RoadVitals

2005 Mitsubishi Outlander

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
18
Latest Mar 7, 2022
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Jun 23, 2016
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3
4 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 18 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2005 Mitsubishi Outlander, most frequently naming the suspension, powertrain (other) and body & structure categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 49 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Suspension836.4%
  • Powertrain (other)313.6%
  • Body & structure313.6%
  • Electrical29.1%
  • Engine29.1%
  • Visibility14.5%
  • Exterior lighting14.5%
  • Steering14.5%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
16V458000

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

Jun 23, 2016
194,674 units potentially affected
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2002-2007 Lancer, 2004 Lancer Wagon, 2003-2006 Lancer Evolution, 2003-2006 Outlander and 2007-2013 Outlander V-6 vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. In the affected vehicles, the front lower control arms may detach due to the front cross member corroding from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.
The risk: A detached front control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front cross members. Depending on the level of existing corrosion, either a sealing/anti-corrosion agent will be applied or the front cross member will be replaced with a new one that has a sealing/anti-corrosion agent applied to it. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began January 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-16-003.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.Manufacturer number SR-16-003View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 18
Suspension
Filed Mar 7, 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that while his mother owned the vehicle, she received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V458000 (Suspension). She took the vehicle to a dealer and upon inspection of the vehicle, the dealer found no defect with the lower control arm and sprayed an anti-rust agent on the part to prevent corrosion. Recently, the contact stated that while his daughter was at a stoplight, she heard an abnormally loud sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that his daughter and Police Officers attempted to move the vehicle off to the shoulder however, the vehicle failed to move. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to the contact's residence where he discovered that the lower control arm had collapsed due to severe corrosion. The front driver’s side tire had also detached from the vehicle due to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000. Consumer did not have a blow out. Consumer just exited the highway came to a stop and the previously recalled crossmember collapsed.

NHTSA ID
11455487
Incident
Mar 5, 2022
Mileage
91,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Oct 27, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL LOUD CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE NEAR THE DRIVER'S FEET. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE LEFT WHEEL HAD SEIZED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE WAS CAMBERED IN AND RESTING ON THE FRONT FENDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CONTROL ARM DETACHED FROM EXTREME CORROSION. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS ALSO CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 198,000.*DT*BF*JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VHEICLE IS NOW REPAIRED. *AS

NHTSA ID
11366603
Incident
Oct 26, 2020
Mileage
198,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jul 4, 2018

WHILE DRIVING ALONG A PAVED RURAL ROAD IN A MODERATE LEFT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE LOWER LEFT REAR CONTROL ARM DETACHED FROM THE REAR CROSS MEMBER. THIS NOTICEABLY AFFECTED THE HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED THE TIRE TO CONTACT THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE REAR CROSS MEMBER WAS FOUND SEVERELY RUSTED.

NHTSA ID
11109500
Incident
Jul 3, 2018
Mileage
205,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 2, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN. AFTER STOPPING TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE TWO FRONT WHEELS WERE POSITIONED IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER HAD FRACTURED DUE TO RUSTING. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000. *TT *TR

NHTSA ID
11075781
Incident
Dec 2, 2017
Mileage
136,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jan 7, 2018

MY FRONT CROSSMEMBER AND CONTROL ARMS WERE RUSTED OUT I PAY CASH TO GET IT FIXED NOW IT'S UNDER A RECALL NOW MY REAR CROSS MEMBER IN CONTROL ARMS ARE RUSTED IN MITSUBISHI WON'T FIX THE CAR I TRIED TOO PAY CASH AND THEY TURN ME DOWN THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER WAS UNDER A RECALL SO THE REAR CROSSMEMBER SHOULD BE UNDER A RECALL AS WELL THE REAR IS RUSTY JUST LIKE HOW THE FRONT WAS RUSTY

NHTSA ID
11060992
Incident
Jan 7, 2018
Mileage
5 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Jan 28, 2017
Crash reported

MY CAR IS PART OF A SAFETY RECALL DUE TO CORROSION OF THE CROSS MEMBERS OF MY VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THE RECALL MY VEHICLE FAILED DUE TO THE CROSS MEMBERS FAILING. AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE I WAS GOING 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE FRAME SNAPPED IN 2. THERE WAS A LOT OF DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE DUE TO THE IMPACT OF THE FRAME SPLITTING AND MANY OTHER PARTS OF THE VEHICLE WERE AFFECTED. NOW MITSUBISHI IS EXPECTING ME TO PAY FOR SOME OF THE ALTERNATIVE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THIS ACCIDENT. THEY ARE ASKING ME TO PAY FOR DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND HOSE FOR A TOTAL OF $1,700. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CORPORATE OFFICE AND LOCAL DEALER WITH NO SUCCESS. THE CAR WAS IN PERFECTLY FINE WORKING CONDITION PRIOR TO THE FAILURE AND I AM JUST ASKING FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE FIXED AND RETURNED TO ME IN THE SAME CONDITION IT WAS BEFORE THE FAILURE. I HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR FOR 6 MONTHS WHILE WAITING FOR THEM TO FINISH THE REPAIRS. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THEM. I AM HOPING YOU CAN HELP.

NHTSA ID
10948149
Incident
Jun 21, 2016
Mileage
110,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Dec 14, 2016
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND CRASHED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SCRAP YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V458000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID
10935246
Incident
Nov 22, 2013
Mileage
150,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Sep 22, 2016

TAIL LIGHTS WORK SPORADICALLY. SOMETIMES THEY WORK, SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. THE MOTOR FAN IS ON ALL THE TIME. PROBLEM IS A AN ELECTRICAL SWITCH BOARD. THEY HAD A RECALL ON IT IN AUSTRALIA.

NHTSA ID
10908773
Incident
Sep 10, 2014
Mileage
60,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

DEALER LETTER

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has launched the 3rd quarterly technician quiz for 2023.

TSB-23-00-004

STRUCTURE

This Technical Service Bulletin provides instructions and material safety data sheets for removal of rap-film adhesive residue.

TSB-23-00-001

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This Technical Service Bulletin reviews the regulations that require a label showing the reduction in load carrying capacity be affixed to vehicles when the total net weight of accessories is more than 1.5 percent of the vehicle's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or 100 lbs.

DEALER LETTER

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has launched the 2nd quarterly technician quiz for 2023.

TECH TALK 271

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Tech Talk is a service newsletter that was sent out to dealers. It covers various topics and reviews the previous months publications.

TECH TALK 270

SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

Tech Talk is a service newsletter that was sent out to dealers. It covers various topics and reviews the previous months publications.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mitsubishi Outlander by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026200—
2025140048.6
2024261055.8
2023452051.5
20222097055.1
2021000—
2020313064.3
2019295067.9
2018556062.7
2017516059.8
20161428052.6
2015525055.7
2014454056.0
2013265161.3
2012226050.5
2011588051.9
20106010049.2
20094613055.2
20085812049.4
20071259051.2
2006211046.3
2005Viewing181042.7
2004524053.7
20031166051.6

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.