What breaks most · 2011 to 2018 model years
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport problems by year
Owners have filed 162 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport across model years 2011 to 2018. Three years stand out: 2015 for powertrain and transmission complaints, 2011 for engine complaints and 2013 for air bags complaints. The quietest years are 2012, 2016 and 2014.
- Years to check closely: 2015, 2011, 2013
- Fewest complaints: 2012, 2016, 2014
- Complaints on file
- 1622011 to 2018, all trims
- Worst year
- 201569 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 111 fires · 12 injuries · 0 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 34kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 51Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 3 | 10 | Engine (7) | |
| 9 | 1 | 6 | Air bags (5) | |
| 19 | 2 | 10 | Air bags (6) | |
| 19 | 3 | 6 | Powertrain and transmission (5) | |
| 69 | 0 | 9 | Powertrain and transmission (38) | |
| 12 | 1 | 8 | Engine (6) | |
| 7 | 1 | 0 | Electrical system (3) | |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | Electrical system (1) |
What fails on the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain and transmissionTransmission parts | 55% |
38 | 0 | Shop all powertrain and transmission parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 25% |
17 | 0 | Shop engine parts for the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport |
| Speed control and throttleThrottle and pedal sensors | 17% |
12 | 0 | Shop speed control and throttle parts for the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 12% |
8 | 0 | Shop electrical system parts for the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport |
| Unknown or other | 12% |
8 | 0 | — |
| Fuel systemFuel pumps and injectors | 10% |
7 | 0 | Shop all fuel system parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Wipers and visibilityWiper motors and blades | 7% |
5 | 0 | Shop all wipers and visibility parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| BrakesBrake pads, rotors and calipers | 7% |
5 | 0 | Shop brakes parts for the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
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The transmission jerks when you change from driving in reverse to drive. The rear passenger wheel feels loose after going over minor bumps.
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I noticed just recently when i was on a long distance road trip that my transmission overheating light was coming on? I had to pull over a couple times and let it cool down before i could continue... It is very dangerous and no one at mitsubishi or other shops knows whats wrong? Please help
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Immobizer system i had been out over two hrs in my car came home for min turned care off it dinged saying immobizer system needs service and car would not start back even this morning
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 30, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Mitsubishi Outlander Sport years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2015, 2011, 2013 carry the most filings on the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. The 2015 alone has 69 complaints, led by powertrain and transmission.
What is the most common Mitsubishi Outlander Sport problem?
On the 2015 model year, the most-reported component is powertrain and transmission with 38 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Mitsubishi Outlander Sport problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Mitsubishi Outlander Sport complaints that include mileage is about 34,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.