2023 Mitsubishi Outlander Reliability Report

This category mixes unrelated problems. Front door window glass cracks at highway speed over a bump, twice on one car with under 5,000 miles. Key fobs stop working after a software update and lock children inside until someone uses the mechanical key hidden in the fob. Other reports cite a rear camera that does not work in reverse and a sticking brake caliper left unrepaired for months while parts sat on backorder.

Airbags deploy without a collision in some reports. A pothole or a tire blowout set them off, sometimes along with a sudden loss of power and a dark screen. One crash report describes the opposite problem. No airbags deployed in a high-speed rear-end collision that sent the car into a wall, and one person was injured. Another owner cites unspecified airbag defects on a new car and months without a dealer response. No dealer has confirmed any of the unexpected deployments.

Power loss is the common symptom. "Power reduced" warnings appear without notice, and one was traced to a stuck EGR valve code at only 10,000 miles. On the plug-in hybrid, the electric motors sometimes fail to deliver power even with charge left in the battery. The car then struggles to merge or hold speed on slight inclines. In another report, a sweet coolant smell and a leak came before jerking, hesitation, and possible engine replacement.

Knocking and clunking when the steering wheel turns starts around 15,000 miles. In one case it was traced to a strut bearing, and the owner was told a special coverage applied but had to wait for parts. Separately, the rear end sways, swerves, or moves on its own over bumps, with rattling from the rear at about 35,000 miles. Dealer findings range from misalignment to water in the shocks and a failed rear differential. Owners say the swaying continues after repairs.

Sudden acceleration while creeping into a parking space appears in one crash report. The airbags deployed, smoke filled the cabin, and two people were injured. Cold weather is the other theme. Below about 10 degrees Fahrenheit the plug-in hybrid may not run, accept a charge, or heat the cabin, and the warning lights point to low temperature. One report also describes a transmission that will not shift out of first gear until the vehicle reaches full operating temperature.

A sticking rear brake caliper wears the pads unevenly, leaving the outer pad far thinner than the inner one at only 7,343 miles. That causes uneven braking force and longer stopping distances. A separate report describes forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking switching on suddenly, followed by a feeling that the car is shutting off while driving.