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6 Common Problems Of A Mitsubishi Outlander

6 Common Problems Of A Mitsubishi Outlander

What are some common problems of a Mitsubishi Outlander? What issues do owners have to deal with? In this blog, we’ve covered everything you need to know to get up to speed on the Mitsubishi Outlander and its problems. Let’s start with the short answer. 

The most important problem of the Mitsubishi Outlander is premature transmission failure in the 2014 to 2016 models. Suspension failure is another failure that Outlander owners have to deal with, it affects 2003 to 2013 Outlanders. Other common problems include electrical system errors on the 2014 and 2017 models, brake problems focused on the 2018 model, and paint chipping on nearly all models. 

That was the condensed answer. We’ve got more information on each problem that’ll give you everything you need to tackle it or make an informed decision about your purchase. Let’s get started.

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1. Transmission Failure

Right off the bat, let’s get into one of the big ones: Transmission failure. If you’re doing any kind of research regarding Outlander, you’re more than likely to come across its transmission issues. 

As you probably already know, transmission issues, more often than not, are expensive ones and so consumers aren’t shy about airing their frustrations out online. You’ll find these problems more common on the 2014 to 2016 models of the Outlander, although we’ve seen some complaints on earlier models too. 

Outlander’s main transmission problem is premature wear and failure. The continuous variable transmission (CVT) doesn’t last as long as expected and often fails under the 100,000-mile mark. 

We found that many owners had indications that something was wrong with their transmissions, these indications include whining sounds especially noticeable when accelerating, hesitation when accelerating, sudden loss of speed while driving, and excessive RPMs. If you notice any of these problems, take your Outlander in for a checkup immediately.

Unfortunately, once the transmission fails you’ll most likely have to get a complete replacement which is quite expensive. Most owners who had this problem report having quotes of $7,000 to $10,000 for the replacement and one owner ended up leaving his Outlander in his carport for nearly a year at the time of their complaint, solely due to the ridiculous replacement cost. 

After doing some research on how to prevent or at least prolong transmission failure, we found that owners recommend changing the CVT fluid and filter every 30,000 miles or at least every two years. They also recommended not using the Outlander for towing as it increases the load on the transmission and could cause overheating and degradation of the CVT fluid. 

Mitsubishi also has a recall that reprograms the CVT control unit for the 2015 to 2016 models, so make sure to get it done. It should help improve the life of the transmission. 

The NHTSA campaign number for this recall is 16V563000

2. Suspension Failure 

A common problem on the older Outlanders is suspension failure due to corrosion. The front subframes of the outlander were susceptible to excessive corrosion when exposed to lots of road salt. These subframes developed holes and cracks which eventually caused the control arms to break making it near impossible to control or steer the vehicle. 

If you’re lucky enough to catch the rust in time, all you need to do is sand it and apply for rust protection. However, if holes or cracks have already formed, you’ll need to replace the front cross member. 

Fortunately, Mitsubishi has issued a recall for the issue and will replace the front cross members free of charge if needed. It also requires dealerships to apply an anti-corrosion agent on vehicles that are part of the recall to prevent rust from spreading. 

The recall was issued for 2003 to 2006 and 2007 to 2013 V6 Outlanders. As far as we know, the problem is limited to these model years. The NHTSA campaign number for this recall is 16V458000

It’s always good to opt for regular rust treatments that protect the underside of the vehicle as it can prevent serious failures such as this one. 

3. Paint Chipping

Many consumers complained about thin paint on their Outlanders. It’s a problem that we’ve seen on most if not all of the Outlander model years. The paint gets chipped off by small debris quite easily which gives way to rust on the exposed metal underneath. The chipped paint and rust also make your vehicle look more beat up than it is. 

The best thing you can do is use paint protection film (PPF) or a similar coating to provide an extra layer of protection to your vehicle. This will help prevent paint from chipping off in the first place and proves to be a cheaper option than respraying or touching up affected areas. 

4. Brake Problems

The most complained about brake problem was premature wear. Owners reported having to change their brake pads every 20,000 miles or even 10,000 miles, which is too frequent for regular drivers.

According to carcomplaints.com, replacing brake pads costs $690 on average for Outlander. This basically means changing brake pads and dishing out about $690 every year. 

We only came across one plausible solution for the issue: better quality after-market brake pads. The poor brake pads are especially a problem on the 2018 Outlander so if you’re forced to change them, opt for better quality ones. 

We would also like to alert you about two recalls regarding the braking system in the Outlander. The first recall is for faulty brake lamps that stop working. This means following traffic won’t know when you’re braking making it dangerous and more likely for you to end up in an accident. As per the recall, affected 2007 to 2008 vehicles will have the stop lamps replaced. 

The NHTSA campaign number for this recall is 08V6880000

The second recall was made in 2018 for possibly corroded parking brake actuators in the 2014 to 2016 Outlanders. Corroded actuators could cause the shaft to bind resulting in a roll-away vehicle. As part of the recall, the vehicles are to be inspected and the brake boot and lever or brake caliper body are to be replaced, free of charge. 

The NHTSA campaign number for this recall is 18V070000

5. Electrical System Errors 

With so many electrical systems integrated into your everyday vehicles, it’s not uncommon to see errors or glitches in your daily driver. The Outlander has two such issues. 

The first one lights your dashboard up “like a Christmas tree” according to owners. Multiple warning lights come up for the anti-lock braking system (ABS), active stability control ASC, and 4WD.

Your vehicle will still be drivable but you won’t be able to use these features all because of a faulty sensor. A scanner should tell you which sensor is defective and it’ll take a few hundred dollars for replacement. After that, you’re good to go. 

The second issue is much more annoying. A subpar Bluetooth system. Many owners of the 2014 and 2017 models have complained about Bluetooth issues. 

According to these complaints, the Bluetooth system is incapable of properly connecting and dialing up numbers, it also makes a mess out of navigation and the audio capabilities are severely hindered. Owners state having only one speaker functioning with Bluetooth or having to make calls by picking up the phone instead of the hands-free system. 

6. Soy-Coated Wiring

Soy-Coated wiring has become a common issue for most brands including Mitsubishi. Most automakers switched to soy-based coating for their wiring because it was more biodegradable and so more eco-friendly. Although it’s better for the environment, it’s also better for the automaker as these soy-based coatings are cheaper than their plastic counterparts.

The problem with these soy-based coatings is that they attract rodents who then like to chew on them and use them as nesting material. This could cause an array of problems, any system that utilizes wires that are accessible to these rodents is at risk of failing. This has become quite the problem since there is no easy solution and it’s a problem found in most vehicles by most automakers. 

There are some simple steps to include in your routine to try and catch these rodents before they cause an expensive problem. This includes regularly opening the hood and looking for signs of rodent activity, looking for shredded pieces of wire where you park your cars, and cleaning out all the food in your car. 

What’s The Worst Year Of The Mitsubishi Outlander

The Mitsubishi Outlander is a relatively reliable vehicle that should last you 200,000 to 220,000 miles on average. Possibly longer with good care and maintenance. The Outlander has been on the market since 2003 giving us a whopping 20 years. That are a lot of models to choose from when you’re on the market for a used Outlander. Not to worry, we’re here to point out which models to run from and which ones to prefer. 

The worst years of Nissan Outlander would have to be 2014, 2016, and 2018. The 2014 Outlander has the most overall complaints which make it problematic but we’re more concerned with the 2016 model that could come with a ridiculously expensive transmission failure. The 2018 model also had quite a few complaints and had somewhat expensive repair costs according to carcomplaints.com which landed it on our list. 

Overall, the years 2014 to 2018 have relatively more complaints but all other models should be decent options. We found especially few complaints for the 2019 to 2021 models which is a good sign and they could be good options, although they’ll be more expensive as they are more recent. 

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