2006 Mitsubishi Outlander

Routine

Owners filed 21 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the exterior lighting. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Suspension6
201
Exterior Lighting4
000
Electrical System4
000
Fuel/Propulsion System2
000
Visibility/Wiper1
000
Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal1
000
Structure › Body1
000
Structure1
000
Service Brakes1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Arm16V458000
Filed Jun 23, 2016194,674 vehiclesMitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

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.

Risk. A detached front control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
SuspensionCrash
Filed Mar 18, 2026PA

Control arm became unattached losing ability to steer and cracking the subframe on the front driver side.

Suspension
Filed Oct 24, 2019140,000 milesIL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROL ARM SNAPPED IN HALF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTROL ARM COLLAPSED ON BOTH FRONT TIRES, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO IMMEDIATELY HALT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE COVERED IF IT WERE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V458000(SUSPENSION) AND ASSOCIATED IT WITH THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.

Suspension
Filed Feb 6, 201883,000 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER FAILED AND DAMAGED THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, THE LOWER CONTROL ASSEMBLY, THE STEERING ASSEMBLY, THE FRONT AXLE, THE STABILITY CONTROL, AND THE SHAFT ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PERUZZI MITSUBISHI (130 LINCOLN HIGHWAY, FAIRLESS HILLS, PENNSYLVANIA 19030, PHONE (888) 481-7599). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V458000 (SUSPENSION) AND THE DAMAGED PARTS WERE REPLACED. THE DEALER CHARGED THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE ADDITIONAL PARTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Aug 30, 2017OH

THE FUEL TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE FUEL VAPORS WERE LEAKING INTO THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE, THIS WAS TRULY AN OBSTACLE TO DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE LOCAL MISUBISHI DEALER SAID THAT THIS WAS NOT UNUSUAL THE COST TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK AND RELATED GASKETS, HOSE LINES, C;AMPS, ETC. WAS $1,750.00. FAST FORWARD TO JAN. 9, 2017 ;THE VEHICLE WAS CALLED IN TO BE INSPECTED FOR CORROSION OF FRONT CROSS MEMBER. MISUBISHI APPLIED ANTI RUST AGENTS TO THE CROSS MEMBERS IN QUESTION. THIS IS A SECONDARY ISSUE THAT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE COST I PAID FOR THE FUEL TANK ISSUE AND THE CORROSION ISSE OF THE CROSS MEMBERS. HOWEVER PRIMARILY MY CONCERN IS I QUESTION THE SAFETY OF EACH MATTER ALONG WITH THE POTENTIAL THAT OTHERS OWNERS MAY BE UNAWARE OF THE CIRCUMSTANES I HAVE LISTED AND JUST MIGHT EXPEREIENCE SOMETHING VERY TRAGIC.

Structure
Filed Jan 20, 2017FL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. WHILE APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD, INSPECTED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS UP AGAINST THE WHEEL WELL AND THAT PART OF THE TIRE LINK WAS RUSTED AND SEPARATED. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE LINK WAS DAMAGED, BUT WAS NOT FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Structure › Body
Filed Jan 13, 2017100,000 milesVA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V458000 (STRUCTURE: BODY) WAS RECEIVED IN AUGUST. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Suspension
Filed Nov 29, 2016NY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V458000 (SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Sep 15, 2016142,000 milesMI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS WERE VERY DIM AND WOULD TURN ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000.

Suspension
Filed Aug 29, 2016OH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V458000 (SUSPENSION) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

SuspensionCrash1 injured
Filed Aug 23, 2016134,000 milesIL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 50-60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SWERVED UNCONTROLLABLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CROSSED THREE ONCOMING LANES AND CRASHED INTO A CEMENT BARRIER. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO THE LOWER BACK THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT FACILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V458000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jun 20, 2016142,000 milesPA

FUEL TANK FILLER TUBE CORROSION, CAUSING SMELL OF FUEL WHEN FILLING VEHICLE, THEN TROUBLE CODE P0456: EVAPORATIVE EMISSION SYSTEM LEAK DETECTED (VERY SMALL LEAK) TO APPEAR. ADDITIONAL LEAK OF FUEL FROM A LEAKING FUEL TANK BY FILLER NECK CONNECTION THAT LEAKED FUEL ON GROUND WHEN VEHICLE PARKED FACING UPHILL, ALSO DUE TO CORROSION. REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF BOTH FILLER NECK AND TANK. SIMILAR ERA VEHICLE (2004−2010 MITSUBISHI ENDEAVOR) HAS RECALL SR−11−001 FOR SIMILAR DEFECT. MECHANIC STATED HIS DATABASE OF TROUBLE CODES AND THEIR CAUSES SHOWS CORROSION OF FILLER NECK AND TANK AS MOST COMMON CAUSES FOR THIS CODE. THIS VEHICLE HAS 142000 MILES AND HAS BEEN IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SINCE PURCHASE. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO MITSUBISHI, CASE NUMBER 1-257323494, MARIUS WAS THE CASE MANAGER, WHO STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS REGARDING ISSUES SUCH AS THIS ON THIS VEHICLE, AND (AS EXPECTED) THAT MITSUBISHI WOULD NOT OFFER REPAIR ASSISTANCE OF ANY KIND.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Jun 20, 201680,000 milesPA

AS REPORTED BY SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF THE 2006 MODEL OUTLANDER, WHICH WAS THE ONLY MODEL YEAR TO USE THIS SPECIFIC HEADLIGHT UNIT, THE LOW BEAM BULBS HAVE SERIOUS AND SIGNIFICANT LONGEVITY ISSUES. STARTING SOMEWHAT PRIOR TO 2012, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO KEEP A LOW BEAM BULB (H1 KIND) FUNCTIONAL FOR LONGER THAN 6-7 MONTHS PRIOR TO IT BURNING OUT. I HAVE PURCHASED EVERY BRAND OF BULB, MANUFACTURED IN 6 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, OF EVERY PRICE RANGE AND THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME AVERAGE 6 MONTH LIFESPAN. I HAVE HAD BOTH BULBS BURN OUT WITHIN DAYS OF EACH OTHER AND THEREFORE KEEP TWO SPARES IN THE VEHICLE AT ALL TIMES FOR PROMPT REPLACEMENT. SEEING THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS HERE, I NEEDED TO ADD MINE TO THE MIX TO ENCOURAGE ACTION ON THIS ISSUE. I AM QUITE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT BULBS AND PROPER HANDLING OF BULBS TO PREVENT FINGER OILS FROM CAUSING WEAK SPOTS ON GLASS. THE BULBS, WHEN BURNED OUT, APPEAR TO NOT BE DAMAGED VIA MOISTURE. THE INTERNAL FOCUSING LENS IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS ALSO CRACKED. THERE IS YELLOWING AND HAZING OF THE PLEXIGLASS FRONT OF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE MOISTURE IN THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Jun 20, 201680,000 milesPA

REAR SIDE MARKER LIGHTS HAVE CORROSION ISSUES AT THE CONNECTION FROM THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE BULB ASSEMBLY. NORMALLY ONLY BULB REPLACEMENT WOULD BE REQUIRED, BUT THE BULB WAS GOOD, THE WIRING HARNESS IS WHAT CORRODED. DEFINITELY A RISK OF SHORTING EXISTS. THIS OCCURRED WITHIN A YEAR ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE AND WERE REPLACED BY NEW FACTORY ASSEMBLIES WHICH HAVE A DIFFERENT DESIGN THAN WHAT WAS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE AT THE FACTORY. THESE ASSEMBLIES OF NEW DESIGN DO NOT HAVE REPLACEABLE BULBS. DUE TO THE CORROSION AT THE HARNESS, PROPER REPAIR REQUIRES SOLDERING AND SEALING THE NEW ASSEMBLY TO THE OLD WIRES, AS THERE IS NO REPLACEMENT SOCKET FOR THESE WIRES. WHEN COUPLED WITH POTENTIAL FUEL FILLER NECK LEAKS AS REPORTED IN OTHER COMPLAINT, THIS DEFECTIVE DESIGN WITH POTENTIAL FOR SHORTING (AND NO PROPER METHOD OF REPAIR SHORT OF SPLICING) COULD POSE A RATHER SERIOUS SAFETY RISK.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Dec 22, 2015130,000 milesNJ

THE HEADLIGHT BULBS KEEP BURNING OUT. FIRST ONE SIDE GOES. I REPLACE THE BULB AND THE OTHER SIDE BURNS OUT. THEN BOTH BULBS ON THE ONE SIDE BURNS OUT. I REPLACE THEM AND THE 2 BULBS ON THE OTHER SIDE BURN OUT. DEC 21, 2015 ALL OF THE HEADLIGHT BULBS BURNED OUT . NOT ONLY IS THIS COSTING A LOT OF MONEY IN MECHANIC FEES BUT I ALSO GOT A TICKET FOR A BURNED OUT HEADLIGHT SET OF BULB ON ONE SIDE I WASN'T EVEN AWARE HAD BURNED OUT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND WHEN I REALIZE THE LIGHT IS BURNED OUT I HAVE TO RIDE WITH MY HIGHBEAMS ON WHICH IS SAFETY HAZARD FOR ONCOMING CARS. I HAVE CALLED MITSUBISHI AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. I HAVE HAD THIS REPAIR DONE 6 TO 8 TIMES THIS YEAR ALONE. SOMETIMES THE CAR IS RUNNING LIKE LAST NIGHT AND SOMETIMES IT IS PARKED AND WHEN I GET READY TO USE IT IT HAS ALREADY BURNED OUT. CAN SOMEONE AT SAFER CAR LOOK INTO THIS. I HAVE HAD THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM LOOKED AT AND IT IS NOT THE WIRING.

Electrical System
Filed Oct 24, 2015101,800 milesNY

HORRIBLE DESIGN ON PRIMARY LOWER BEAMS H1 BULBS HEADLIGHTS. SOCKET BECOMES LOOSE AND/OR FUSING TIGHT AND BURNS OUT QUICKLY. SAME DESIGN AS SOME JAPAN MODELS LIKE HONDA ELEMENT USE OF H1 BULB AND STANLEY SOCKET IS SO DYSFUNCTIONAL. I INSTALLED SECONDARY FOGLIGHT SYSTEM RUNNING ON OTHER LINES - SINCE LIGHTS GO OUT A LOT EASY IN SNOW AND RAIN. ITS BEEN HAPPENING FOR YRS, I BOUGHT CAR USED.

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Aug 17, 2014WI

THE HEADLIGHTS, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE, KEEP BURNING OUT. EVEN A BRAND NEW BULB WILL BURN OUT MAKING NIGHT DRIVING DANGEROUS EVEN WITH THE GLOVE BOX STOCKED FULL OF NEW BULBS. IT APPEARS THERE MAY BE A LEAK IN THE SEALS (AND MOISTURE GETS ON THE HALOGEN BULBS). THE LIGHTS ARE ALSO QUITE DIFFICULT TO CHANGE ( EVEN THOUGH I HAVE CHANGED THEM ABOUT 20 TIMES). THIS IS A DANGEROUS MALFUNCTION AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACING THE HEADLIGHT UNITS PER MY MECHANIC. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Apr 3, 2014100,000 milesAZ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BLACKED OUT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO TAP ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IN ORDER FOR IT TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Service Brakes
Filed Aug 6, 2013120,000 milesPR

ACCORDING TO MITSUBISHI ALL OUTLANDER 2006 TRIM/MODELS ARE EQUIPPED WITH ABS, RECENTLY I NOTICED THAT MY CAR IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH ABS, ACCORDING TO SEVERAL INTERNET SITES ABS IS STANDARD FEATURE ON ALL MODELS, *TR

Electrical System
Filed May 19, 201340,000 milesGA

MY HEADLIGHTS KEEP BLEWING LIGHT BULBS, IT STARTED WITH THE DRIVER SIDE, GET IT FIXED THEN PASSENGER LIGHT BLEW, CHANGED IT, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON AND ON, WE REPLACE THE SWITCH AND I HAVE BEEN THROUGH MORE LIGHT BULB'S OVER THE YEARS. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE, NO RESULTS. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jan 10, 200730,000 milesFL

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AFTER SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20-25 MPH THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING., IT REGISTERED 0 MPH, AND HE COULDN'T TELL HOW FAST HE WAS GOING. THE CONTACT STATED THE BODY VIBRATED, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER HAS RELATED THE DETAILS TO HER. THEREFORE, SHE DID NOT HAVE SPECIFIC DETAILS ABOUT THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER LEAKED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EACH TIME THE DEALER FIXED A PART ANOTHER PART FAILED. *AK.

20 of 21 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2022
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20263100Routine
202515100Routine
202426100Routine
202347200Routine
2022213710Above average
202031300Routine
201929510Routine
201857600Routine
201751600Routine
2016145810Routine
201552510Routine
201445400Routine
201326500Routine
201222600Routine
201158800Routine
2010601000Routine
2009461300Routine
2008581210Routine
2007125920Routine
2006 — this page21100Routine
200519100Routine
200452400Routine
2003116620Routine

Compare every Outlander year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jun 23, 2016. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.