Short answer
Among Mitsubishi Outlander model years through 2024, 2005, 2006 and 2024 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (1) and 2009 has the most (13). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Mitsubishi Outlander: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 24 (2003–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 41
- Fewest recalls
- 2005, 2006 and 2024 (1)
- Most recalls
- 2009 (13)
- Most recalled system
- Structure (25)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2021 and 2022
Mitsubishi Outlander Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 1 | Not rated | Back over prevention |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 2 | Not rated | Back over prevention |
| 2024 | 1 | 4 stars | Back over prevention |
| 2023 | 2 | 4 stars | Back over prevention |
| 2022 | 9 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Structure, Seat belts |
| 2021 | 2 | 5 stars | Structure |
| 2020 | 3 | 4–5 stars | Structure, Seat belts |
| 2019 | 5 | 4–5 stars | Seat belts, Structure, Equipment |
| 2018 | 6 | 4–5 stars | Forward collision avoidance, Structure, Equipment |
| 2017 | 6 | 4–5 stars | Forward collision avoidance, Structure, Electrical system |
| 2016 | 8 | 4–5 stars | Parking brake, Structure, Electrical system |
| 2015 | 5 | 4–5 stars | Structure, Electrical system, Parking brake |
| 2014 | 4 | 4–5 stars | Structure, Parking brake, Seat belts |
| 2013 | 5 | 4 stars | Visibility, Steering, Structure |
| 2012 | 6 | 4 stars | Visibility, Engine and engine cooling, Steering |
| 2011 | 8 | Not rated | Visibility, Engine and engine cooling, Steering |
| 2010 | 10 | Not rated | Visibility, Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system |
| 2009 | 13 | Not rated | Visibility, Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system |
| 2008 | 12 | Not rated | Visibility, Engine and engine cooling, Exterior lighting |
| 2007 | 9 | Not rated | Visibility, Exterior lighting, Power train |
| 2006 | 1 | Not rated | Suspension |
| 2005 | 1 | Not rated | Suspension |
| 2004 | 4 | Not rated | Equipment, Suspension, Trailer hitches |
| 2003 | 6 | Not rated | Equipment, Electrical system, Suspension |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20261 recall
- 20252 recalls
- 20241 recall
- 20232 recalls
- 20229 recalls
- 20212 recalls
- 20203 recalls
- 20195 recalls
- 20186 recalls
- 20176 recalls
- 20168 recalls
- 20155 recalls
- 20144 recalls
- 20135 recalls
- 20126 recalls
- 20118 recalls
- 201010 recalls
- 200913 recalls
- 200812 recalls
- 20079 recalls
- 20061 recall
- 20051 recall
- 20044 recalls
- 20036 recalls
Mitsubishi Outlander: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Mitsubishi Outlander recalls are structure (25), visibility (22), suspension (11), seat belts (10) and back over prevention (9). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 13 of these 24 model years, and 2021 and 2022 earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Mitsubishi Outlander Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Mitsubishi Outlander?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2005, 2006 and 2024 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 1 each.
Which Mitsubishi Outlander model years have the most recalls?
2009 has the most, with 13 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Outlander", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy