2nd generation · CW (Mitsubishi GS platform) · 548 complaints, 333 with mileage
Owners filed 548 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007–2013 Mitsubishi Outlander, and 333 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
This generation has two distinct failure patterns rather than one, which is the most useful thing on this page. 19% of failures occur before 12,000 miles, which looks like a manufacturing defect, and a further 36% occur after 100,000, which looks like wear. Two different problems share one name in the complaint data — and an average of the two describes neither.
The most-reported areas are the suspension (15.3% of complaints, typically around 120,250 miles), the engine (8.9% of complaints, typically around 99,000 miles), visibility/wiper (8.6% of complaints, typically around 68,789 miles).
12 recall campaigns cover this generation.
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 84 | 15.3% | 120,250 | 82,400–151,281 |
| Engine | 49 | 8.9% | 99,000 | 64,000–125,000 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 47 | 8.6% | 68,789 | 60,000–84,000 |
| Power Train | 44 | 8.0% | 94,000 | 51,000–130,000 |
| Electrical System | 44 | 8.0% | 69,650 | 5,200–95,000 |
| Unknown Or Other | 39 | 7.1% | 84,500 | 53,872–137,000 |
| Structure | 29 | 5.3% | 115,000 | 73,000–147,000 |
| Exterior Lighting | 29 | 5.3% | 70,000 | 12,000–137,000 |
| Air Bags | 27 | 4.9% | 40,000 | 14,000–96,000 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 23 | 4.2% | — | — |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 175 | 112 |
| 2008 | 80 | 57 |
| 2009 | 61 | 32 |
| 2010 | 76 | 46 |
| 2011 | 88 | 43 |
| 2012 | 34 | 17 |
| 2013 | 34 | 26 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 74,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The suspension accounts for 15.3% of complaints (84 reports, 52 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 120,250 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 82,400 and 151,281 miles.
The engine accounts for 8.9% of complaints (49 reports, 20 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 99,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 64,000 and 125,000 miles.
Visibility/wiper accounts for 8.6% of complaints (47 reports, 14 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 68,789 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 60,000 and 84,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 8.0% of complaints (44 reports, 33 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 94,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 51,000 and 130,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 8.0% of complaints (44 reports, 30 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 69,650 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 5,200 and 95,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 7.1% of complaints (39 reports, 16 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 84,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 53,872 and 137,000 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2007 model year drew the most — 175 complaints — while 2012 drew the fewest at 34. The median year sits at 76.
That makes 2007 an outlier: roughly 2.3 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
NHTSA records 12 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around visibility equipment (4), the engine and its cooling system (2), body structure (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Of the 548 complaints filed against this generation, 32 reported a crash; 7 reported a fire; 31 reported an injury. Crash-involved reports represent 5.8% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, the two-peak pattern is the useful part. The early cluster — 19% of failures below 12,000 miles — will already have happened on any example you are looking at today, and either been repaired under warranty or not. Ask what was done. The late cluster, 36% above 100,000 miles, is the one still ahead of you if the car has lower mileage than that.
On inspection, the suspension and the engine are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The engine in particular shows a median failure mileage of 99,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Belt and pulley wear leading to shudder, flare on takeoff and eventual loss of drive, aggravated by heat, towing and extended fluid intervals; the same Jatco unit used across several brands in this era.
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 20V279000 | 2020-08-07 | Structure:Frame And Members |
| 18V069000 | 2018-03-27 | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys |
| 18V071000 | 2018-02-27 | Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly |
| 17V461000 | 2017-07-28 | Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor |
| 16V791000 | 2017-07-28 | Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Linkages |
| 16V458000 | 2016-09-14 | Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm |
| 15V233000 | 2015-06-15 | Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Fan/Motor |
| 15V232000 | 2015-06-15 | Electrical System |
| 14V564000 | 2014-10-15 | Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch |
| 14V562000 | 2014-10-15 | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys |
| 14V366000 | 2014-08-12 | Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections |
| 14V365000 | 2014-07-30 | Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) |