Last updated: 2026-10-10

RELIABILITY SCORE: 84/100 (EXCELLENT)

2021 Mitsubishi Outlander Reliability Report

The 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander has an excellent reliability standing, with no owner complaints and no recalls on file.

Full Breakdown Compare Models

Recalls

Complaints

Complaint Rate

0per 10,000 sold

Est. Repair Cost

$519

Annual Fuel Cost

$2,200–$2,400

Detailed Score Breakdown

Complaint Severity70/100

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs80/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact100/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue Diversity100/100

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Buy

The best of eight scored years, with no owner complaints or recalls on file, while the 2020 and 2022 both carry recalls.

Generation & Refresh (US)

Post-Refresh

2021 is 2 years after the second facelift refresh.

Year 8 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.

2021: This Model Year

2021 is 2 years after the second facelift refresh.

Should You Buy the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander?

Of the eight Outlander model years we score, this is the strongest. Its reliability standing is excellent, and it sits well above average among 2021 SUVs. The years on each side do worse. Both 2020 and 2022 rate good, not excellent.

No owner complaints are on file for this year, so there is no common symptom to warn you about. Federal recall records list no recalls either. The neighbors look different. The 2020 has 30 complaints and 3 recalls, and the 2022 has 209 complaints and 7 recalls.

Independent repair-cost data puts yearly repair spending for the model at $519, about level with $521 for its class. Expect ordinary upkeep, not a costly outlier. Still ask the seller for service records, since an empty complaint file shows what owners reported, not how this particular car was maintained.

Compared to the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander, which scored 22 points lower. See also the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander for an earlier comparison.

Pros

+Strong reliability score
+$2 cheaper to maintain than avg midsize SUV
+Infrequent unscheduled repairs
+Low major repair risk (11%)
+No recalls issued

Cons

No recurring complaint themes yet.

Compare 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander With

2021 Kia Seltos

Reliability: 59/100

Mixed

2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Reliability: 63/100

Good

2021 Jeep Renegade

Reliability: 75/100

Good

2021 Buick Encore GX

Reliability: 74/100

Good

2021 Cadillac XT4

Reliability: 71/100

Good

Recall Overview

recalls on record

No recalls are on record for the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander — uncommon, and a strong signal of manufacturing quality.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

per 10,000 sold

Segment avg: 16.7

LowAvgHigh

Very Low

Safety Incidents

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.

VIN History Report

Buying a used 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander? Check its history first

Every 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander has a different past. A VIN check reveals hidden accidents, title problems, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls that reliability scores can't show you.

Accidents
Open Recalls
Title History
Odometer Rollback

2021 Mitsubishi Outlander NHTSA Safety Ratings

Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

Gas Powertrain

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Not Available)Advanced Belt Feature (Not Available)Adjustable Upper Belt Anchorage (Not Available)Seat Belt Reminder System (Not Available)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Knee (Not Available)Additional Air Bags (Not Available)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Info Not Available)LATCH Locations (Not Available)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) (Not Available)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) locations (Not Available)

View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Mitsubishi OutlanderRepair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

Based 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

Outlander

$519

Category Avg

$521

All Vehicles

$652

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 2021 model year.

Value Retained: 59%
Depreciation: 41%
Listings Analyzed: 90

Listings observed in May 2021. This is a historical market benchmark, not a current price quote.

Explore Mitsubishi Outlander depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.com

MPG & Annual Running Costs

Gas

25–27 MPG

Running cost: $2,700–$2,900/yr

Fuel + repair

23–24 city / 28–30 hwy MPG

Plug-in Hybrid

26 MPG

Running cost: $2,800/yr

Fuel + repair

26 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 2021 EPA label cycle.

Gas trims

Trim	Drive	Trans.	City	Hwy	Comb	Fuel Cost
Outlander Sport 2WD 2.0L 4-cyl	Front-Wheel Drive	Automatic (AV-S6)	24	30	27	$2,200
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

Plug-in Hybrid trims

Trim	Drive	Trans.	City	Hwy	Comb	Fuel Cost
Outlander PHEV 2.4L 4-cyl	All-Wheel Drive	Automatic (A1)	26	26	26	$2,300

Best & Worst Mitsubishi Outlander Years

Best Mitsubishi Outlander Years to Buy

Based on reliability index score

Top Pick

Excellent

2021

(Current Model)

0Recalls

0Complaints

Good

Mitsubishi Outlander Reliability Score Trend

Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

Mitsubishi Outlander reliability scores by year
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

Reliability scores compared across model years
Year	Score	vs Prior Year	Rating	Recalls	Complaints
2025	82/100	+3	Excellent	0	13
2024	79/100	+2	Good	1	22
2023	77/100	+15	Good	2	40
2022	62/100	-22	Good	7	209
2021(selected)	84/100	+8	Excellent	0	0
2020	76/100	+2	Good	3	30
2019	74/100	+3	Good	5	29
2018	71/100	—	Good	6	55

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander reliable?

Yes. Its reliability standing is excellent, well above average among 2021 SUVs and the best of the eight Outlander years we score. No owner complaints and no recalls are on file for it. The 2020 and 2022 models both rate good, a step lower.

What are the most common problems with the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander?

None stand out in the data. Owners have filed no complaints for this year, so there is no repeated symptom to report. Neighboring years show more trouble, with 30 complaints for the 2020 and 209 for the 2022, but those do not apply to this one.

Does the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander have any recalls?

No. Federal recall records list zero recalls for this model year. The neighboring years differ: the 2020 has 3 recalls and the 2022 has 7. If you are comparing cars across those years, the 2021 has the cleanest recall record of the three.

How much does the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander cost to repair?

Independent repair-cost data estimates $519 a year for the Outlander, model-wide. That is close to the $521 estimate for its class. The figure covers the model in general, not the 2021 alone, so treat it as a rough guide to ordinary upkeep.

Is the 2021 Outlander a better buy than the 2020 or 2022?

On the data, yes. It rates excellent while both neighbors rate good. It has no complaints or recalls, against 30 complaints and 3 recalls for the 2020, and 209 complaints and 7 recalls for the 2022. Service records still matter on any individual car.

Don’t buy a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander

Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander does best on recall impact (100/100) and worst on complaint severity (70/100). 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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