Platform Heritage
The Mitsubishi Outlander (Japanese: 三菱・アウトランダー, Hepburn: Mitsubishi Autorandā) is a compact crossover SUV manufactured by Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors since 2001. It was originally known as the Mitsubishi Airtrek (Japanese: 三菱・エアトレック, Hepburn: Mitsubishi Eatorekku) when it was introduced in Japan.
The original Airtrek name was chosen to "describe the vehicle's ability to transport its passengers on adventure-packed journeys in a 'free-as-a-bird' manner", and was "coined from Air and Trek to express the idea of footloose, adventure-filled motoring pleasure." The Outlander nameplate which replaced it evoked a "feeling of journeying to distant, unexplored lands in search of adventure."
The second generation of the vehicle was introduced in 2006 and all markets including Japan adopted the Outlander name, although production of the older version continued in parallel. It was built on the company's GS platform, and used various engines developed by Mitsubishi, Volkswagen, and PSA Peugeot Citroën. PSA's Citroën C-Crosser and Peugeot 4007, which were manufactured by Mitsubishi in Japan, are badge engineered versions of the second generation Outlander. Global sales achieved the 1.5 million unit milestone in October 2016, 15 years after its market launch.
As part of the third generation line-up, Mitsubishi launched in January 2013 a plug-in hybrid model called Outlander PHEV. As of January 2022, global sales totaled about 300,000 units.
The fourth-generation model was released in 2021 as a 2022 model. Following Mitsubishi's entry to Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance, the fourth-generation Outlander is based on the Rogue/X-Trail, which is built on the CMF-CD platform.
Source: Wikipedia intro extract · as of Jun 19, 2026
Key facts for this model year
167NHTSA owner complaints
8Safety recalls on file
46Top issue reports · Power Train
$0Typical OEM recall remedy cost to you
Verify the data — open primary sources · as of Jun 19, 2026
System Defect Summaries & Field Data
Active safety recalls on file: 8 (source: NHTSA Recalls API · as of Jun 19, 2026)
Top NHTSA complaint categories
Recent recall summaries
Campaign 17V609000 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY · API record
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Outlander, 2015-2016 Lancer and Outlander Sport, and 2015 Lancer Evolution vehicles. These vehicles may have defective relays that can result in an engine stall, reduced engine power or the engine overheating.
Campaign 17V233000 · LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH · API record
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2016 Outlander and Outlander Sport vehicles. The inside door latch mechanisms may not latch securely in high temperatures, allowing the doors to open while vehicle is in motion.
Campaign 18V070000 · PARKING BRAKE · API record
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Outlander and 2013-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles. Water may enter the rear brake calipers causing the parking brake actuator shafts to corrode and possibly bind.
Campaign 16V563000 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) · API record
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles and 2016 Outlander and Lancer vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a constant velocity transmission (CVT) that, in certain driving conditions, may cause a delay in the vehicle accelerating.
Campaign 20V403000 · SEAT BELTS: REAR/OTHER:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY · API record
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Outlander and 2018-2019 Outlander PHEV vehicles. The second-row center seat belt buckle may interfere with the right-side seat belt buckle when the seat backs are folded down. The interference may cause the right-side seat belt buckle cover to come off, making the buckle latch inoperable and unable to restrain an occupant.
YouTube voice themes below are research hints only — verify against NHTSA data before citing.
Search demand cross-check: ~2,257 avg monthly intent searches (source: google ads data · as of Jun 19, 2026)
On-Site Mitsubishi Outlander Pre-Purchase Checklist
- Verify OBD-II readiness monitors are complete (not recently cleared) using a full protocol scan.
- Compare dashboard mileage to ECU-stored odometer modules where accessible.
- Pull permanent and pending DTCs — not only stored codes visible on the dash.
- Inspect systems related to POWER TRAIN (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
- Inspect systems related to SERVICE BRAKES (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
- Inspect systems related to EXTERIOR LIGHTING (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
- Inspect systems related to STRUCTURE (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
- Inspect systems related to UNKNOWN OR OTHER (NHTSA complaint cluster — verify during test drive and PPI).
- Confirm recall remedy completed for ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY (campaign 17V609000).
- Confirm recall remedy completed for LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH (campaign 17V233000).
- Confirm recall remedy completed for PARKING BRAKE (campaign 18V070000).
- Run a MotoMetrics on-site scan for Mitsubishi Outlander before signing the bill of sale.