2010 Mitsubishi Outlander: problems, recalls and reliability
10 recalls and 60 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine (19% of complaints); the 2012 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall May 2020
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 60 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Dealer wants to replace rear lower control arms due to corrosion and the car control arms were never addressed when I took it into the dealer for recall 16V458. The dealer was supposed to add a anti corrosion spray to the control arms in the front and back. The corrosion is very bad with these parts on my car and I am very concerned about safety.”Owner report · Suspension · Aug 2023
“The contact owns a 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that after turning the front windshield wipers off, the driver's side and passenger's side windshield wipers remained in the upright position. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V791000 (Visibility). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.”Owner report · Visibility/Wiper · Apr 2022
“The contact owns a 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 mph, he heard a cracking sound coming from the sunroof. When the contact exposed the glass portion of the sunroof, the sunroof shattered. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V071000 (Visibility) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.”Owner report · Visibility · Aug 2021
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“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 > 1 hour to have the car towed out of harms way.”Owner report · Power Train · Nov 2020
“Tl* the contact owns a 2010 mitsubishi outlander. While the vehicle was at schaumburg mitsubishi (660 east gulf rd, schaumburg, il) undergoing routine maintenance, it was discovered that both lower control arms and cross members sustained severe rusting and corrosion. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 16v458000 (structure); however, the contact stated that the vehicle experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 75,000.”Owner report · Suspension · Sep 2019
“There is some problem with brake. The ABS and asr lights are on. So I decided to go to the mechanic. The mechanic checked the car and he told me ABS pump is broken. Started when I was driving.”Owner report · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) · Aug 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 was taken to mitsubishi motor sales of caribbean (located at pr-167, bayamon, toa baja 00953, pr, (855) 251-8715), but the part was not available for the repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”Owner report · Engine · Apr 2019
“I have attempted to mane an appointment to fix 6 recalls my vehicle has, with no luck its been 2 months and no call back.”Owner report · Power Train · Jan 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 the drive belt was needed. The vehicle remained parked at the dealer and was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not assist. The failure mileage was 111,668.”Owner report · Engine · Mar 2018
“When vehicle is in stop-and-go traffic and air system is on outside air, strong exhaust fumes enter the cabin of vehicle. Also when vehicle was traveling in regular highway traffic approximately 60 miles per hour and when the defroster or heater are on, strong exhaust fumes enter the vehicle cabin. This issue just started in the last month. The air filter and cabin filters have been changed in may. Routine maintenance is kept up.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Dec 2017
When filing, owners marked a crash in 4 of these complaints and injuries in 2 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 10 campaigns
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Lancer, Lancer Evolution, and Outlander; 2009-2011 Lancer Sportback, Lancer Rilliart, and Lancer Sportback Ralliart; and 2011 Outlander Sport vehicles. The affected vehicles, manufactured with 4B1 engines, have an engine pulley and belt arrangement for turning the alternator, the cooling fan and the power steering pump (if equipped). These pulleys may experience unusual wear and allow for belt detachment.
Remedy: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the drive belt with a rubber belt. Drive pulleys that are excessively worn will be replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 15, 2014. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-14-009.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2007-2013 Outlander vehicles manufactured September 8, 2006, to March 29, 2013. In the affected vehicles, water may enter between the hood and windshield and cause the front wiper link ball joint to corrode, possibly resulting in the wiper link separating and the wipers becoming inoperative.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rubber boot on the ball joint to prevent water intrusion. Additionally, they will inspect the wiper motor crank arm for excessive play, replacing it as necessary. These repairs will be done free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-16-009.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2008-2010 Lancer, 2009-2010 Lancer Sportback, 2008-2013 Outlander, and 2011-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The front lower control arms may detach due to the front cross member corroding from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front cross members. Depending on the level of existing corrosion, either a sealing/anti-corrosion agent will be applied or the front cross member will be replaced with a new one. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-20-003.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2002-2007 Lancer, 2004 Lancer Wagon, 2003-2006 Lancer Evolution, 2003-2006 Outlander and 2007-2013 Outlander V-6 vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. In the affected vehicles, the front lower control arms may detach due to the front cross member corroding from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front cross members. Depending on the level of existing corrosion, either a sealing/anti-corrosion agent will be applied or the front cross member will be replaced with a new one that has a sealing/anti-corrosion agent applied to it. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began January 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-16-003.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2013 Outlander vehicles equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Additionally, Mitusbishi is recalling certain 2007-2012 Outlander vehicles that received replacement 6-speed automatic transmissions during servicing. The transmissions in these vehicles have insufficient clearance between the power steering pressure tube and the converter housing of the automatic transmission. As a result of the contact, the power steering pressure tube may develop a hole and leak power steering fluid.
Remedy: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering pressure tube and return tube, free of charge. The recall began in August 2014. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-14-006.
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 windshield and leak into the wiper motor breathing hole. The water may cause internal corrosion of the windshield wiper motor and the possible failure of the motor.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiper motor, free of charge. The recall began July 28, 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-17-003.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Lancer, 2008-2012 Outlander, 2010-2012 Lancer Sportback, and 2011-2012 Outlander Sport vehicles equipped with either a 4B11 or 4B12 engine. The drive belt automatic tensioner flange may crack, allowing the accessory drive belt to detach.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the belt tensioner with one that has an improved shape, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 27, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-001.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Outlander, 2008-2010 Lancer, 2009-2010 Lancer Evolution, and 2010 Lancer Sportback vehicles equipped with sunroofs. The sunroof glass may detach from the sunroof assembly, becoming a road hazard to other vehicles.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sunroof glass assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 27, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-003.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Lancer vehicles manufactured March 16, 2009, to March 30, 2011, 2010-2011 Lancer Sportback vehicles manufactured June 17, 2009, to December 1, 2010, 2010-2011 Lancer Evolution vehicles manufactured July 14, 2009, to January 7, 2011, 2009-2011 Outlander vehicles manufactured February 10, 2009, to June 22, 2011, and 2011 Outlander Sport vehicles manufactured August 26, 2010, to November 19, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the blower motor may fail.
Remedy: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace a suspect blower motor, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2015. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-15-003.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Mitsubishi Lancer vehicles manufactured January 12, 2009, to July 6, 2010, 2009-2010 Outlander vehicles manufactured January 12, 2009, to August 27, 2010, 2010 Lancer Sportback vehicles manufactured June 17, 2009, to June 8, 2010, and 2010 Lancer Evolution vehicles manufactured July 14, 2009, to August 4, 2010. The affected vehicles have an electronic control unit (ECU) that controls the head lights, tail lights, and windshield wipers. Due to a manufacturing error, the voltage inside this ECU may be unstable.
Remedy: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected ECU, free of charge. The recall began on June 15 ,2015. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-15-002.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2010 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Outlander by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander reliable?
NHTSA has 60 owner complaints and 10 recall campaigns on record for the 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander. The most complained-about area is engine (19% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 65,403 miles or less.
Does the 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander have open recalls?
10 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:belts and associated pulleys. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.