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2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
11
Latest Feb 10, 2026
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.
20%
of 55 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.
0
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 engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 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 engine

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

ElectricalEngineSuspension
Filed Feb 10, 2026

1. On hot/warm days when I start my vehicle it will run then die and give me the code for Mass air sensor which I replaced but it keeps doing it; the check engine will stay on for a while then turn off until it does it again. 2. When driving and I go over a speed bump the suspension grinds or does a hard squeaking noise. 3. The USB in the center console stops working at times or when move the charging cord it disconnects for a few seconds. 4. Internal lights work when they want to, I thought the bulbs where burnt out and replaced them but they still come on when they want to not everytime a door is opened.

NHTSA ID
11716927
Incident
Jun 9, 2025
Engine
Filed Jun 17, 2025

Camshaft phaser shattered and is missing a chunk of metal

NHTSA ID
11667343
Incident
May 22, 2025
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Dec 1, 2024

Car will drive on interstate then will be unable to accelerate on interstate warning, “Propulsion power reduced” light turns on and vehicle speed decreases and car does not accelerates and loses speed. I had to stop vehicle multiple times to reset the car per advice on the internet but car continues with drastic decrease in speed on the interstate and message “Propulsion Power Reduced.” Car is serviced as per car dealership recommendations but now car is not safe to drive on the interstate.

NHTSA ID
11628179
Incident
Nov 29, 2024
Engine
Filed Mar 4, 2022

The contact owns a 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start up right away. After waiting for a while, the vehicle started as needed. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that several warning lights were flickering while starting the vehicle. The contact called and notified the local dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V609000 (Electrical System) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000.

NHTSA ID
11455175
Incident
Feb 1, 2022
Mileage
65,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 2, 2022

I believe they said it was the cam broke a part .I was driving on a 4 lane highway going 70 my car made a horrible noise and then my car it just shut down I was in the middle lane and thank God I was not hurt or hit by the semis going around me .then tried to order this part and cannot get it it's on backorder and they have no idea when it would be available and so they checked the motor and I now have to replace the motor because of this breaking this was definitely a safety issue with my car just shutting down while driving it.

NHTSA ID
11454922
Incident
Feb 28, 2022
EngineFuel system
Filed Aug 13, 2021

The contact owns a 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who stated that there was a code for leak in the fuel tank however, the mechanic was unable to determine the location of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure recurred four times. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.

NHTSA ID
11428954
Incident
Mar 1, 2021
Mileage
40,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 23, 2021

The contact owns a 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that the lower engine heat shield had cracked at the bolt inserts causing the shield to become unsecure. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the heat shield needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 28,000.

NHTSA ID
11426092
Incident
Jul 14, 2021
Mileage
28,000 mi
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 13, 2020

WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT AND SLOWED DOWN BECAUSE OF A BUMP THE CAR IMMEDIATELY DIED AS SOON AS I PASSED THE BUMP WITH NO ENGINE LIGHT ERRORS. THE BATTERY WAS CAR JUMP AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE BATTERY WAS TESTED WITH VOLTAGE METER AND SAME ISSUE. WHEN YOU TURN ON THE CAR NOTHING HAPPENS, NO SOUND, NO CRANKS, NO ENGINE LIGHT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED AT HOME. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND VERY CONCERNING. THE CAR IS 2018 OUTLANDER ES AND HAVE 34K MILES.

NHTSA ID
11383195
Incident
Dec 12, 2020
Mileage
34,000 mi
BrakesElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 17, 2020

WITHIN 10,000 MILES OF OWNING MY NEW CAR I NOTICED IT WOULD RANDOMLY STALL SOMETIMES AT THE STOP LIGHT OF AN INTERSECTION. IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG TO START BACK UP. OTHER TIMES MY CAR STRUGGLES TO START ALL TOGETHER. I'LL TURN THE KEY 2-3 TIMES BEFORE IT STARTS. SEVERAL MONTHS WENT BY WHERE THE ISSUE WAS NO LONGER PRESENT BUT OVER THE PAST MONTH IT STARTED AGAIN. LIKELY RELATED TO THE WHETHER NOW THAT WINTER IS NEAR. FINALLY MY EBRAKE HAS NEVER WORKED SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN EARLY 2019 WITH 21K MILES.

NHTSA ID
11364788
Incident
Oct 12, 2020
Mileage
25,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 1, 2019

WHEN REVERSING THE VEHICLE IF YOU SWITCH IT INTO DRIVE TO FAST THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLS OUT, REQUIRING YOU TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, SHUT IT OFF, RESTART THE VEHICLE THEN GO. THIS IS COMPLETELY DANGEROUS. IT IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN AND SHOULD NOT BE HAPPEN ON A BRAND NEW VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW WITH LESS THAN 50 MILES ON IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT A LOCAL GROCERY STORE, TO BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY TO TAKE THE KIDS TO SCHOOL.

NHTSA ID
11217306
Incident
Jun 1, 2019
Mileage
7,800 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 2, 2018

WHILE DRIVING IF KEY IS HIT, THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF.

NHTSA ID
11115337
Incident
Aug 2, 2018
Mileage
14,000 mi

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 .