple times. The vehicle has been inspected by authorized Mitsubishi service departments on multiple occasions, but the underlying issue has not been properly diagnosed or permanently repaired. Prior to failure, there have been repeated battery-related issues and sensor malfunctions. The vehicle has required at least three battery replacements since purchase. These symptoms often occur before the dashboard shuts down. In addition to the electrical issue, the vehicle has also experienced fuel pump concerns, which have persisted despite repair attempts. This ongoing and recurring defect makes the vehicle unsafe to operate and remains unresolved.
NHTSA complaint #11732587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection? The engine experienced catastrophic internal failure. A connecting rod broke and punctured the engine block, rendering the vehicle completely inoperable. This failure is consistent with overheating and internal engine damage. The vehicle is currently available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The failure occurred suddenly while driving, without warning. The vehicle lost power immediately, which could have resulted in loss of control, inability to accelerate, and exposure to traffic hazards. This created a serious safety risk to myself and others on the road. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? An independent mobile mechanic inspected the vehicle and confirmed catastrophic engine failure. Based on the condition of the engine and damage observed, the failure is consistent with severe overheating and internal mechanical breakdown. Full written diagnosis may be pending. Dealer inspection: UNKNOWN”) Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer. Insurance has been notified and may conduct an inspection. The MD state trooper deemed the car inoperable and tagged it. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or symptoms prior to the failure? There were no warning lights, messages, or indications of an issue prior to the failure. The incident occurred suddenly and without warning the same day the vehicle was purchased. At the time of failure, the vehicle had an open and unremedied safety recall (SR-18-001 – Drive Belt Auto Tensioner, NHTSA Campaign #18V069). This defect can cause the drive belt to detach, disabling the water pump and leading to rapid engine overheating. The failure I experienced is consistent with this defect. . The incident occurred day of pur
NHTSA complaint #11732167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle was shuddering, and it was difficult to stabilize the steering wheel before the vehicle shut off. The check transmission message was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact called an independent mechanic who was unable to locate a transmission fault. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to a Mitsubishi dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000.
NHTSA complaint #11723534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1. On hot/warm days when I start my vehicle it will run then die and give me the code for Mass air sensor which I replaced but it keeps doing it; the check engine will stay on for a while then turn off until it does it again. 2. When driving and I go over a speed bump the suspension grinds or does a hard squeaking noise. 3. The USB in the center console stops working at times or when move the charging cord it disconnects for a few seconds. 4. Internal lights work when they want to, I thought the bulbs where burnt out and replaced them but they still come on when they want to not everytime a door is opened.
NHTSA complaint #11716927 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
At about 52,000 miles August 26, 2025- September 2, 2025 for rpm going low and high in idle and check engine light came on replaced engine coil #4 Sept 4, 2025- October 9, 2025 Coolant in engine Failed 2 compression test Needs head gasket repair Instructed to take head off Send head to machine shop to have valves checked Never sent valves to machine shop Replacing engine December 26, 2025 Engine sounds like a jet plane and after calling Mitsubishi it will need to be towed 2 hours away because they shut my local dealership down. I have tried for goodwill assist, buyback, etc but I’m treated horribly. I just found another person that it happened to at 50,000 miles also
NHTSA complaint #11708464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Engine and yes available for inspection. I had been driving then all of a sudden the Service Engine Immediately light started rapidly flashing and the car would hardly go. Turned around parked at home, towed to dealership where they said the engine compressor was not working and I would need a rebuilt engine for over $5000. Towed it back home and now looking for a new car. There were no warning lights or any other symptoms prior to this happening. It was an all of a sudden warning. If I had been on the freeway, my safety would have been at risk as it just died without warning.
NHTSA complaint #11696348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My Mitsubishi vehicle has an open recall related to a drive belt issue. Mitsubishi confirmed the recall, but the company have not completed the repair or scheduled an appointment, even after several attempts to contact them. The vehicle has stalled multiple times while driving, including on city roads. When it stalls, the check engine light comes on, and the car loses all power. I have to restart it to keep driving. This is a serious safety risk because it happens suddenly and could lead to an accident. The alternator and battery were both tested and are in good condition, so the problem appears related to the recalled belt or electrical system. The issue was confirmed by an independent mechanic, but Mitsubishi has not provided a repair or timeline. The problem continues and makes the vehicle unsafe to drive, especially in cold or highway conditions.
NHTSA complaint #11692172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Initial Oil Change Visit: Brought leased vehicle under full warranty to the dealership for its first oil change. No issues were mentioned at this time. First Return (After 5 Minutes Driving): After leaving the dealership, warning lights and unusual sounds began within 5 minutes of driving. Returned immediately. The service team claimed the issue was due to the 'oil gun not being recalibrated' and that they had topped the oil off using a jug. This was later revealed to be a lie. Second Return (After Another 5 Minutes Driving): The same warning lights and noises returned after driving only 5 minutes. Returned again to the dealership. This time, they admitted that no oil had ever been put into the vehicle after the oil was drained. The service manager stated that the engine was 'cooked' and would need to be replaced. Admission by Service Manager: The service manager personally drove me to the rental car location. During this time, he admitted that the technician had simply forgotten to refill the oil after draining it, stating they had 'just gotten busy.' He had no explanation for why the dealership had lied during the first return visit. Safety Concerns: This negligence could have had catastrophic consequences. If the engine had blown up while driving, I could have crashed, potentially injuring or killing myself, my pregnant fiancée who was with me, and our unborn child. This was not just an inconvenience but a severe, reckless breach of safety and trust. Dealer’s Resolution: The dealership later acknowledged fault and offered to replace the engine with a new one. However, given the severity of the negligence and the safety risk, we refused and ultimately walked away from the lease when they would not provide an equivalent vehicle under the same terms. They instead paid off the remaining lease balance ($42,286.94). -Sent certifed formal demand letters to dealer and manufacturer -sent follow up emails to both -have not received response to my complaints.
NHTSA complaint #11692083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owned a 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and turned off, a fire occurred near the engine compartment. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. A fire report was filed, and a fire report number was provided. The cause of the failure was possibly determined to be electrical or engine-related. A police report was also filed, and a report number was provided to the contact. The vehicle was destroyed. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,193.
NHTSA complaint #11689926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 shifted to neutral(N) and back to drive(D) and was able to continue driving. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the local dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 179,407.
NHTSA complaint #11687943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I have a coolant leak with my EGR cooler. The part is on back order for 90 days. Clearly the EGR cooler is being replaced on these cars on a regular so there must be a defect if I can’t get my vehicle fixed for 90 days or more
NHTSA complaint #11679010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While accelerating the gas gage goes up but there is resistance when pressing on gas. The vehicle does not accelerate right away and there is a drag before the vehicle gets up to speed. It takes off really slow.
NHTSA complaint #11677906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.