Last updated: 2026-10-10
Kia Seltos vs Mitsubishi Outlander: Reliability Compared
Kia Seltos
Mitsubishi Outlander
A slight edge on reliability goes to the Mitsubishi Outlander over the KIA Seltos. Oil-burning engine failures on the Seltos decide it. Owners filed fewer complaints per car sold on the Outlander, though it has far more recalls and its own serious air bag and electrical reports.
How Do the Kia Seltos and Mitsubishi Outlander Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Mitsubishi Outlander is more reliable than the Kia Seltos, scoring 76/100 vs 73/100.
A slight edge goes to the Outlander. Owners filed fewer complaints per car sold, and no single Outlander failure is as dominant as the Seltos engine losing oil, stalling, and then being denied coverage. The Outlander is not clean, though. It has far more federal recalls, and its air bag and electrical complaints are serious. Both models stand well on reliability, and the gap is small, so the specific model year matters more than the badge.
Key Differences
- 1Kia Seltos has 17 fewer total recalls
- 2Mitsubishi Outlander has 3.0 fewer complaints per 10k sold
- 3Mitsubishi Outlander scores 3 points higher in reliability
Category Scoreboard
Kia Seltos vs Mitsubishi Outlander: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Kia Seltos | Mitsubishi Outlander |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 73/100 | 76/100 |
| Years Tracked | 6 | 8 |
| Total Recalls | 7 | 24 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 16.1 | 13.1 |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2026 NHTSA | 2025 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 1 | 4 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Kia Seltos and Mitsubishi Outlander?
Oil loss drives the Seltos record. Oil vanishes between changes, then the engine stalls, misfires, or fails, and some owners report an engine fire or an injury after a highway stall. Transmission failures at 6,000 and 17,700 miles add to it. Outlander problems spread across more areas: a power tailgate strut rod that flew off with a bang, a parked-car fire, stalling while driving, and a loose-feeling rear end over bumps. Air bags that failed to deploy appear on both models, but the Outlander has more crash-linked air bag filings, 17 against 7.
| Component | Kia Seltos | Mitsubishi Outlander |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 5.5Average | 0.3Very Low |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2.2Low | 2.1Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1.9Low | 1.3Low |
| POWER TRAIN | 2.5Low | 0.6Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | 0.1Very Low | 2.6Low |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1.6Low | —None |
| AIR BAGS | 0.3Very Low | 1.1Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.1Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| SUSPENSION | —None | 0.5Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.2Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 0.1Very Low | 0.3Very Low |
| SEAT BELTS | 0.1Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 0.1Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | —None | 0.3Very Low |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 0.2Very Low | —None |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 0.1Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| SEATS | —None | 0.2Very Low |
| VISIBILITY | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | —None | 0.1Very Low |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
How Does Kia Seltos vs Mitsubishi Outlander Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Kia Seltos | Mitsubishi Outlander | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 79/1000R / 12C | 82/1000R / 13C | Mitsubishi Outlander |
| 2024 | 73/1002R / 41C | 79/1001R / 22C | Mitsubishi Outlander |
| 2023 | 72/1002R / 44C | 77/1002R / 40C | Mitsubishi Outlander |
| 2022 | 72/1001R / 69C | 62/1007R / 209C | Kia Seltos |
| 2021 | 59/1002R / 346C | 84/1000R / 0C | Mitsubishi Outlander |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Kia Seltos scored 73/100 and the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander scored 84/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.
Who Should Buy the Kia Seltos vs the Mitsubishi Outlander?
Kia Seltos vs Mitsubishi Outlander: Common Questions
- Is the Mitsubishi Outlander more reliable than the KIA Seltos?
- Slightly, yes. Owners filed 13.1 complaints per 10,000 Outlanders sold against 16.1 for the Seltos. The Seltos also has a heavy engine problem where oil disappears and the engine stalls. Both models stand well on reliability, so the lead is small.
- Which has more recalls, the Outlander or the Seltos?
- The Outlander. Federal recall records show 24 recalls across its eight model years from 2018 to 2025. The Seltos has 7 across six model years from 2021 to 2026. The Outlander covers more years, but the gap is still large.
- What is the most common KIA Seltos problem?
- Engine oil loss. Engine is the largest complaint area, with 177 filings. Owners describe a dry dipstick, then stalling, misfires, or power loss, often at highway speed. Many say the car passed a dealer recall inspection but kept burning oil, and some were refused coverage without oil change records.
- Which Outlander years should I avoid?
- Avoid 2022 and 2018, the weakest years in owner complaints. The strongest are 2021 and 2025. Whatever year you pick, ask about air bag warning lights and test the power tailgate, since a lift strut rod has broken loose and injured an owner.
- Are the Outlander and Seltos safe in a crash?
- Both have worrying air bag reports. Owners of each describe air bags that did not deploy in serious crashes. The Outlander has 17 crash-linked air bag filings out of 32, while the Seltos has 7 out of 8. Check that all recalls are done before buying.
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Decided between Kia Seltos and Mitsubishi Outlander? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.
How we score the Kia Seltos and Mitsubishi Outlander
Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.
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