2011 Mitsubishi Outlander: common problems

Owners of the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander filed 58 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 58
involving a crash: 3

What fails most often

1 Engine 33% of all complaints
2 Electrical system 16% of all complaints
3 Visibility 16% of all complaints
4 Engine and cooling 12% of all complaints
5 Powertrain 10% of all complaints
6 Air bags 7% of all complaints
7 Suspension 7% of all complaints
8 Vehicle speed control 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: 19 complaints (33% of all).
Electrical system: 9 complaints (16% of all).
Visibility: 9 complaints (16% of all).
Engine and cooling: 7 complaints (12% of all).
Powertrain: 6 complaints (10% of all).

Engines and transmissions

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

2 L · petrol · 4 cyl
2.4 L · petrol · 4 cyl
3 L · petrol · 6 cyl
automatic, 6-speed
CVTnamed in 2 complaints
manual, 5-speed

Drive: FWD, 4WD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 58 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

warning lights, check engine5 · 9%
headlights and tail lights4 · 7%
A/C or heater3 · 5%
rust, corrosion3 · 5%
stalls while driving3 · 5%
engine failure or replacement2 · 3%
hesitation when accelerating2 · 3%
overheating, coolant loss2 · 3%
loss of power / limp mode2 · 3%
infotainment or screen glitches2 · 3%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Engine	19	0
Electrical system	9	0
Visibility	9	0
Engine and cooling	7	0
Powertrain	6	0
Air bags	4	3
Suspension	4	0
Vehicle speed control	4	0
Exterior lighting	3	0
Fuel/propulsion system	3	0
Service brakes	3	0
Structure	3	0
Seat belts	2	0
Wheels	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 air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard where it was deemed destroyed. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. There was one injury that required medical attention. The passenger suffered chest and a rotator cuff injury. The failure mileage was 53,879.
Air bags · crash · 2016-05-26 · NHTSA complaint #10871088
Car was struck on highway on its side and was pushed off the road through 30ft of trees. Damage to all sides of car (totaled) except rear. No air bag went off despite severity of crash.
Air bags · crash · 2012-10-26 · NHTSA complaint #10482354
This failure is consistent with overheating and internal engine damage. The vehicle is currently available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The failure occurred suddenly while driving, without warning.
Engine · 2026-04-19 · NHTSA complaint #11732167
The car has severe rust on the frame to the point of the rust corroding a hole in the frame making it unsafe to drive. Black paint has been applied to conceal the extent of the rust, demonstrating clear intent to mislead and a disregard for human safety.
Fuel/propulsion system · 2025-04-08 · NHTSA complaint #11653563
Since I bought my car in 2021 the air bag system sensor goes off as well as the seatbelt light even if my seatbelt is on.
Air bags · 2025-03-09 · NHTSA complaint #11647273
Was driving the car and it totally lost power to everything. Had to pull over immediately with whatever power I had left to have the car roll to a stop. Multiple lights came on the dash. Notification came on the screen saying car can not communicate, engine is over heating.
Electrical system · 2023-07-20 · NHTSA complaint #11533521
Then I tried to slow down and pull over and the vehicle did not want to down shift and it stalled on the highway with traffic. This is not the first time the transmission went out on the same vehicle. I had a hard time finding a transmission to put in and when I did it only lasted a year.
Powertrain · 2023-04-14 · NHTSA complaint #11517019
In January 2018 the engine seized up while driving and was not repairable. Thankfully I was able to pull over and no one was hurt. The vehicle was only 7 years old with only 112,846 miles and I still had a loan on the vehicle for approxiamtly $10,000. The vehicle was at the time worth the cost left to pay it off.
Engine · 2021-07-12 · NHTSA complaint #11424428

When owners complained

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

20115
20122
20131
20146
20156
20165
20174
201810
20192
20204
20212
20221
20235
20241
20253
20261

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 4,955 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 14% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Outlander has 53 complaints (25 years in the data). This year has 58, about average.

What to check before buying

Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, electrical system, visibility. Total complaints: 58. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (9%), headlights and tail lights (7%), A/C or heater (5%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2011 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 2011 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 2011 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.