2010 Mitsubishi Outlander: common problems

Owners of the 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander filed 60 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 60
involving a crash: 4

What fails most often

1 Engine 20% of all complaints
2 Engine and cooling 12% of all complaints
3 Electrical system 10% of all complaints
4 Powertrain 10% of all complaints
5 Service brakes 10% of all complaints
6 Visibility 10% of all complaints
7 Air bags 8% of all complaints
8 Suspension 7% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Engine: 12 complaints (20% of all).
Engine and cooling: 7 complaints (12% of all).
Electrical system: 6 complaints (10% of all).
Powertrain: 6 complaints (10% of all).
Service brakes: 6 complaints (10% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.

Engines and transmissions

US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.

2.4 L · petrol · 4 cyl
3 L · petrol · 6 cyl
automatic, 6-speed
CVT

Drive: FWD, 4WD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 60 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

rust, corrosion4 · 7%
windows, sunroof4 · 7%
airbags did not deploy3 · 5%
A/C or heater3 · 5%
warning lights, check engine3 · 5%
headlights and tail lights2 · 3%
infotainment or screen glitches2 · 3%
seat belts2 · 3%
stalls while driving2 · 3%
hesitation when accelerating1 · 2%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Engine	12	0
Engine and cooling	7	0
Electrical system	6	0
Powertrain	6	0
Service brakes	6	1
Visibility	6	0
Air bags	5	4
Suspension	4	0
Wheels	3	0
Electronic stability control	2	0
Exterior lighting	2	0
Seats	2	0
Structure	2	0
Vehicle speed control	2	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard where it was deemed destroyed. The manufacturer and dealer were not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
Air bags · crash · 2017-08-07 · NHTSA complaint #11013335
Hit straight on by drunk driver while at stop light air bags did not deploy, I was injured taken by ambulance to hospital other driver arrested. Time of day at night well lite area. The other driver was at a high speed when she hit me in the front of my car total damage and front crumped in to driver ( me).
Air bags · crash · 2014-02-04 · NHTSA complaint #10562813
My air bags did not deploy and I don't believe that the seat belt caught either...I hit the steering wheel with my chest and hurt my neck and my teeth clacked together hurting them. I was wearing the seatbelt.
Air bags · crash · 2010-12-24 · NHTSA complaint #10372356
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.
Suspension · 2023-08-01 · NHTSA complaint #11535688
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.
Visibility · 2022-04-29 · NHTSA complaint #11462725
High Point Mitsubishi in High Point NC preformed the recall in regards to rust forming on the underside crossmember of this vehicle. Less than 3 years later this vehicle is immovable because of the exact same reason as the original recall.
Suspension · 2022-02-15 · NHTSA complaint #11452025
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.
Visibility · 2021-08-06 · NHTSA complaint #11428086
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.
Powertrain · 2020-12-25 · NHTSA complaint #11384940

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

20101
20113
20122
201417
20155
20162
201712
20183
20197
20201
20213
20222
20231
20241

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 4,840 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 13% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Outlander has 53 complaints (25 years in the data). This year has 60, about average.

What to check before buying

Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, engine and cooling, electrical system. Total complaints: 60. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: rust, corrosion (7%), windows, sunroof (7%), airbags did not deploy (5%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 2010 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.