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2003 Mitsubishi Outlander Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Aug 23, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 116 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Electrical
Filed Aug 23, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10897984
Incident
Aug 17, 2012
Electrical
Filed Dec 19, 2014
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED SPARKS EMITTING NEAR THE RADIO. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE AND SUDDENLY THE INTERIOR FRONT OF THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WERE FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 206,000.

NHTSA ID
10667260
Incident
Dec 15, 2014
Mileage
206,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 9, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE COTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER SOME TIME THE KNOB DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

NHTSA ID
10479403
Incident
Mar 15, 2009
Mileage
112,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 12, 2009

I HAD THE COOLING FAN CONTROLLER REPLACED TWO TIMES/FANS COMING ON IMMEDIATELY WHEN STARTING THE CAR/ I HAD TO REPLACE THE THIRD ONE ON MY DIME/ NOW ITS CUTTING OUT @ CERTAIN SPEEDS/ I HAVE REPLACED THE MASS AIR FLOW METER/BOTH COILS /SPARK PLUGS/ PLUG WIRES STILL THE PROBLEM CONTINUES.*TR

NHTSA ID
10273666
Incident
Jan 4, 2003
Mileage
5,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistanceElectrical+2 more
Filed Feb 27, 2009
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS ACTIVATED WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPONTANEOUSLY WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. IN ADDITION, THE SRS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V194000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM;WIRING,INTERIOR/UNDER DASH); HOWEVER, THE RECALL REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED AND THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING SMELL INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. ALSO, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD BECOME STUCK WITHOUT WARNING WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WAS INOPERATIVE. THE WEBBING FAILED TO EXTRACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

NHTSA ID
10260218
Incident
Nov 20, 2007
Mileage
82,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 7, 2004

THE ENGINE HAS STARTED ON ITS OWN W/OUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. YOU CANNOT TURN THE ENGINE OFF W/ THE KEY, AFTER SOME TIME IT WILL TURN ITSELF OFF. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE IGNITION. THE SECOND TIME THE DEALERSHIP STATED IT IS IMPOSSIBLE, AND DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID
10098395
Incident
Oct 23, 2003
AirbagsBrakesElectrical+2 more
Filed Jan 21, 2004

CONSUMER CANNOT UNLOCK THE FRONT AND REAR DOORS FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. WATER WENT UNDER FLOOR AND CORRODED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS PROBLEM WAS SIMILAR TO NHTSA RECALL 03V194000: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, WATER COULD ENTER THE FRONT FLOORBOARD AREA FROM OPENINGS IN THE SIDE SILL OR UPPER DASH AREA. THIS WATER COULD COLLECT UNDER THE SEAT AND CAUSE ELECTRICAL CORROSION TO OCCUR IN THE HARNESS CONNECTORS THAT CONTAIN THE WIRING FOR THE SEAT BELT RETACTOR, SIDE AIR BAG IMPACT SENSOR, AND STOP LAMPS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10055561
Incident
Jan 21, 2004
Mileage
21,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Apr 21, 2003

THE CONSUMER MADE A LEFT TURN AND THE ENGINE HAD RUN AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FOUR DEALERSHIPS AND WAS TOLD THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE. THE WIPERS DID NOT CLEAR THE WINDOWS OR OPERATE ON HIGH SPEED, THE KEYLESS REMOTE SYSTEM DID NOT OPERATE WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE, AND THE FUEL CAP DID NOT LOCK. RECALL#03V0S8000-THE PCM WAS REPROGRAMMED. MR SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10015967

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .