Last updated: 2026-10-10
2020 Mitsubishi Outlander Reliability Report
The 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander has good reliability for its class, but failing touchscreens are the main owner complaint.
Recalls
3
Complaints
30
Complaint Rate
11.1per 10,000 sold
Est. Repair Cost
$519
Annual Fuel Cost
$2,200–$3,400
Detailed Score Breakdown
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
The Verdict
Good standing and above average for 2020 SUVs, held back by touchscreen failures and three recalls, while the 2021 shows no complaints yet.
Top Issues to Watch
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (11)
- AIR BAGS (4)
- FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (2)
Generation & Refresh (US)
2020 is 1 year after the second facelift refresh.
- Year 7 in the Third generation (GF/GG/ZJ/ZK/ZL; 2012) (2014–2024).
- Well-established in its generation — most early issues should be resolved.
- 3rd generation Outlander (US).
What this means for buyers
Post-refresh years tend to be among the most refined — updates have been applied and early kinks worked out.
2014: Third generation (GF/GG/ZJ/ZK/ZL; 2012) Launch
Generation start — new platform.
2016: Mid-Cycle Refresh
Updated features and styling tweaks.
2019: Mid-Cycle Refresh
Updated features and styling tweaks.
2020: This Model Year
2020 is 1 year after the second facelift refresh.
Should You Buy the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander?
Yes, with a few checks first. Owner complaints and independent repair-cost data put this year in good standing, above average among 2020 SUVs. Within the Outlander's own scored years it sits in the middle. Estimated yearly repair cost is $519, level with the $521 class figure. The 2019 rates about the same, and the 2021 rates better with no complaints or recalls on file.
The touchscreen is the weak spot. Owners report weak touch response that turns intermittent, then dies, taking the radio, hands-free calling, navigation and light and wiper settings with it. Dealers replace the unit, and some failures came just past the 36,000-mile warranty. Federal recall records show three recalls: two for structure and one for seat belts. The most serious complaints involve air bags that did not deploy in three crashes with injuries.
Ask for proof that all three recalls were completed. Test the screen on a drive, and check the sunroof glass for cracks or replacement. A 2021 may be worth a look.
Compared to the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander, which scored 8 points higher. See also the 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander for an earlier comparison.
Pros
- +Acceptable reliability score
- +$2 cheaper to maintain than avg midsize SUV
- +Infrequent unscheduled repairs
- +Low major repair risk (11%)
Cons
- −Moderate recall count
- −ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: Touchscreens stop responding, and this is the dominant problem (11 complaints)
- −AIR BAGS: Airbags fail to deploy in three of the four reports, and all three involve... (4 complaints)
Compare 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander With
2020 Jeep Renegade
Reliability: 75/100
2020 Dodge Journey
Reliability: 77/100
2020 Buick Encore GX
Reliability: 70/100
2020 Cadillac XT4
Reliability: 68/100
2020 Cadillac XT6
Reliability: 72/100
Common Problem Categories
Safety
LOW RISK- 3 manufacturer recalls issued
Other
HIGH RISK- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (11)
- AIR BAGS (4)
Recall Overview
3
recalls on record
A moderate 3 recalls are on file for the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander. Each one points to a specific safety or compliance issue identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA — check the list below before buying.
NHTSA.gov →Complaint Breakdown
11.1
per 10,000 soldSegment avg: 20.2
Safety Incidents
5
Crashes
0
Fires
7
Injuries
0
Deaths
NHTSA 4/5 Stars
Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.
2020 Mitsubishi Outlander Recall Details
3 recalls have been issued for the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.
STRUCTURE
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Outlander PHEV and 2014-2020 Outlander vehicles. The liftgate gas spring cylinders may corrode and lose pressure, which can result in a gas spring cylinder rupture or the liftgate falling unexpectedly.
Consequence
A gas spring cylinder rupture or a liftgate falling unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
MMNA will replace the left and right liftgate gas springs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 17, 2026. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-26-001. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov June 3, 2026. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V507.
STRUCTURE
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Outlander PHEV and 2014-2020 Outlander vehicles sold and/or currently registered in Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The liftgate gas spring cylinders may corrode and lose pressure, which can result in a gas spring cylinder rupture or the liftgate falling unexpectedly.
Consequence
A gas spring cylinder rupture or a liftgate falling unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
MMNA will replace the left and right liftgate gas springs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 6, 2025. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-25-002
SEAT BELTS
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Outlander and 2019 Outlander PHEV vehicles. The seat belt for the right side second-row seat may have been assembled incorrectly.
Consequence
An incorrectly assembled seat belt may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy
MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the right side second-row seat belt and replace it as necessary, free of charge. This recall began June 17, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-20-002.
Buying a used 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander? Check its history first
Electrical system problems lead owner complaints about the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander, and 3 recalls were issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
2020 Mitsubishi Outlander NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas Powertrain
Rollover risk: 18.5%
Safety Technologies
Mitsubishi OutlanderRepair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
4Maintenance rating: 4 out of 5Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.
Est. Annual Maintenance
$519
vs $521 avg for midsize SUV
vs $652 avg for all vehicles
Repair Frequency
0.3
unscheduled repair visits per year
Severe Repair Probability
11%
chance of a major repair
Annual Cost Comparison
Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.
Mitsubishi Outlander Resale Value
The Mitsubishi Outlander is estimated to retain about 59% of its original value after 5 years, based on observed used-car listings.
This benchmark covers the Mitsubishi Outlander model overall and is not specific to the 2020 model year.
- Value Retained
- 59%
- Depreciation
- 41%
- Listings Analyzed
- 90
after 5 years
over the same period
U.S. used-car listings
Listings observed in . This is a historical market benchmark, not a current price quote.
Explore Mitsubishi Outlander depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.comMPG & Annual Running Costs
Gas
22–27 MPG
Running cost: $2,700–$3,900/yr
Fuel + repair
20–25 city / 27–30 hwy MPG
Plug-in Hybrid
25 MPG
Running cost: $2,900/yr
Fuel + repair
25 city / 26 hwy MPG
Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2020 EPA label cycle.
Gas trims
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outlander 2WD 2.4L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S6) | 25 | 30 | 27 | $2,200 |
| Outlander Sport 2WD 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S6) | 24 | 30 | 27 | $2,200 |
| Outlander 4WD 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S6) | 24 | 29 | 26 | $2,300 |
| Outlander Sport 4WD 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S6) | 23 | 29 | 26 | $2,300 |
| Outlander Sport 2WD 2.4L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S6) | 23 | 29 | 25 | $2,400 |
| Outlander Sport 4WD 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S6) | 23 | 28 | 25 | $2,400 |
| Outlander 4WD 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 20 | 27 | 22 | $3,400 |
Plug-in Hybrid trims
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outlander PHEV 2.0L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (A1) | 25 | 26 | 25 | $2,400 |
Used Buying Checklist
Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander.
Tap every area of the touchscreen and check for slow, missed, or intermittent response.
Make a hands-free call and adjust volume through the screen during the test drive.
Ask for service records showing any touchscreen replacement and who paid for it.
Lock and unlock every door with the key fob several times, watching each lock.
Run the driver's power seat through every direction, especially height and recline.
Drive on open roads and watch for false "Brake!" alerts, icy-road messages, or sudden braking.
Confirm the airbag warning light clears after startup, then again with a rear passenger seated.
Park on a slight slope in Park and confirm the vehicle holds without creeping.
2020 Mitsubishi Outlander Common Problems by Component
30 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
11 complaintsTouchscreens stop responding, and this is the dominant problem. Losing the screen cuts off the radio, volume, hands-free calling, navigation, and settings for lights and wipers. Failures often start as weak touch response, turn intermittent, then go dead. Dealers replace the unit rather than repair it, and some failures land just past the 36,000-mile warranty, leaving owners with a large bill. Other reports cover door lock actuators that fail again after repair, a driver's seat stuck reclined, and false "Brake!" alerts. One highway report describes EV system warnings and a car unable to go over 20 mph.
AIR BAGS
4 complaintsSafety-relatedAirbags fail to deploy in three of the four reports, and all three involve crashes with injuries. The impacts vary: a side hit at an intersection at 35 mph, a collision with a tree at 25 to 30 mph, and a rear-end strike that pushed the vehicle into a solid object. Six people were injured across these filings. The remaining report describes an "Airbag system Service Required" warning that came on with a passenger in the second row, shortly after purchase.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
3 complaintsSafety-relatedUnexpected vehicle movement is the serious item here. One filing describes the car moving after it was placed in Park while the driver unloaded the rear hatch, and the report is marked as a crash with one injury. Another is a dealer service complaint: the owner was told a touchscreen part would take about 9 months, then could not get the dealer to respond, and other dealers ignored the request too. The third filing contains no details. No repeated mechanical pattern appears in this group.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (2 complaints)
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
2 complaintsFalse alerts and unwanted braking show up in both reports. The forward collision warning lights up with no vehicle ahead, and the car begins braking on its own. Another filing describes an icy-road caution appearing on several occasions at 25 mph in the middle of May with no cold weather, at about 79,000 miles. Sudden braking with nothing ahead is a hazard in traffic. These reports match the false "Brake!" alerts that also appear in electrical complaints for this year.
STRUCTURE (2 complaints)
STRUCTURE
2 complaintsSunroof glass shatters in one report, which gives no detail on speed, mileage, or cause. The second filing describes no failure at all. It concerns a campaign notice the owner received, followed by a dealer repair. With only two filings, there is no repeating pattern to point to. A cracked or replaced sunroof panel is still worth checking for on any used example.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES (1 complaints)
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
1 complaintThe contact owns a 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that while driving on the interstate at an undisclosed speed, there was wind underneath the hood, and the hood was vibrating. The contact was concerned about the hood becoming ajar. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was associated with TSB: 21-42A-001. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was test-driven, and the dealer was able to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 95,730.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING (1 complaints)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1 complaintThe contact owns a 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander. While the contact’s wife was driving in a school zone, several unknown error codes became displayed. The Lane Departure warning light illuminated, and the automatic high beam headlights malfunctioned. While driving 70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power, and the driver shifted to neutral(N) and back to drive(D) and was able to continue driving. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the local dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 179,407.
SERVICE BRAKES (1 complaints)
SERVICE BRAKES
1 complaintI was making a turn out of a driveway across a three-lane streets into the left turn lane on the street in front of my children's School, while pulling out of the driveway and crossing the lanes, having clear distance to cross the lanes and visual confirmation from the oncoming drivers as they were waiting for me to proceed, my car abruptly stopped, it breaks on its own and left me across the three lanes sideways exposed to be t-boned. It would not start or move out of the stopped position. I tried to put the car in park and again in drive to no avail the car still would not budge. I had to completely turn off my vehicle and restart it in order to get out of the way of oncoming traffic.
WHEELS (1 complaints)
WHEELS
1 complaintSafety-relatedThe brakes keep giving out, this is the second Mitsubishi and the brakes gave out [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
LANE DEPARTURE (1 complaints)
LANE DEPARTURE
1 complaintGot in my car to go to work and blind spot service required light came on
Best & Worst Mitsubishi Outlander Years
Best Mitsubishi Outlander Years to Buy
Based on reliability index scoreMitsubishi Outlander Years to Avoid
Mitsubishi Outlander Reliability Score Trend
Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 71/100 | Good |
| 2019 | 74/100 | Good |
| 2020 | 76/100 | Good |
| 2021 | 84/100 | Excellent |
| 2022 | 62/100 | Good |
| 2023 | 77/100 | Good |
| 2024 | 79/100 | Good |
| 2025 | 82/100 | Excellent |
Mitsubishi Outlander Reliability Compared to Other Years
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander?
Does the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander have touchscreen problems?
How many recalls does the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander have?
Is the 2020 Outlander better than the 2019 or 2021?
Don’t buy a 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
How we score the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander
Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander does best on how many systems draw complaints (83/100) and worst on complaint severity (69/100). 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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