Best and worst Mitsubishi Outlander years — which to avoid

If you aren’t familiar with the Mitsubishi Outlander model years, it gets easy to make a wrong choice and buy one of the most unreliable options. The thing is – although it’s one of the best compact SUVs in the class, some earlier model years have received a lot of complaints.

So, there’s no better buying guide than going through the best years to buy and worst Mitsubishi Outlander years to avoid, and we’ll help you with that. Our team of seasoned automotive experts inspected all the vehicle feedback details from NHTSA, IIHS, and similar automotive organizations so we could rank Outlander years from best to worst.

Why you can trust REREV’s advice on which car model years to avoid: Our car experts look at official data, ask real drivers what they think, and talk to experienced mechanics to make sure our list is useful. This reliable info can make buying a car easier for you. Want to know how we do it? Find out more about our research methodology.

How we rated the best and worst Mitsubishi Outlander years

As we rated Mitsubishi Outlander years, our team examined various sources of information and we just used NTHSA and IIHS databases as initial reference. Through our search, we also used a lot of real driver submissions and ratings provided by Edmunds, Kelley Blue Book, and Consumer Reports.

Along with that, we compared all those reports with information we could find on Mistubishi forums where previous owners expressed their experiences. Of course, we also used pieces of information on Outlander recalls and complaints which helped us put some model years on the banned list for our readers.

Most common Mitsubishi Outlander problems

Being a Japanese car giant, Mitsubishi is known for having created some extraordinarily reliable cars in the past, and the first-generation Outlander was one of them. From the 2001 model year, it all looked great for the Outlander, but later model years had reliability issues regarding some important car systems and we’ll take a closer look below:

1. Problems with the transmission

We realize that you’ll want to walk away from a car that has transmission issues in some model years, so it’s crucial to explain exactly what it’s all about. While going through a complete transmission rebuild is a bothersome and expensive process, not all the faults associated with this system require a rebuild.

Most notably, Outlander drivers have reported harsh shifting, noises, or vibrations coming from the gearbox and an issue with a faulty CVT transmission. When it comes to the CVT transmission problems, the biggest issue was the lack of acceleration power in certain situations. On top of that, drivers have reported shaking and vibrations during gear shifts, as well as slipping transmission in some situations.

2. Braking system malfunctions

Another crucial system that many model years of Mitsubishi Outlander have struggled with is the braking system. Driver complaints suggest that this model has problems with excessive wear of the vital braking system components like brake pads and discs.

However, there’s also the issue of bad brake boosters for the second-generation Outlander that resulted in increased stopping distance. Naturally, this is a matter of driving safety and requires immediate attention for the vehicle to provide proper braking force. Also, rear brake calipers on certain Outlander models were prone to rust due to rain and that led to corroded parking brake shafts.

So, even the parking brake actuators should be inspected when considering the Mitsubishi Outlander as your next car.

3. Suspension problems

The second generation of Mitsubishi Outlander had sufficient problems regarding the suspension. Most notably, there was a problem with bad control arm bushings and the underframe of the car. The problem is – any damage done to the lower frame means that there’s no stability for the car’s suspension parts.

Because of that, drivers used to lose control after the front control arm breakage, and this problem was mostly caused by rust and corrosion. There was even an official recall for the 2003 to 2006 Outlander models by Mitsubishi, so that’s a serious issue for older Outlander models.

4. Problems with the exterior and features

Finally, we are done with the mechanical problems that Mitsubishi Outlander models had over the years. Still, some owners have reported poor paint quality and even rust or corrosion marks on the exterior of the car’s body. While these issues were mostly reported for the first and second generations of the Outlander, it’s still an inconvenience you’ll have to deal with as a new owner.

Besides the issues regarding the car’s exterior corrosion and paint chipping, there are also problems around the door latches and handles, so that’s another thing to keep in mind when buying one of these.

Worst Mitsubishi Outlander years to avoid

After going through all these problems that Outlander had over the years as a model, it’s time to dig deeper into the most problematic model years. The good thing is – there weren’t that many bad production years for the Outlander, considering that it’s been in production for over two decades. That’s why you might be wondering – what are the worst Mitsubishi Outlander years?

The worst Mitsubishi Outlander years include 2003 and 2007, but here’s a full list:

• 2003
• 2007
• 2016

Based on that, we’ll explain how those issues manifest themselves for particular Mitsubishi Outlander model years.

First-generation Outlander (2003 model year)

The first generation of Mitsubishi Outlander was, well, excellent in terms of reliability and value for your hard-earned buck. Even so, there’s one model year that faced a bit more complaints than the other first-gen model years – the 2003 Outlander.

Some of the main issues that the 2003 Outlander faced include the mentioned suspension issue with control arms and some issues concerning the A/C. On top of that, there’s the issue with the vehicle not starting properly every time, and all these issues simply require attention before buying the car.

Second-generation Outlander (2007 model year)

The second generation of the Outlander might not be as problematic as the third generation that is possibly the least reliable generation, but it had a fair share of issues. These mostly include 2007 as the year that faced a lot of complaints regarding the suspension problem and the control arms.

Also, this generation is known for its brake booster issues that ended up causing a recall. The 2007 and 2011 model year Outlanders received the most driver complaints when it comes to the second-gen Outlander, making them obvious models to avoid.

Third-generation Outlander (2016 model year)

For the third generation of the model, the Outlander received a lot of exterior updates and it looked modernized when compared to the previous generation. However, it’s perhaps the most widely criticized Outlander generation with the most driver complaints.

The reason for this is mostly in the introduction of the CVT transmission that proved to be unreliable and required costly repairs. Owners usually had to replace the entire CVT transmission system and that made it quite expensive, resulting in a recall for the 2015 and 2016 model years.

Besides the problems with CVT transmission, there are also some issues regarding the door latches and linkages, as well as reduced windshield wiper functionality.

What are the best Mitsubishi Outlander years to buy?

We got you – all these bad model years and listed problems could get you to step away from Outlander as a model. Our team just wanted to give you a heads-up about the production years you should simply steer away from, so now we’ll go over the ones that proved to be reliable:

• 2001
• 2002
• 2004
• 2005
• 2006
• 2008
• 2009
• 2010
• 2012
• 2013
• 2018
• 2019
• 2020
• 2021

That’s why we’ll discuss some of the best-rated model years in more detail below to point out the differences between those and the worst-rated Outlander years.

2001 Mitsubishi Outlander

Although it’s the initial production year, the 2001 Outlander has proven to be quite a reliable and solid compact SUV. There were just minor paint and rust issues, and the same goes for the other models except for the 2003 one.

This model received by far the least complaints for this generation and the only issues it ever faced were some paint chipping and corrosion which was normal at the time, and slight brake issues.

2012 Mitsubishi Outlander

The 2012 model also proved to be exceptional for Mitsubishi since drivers only reported less than 30 submissions to NHTSA. Thanks to an impressive driver rating and compliments that it received, it’s among the best-rated Outlander models overall with just a few visibility issues caused by inoperable sweepers and suspension problems that led to 2012 Outlander recalls.

However, none of it was a big deal for the car’s maintenance and if you can find one that’s been through the recalls, you’ll virtually have an indestructible ride.

Is Mitsubishi Outlander worth buying?

Well, we finally come to the point where it’s time to debate the overall reliability and provide our judgment on Outlander as a model. Overall, it’s exactly what you’d expect from an early 2000s Mitsubishi for older generations, and there are some quite reliable model years in the third generation as well.

However, some model years should be avoided at all costs as mentioned above, so that’s where this guide should be able to help you.

If you’re considering rugged and versatile SUVs like the Nissan Xterra, Dodge Journey, or Ford Explorer Sport Trac, you’re likely on the hunt for a vehicle that can handle both daily commutes and weekend adventures. These models are known for their flexibility and utility, but choosing the right model year is key, as some have been more reliable than others.