2020 Mitsubishi Outlander problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Electrical System (5) · Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings (3) · Air Bags (3)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mitsubishi Outlander model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (3)
Structure:body:hatchback/Liftgate:support Device/Strut 2026-04-20 · campaign 26V252000 · 108,046 vehicles
Defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Outlander PHEV and 2014-2020 Outlander vehicles. The liftgate gas spring cylinders may corrode and lose pressure, which can result in a gas spring cylinder rupture or the liftgate falling unexpectedly.
Risk: A gas spring cylinder rupture or a liftgate falling unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: MMNA will replace the left and right liftgate gas springs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 17, 2026. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-26-001. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov June 3, 2026. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V507.
Structure:body:hatchback/Liftgate:support Device/Strut 2025-08-07 · campaign 25V507000 · 121,529 vehicles
Defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Outlander PHEV and 2014-2020 Outlander vehicles sold and/or currently registered in Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The liftgate gas spring
Risk: A gas spring cylinder rupture or a liftgate falling unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: MMNA will replace the left and right liftgate gas springs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 6, 2025. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-25-002
Seat Belts:rear/Other 2020-05-18 · campaign 20V280000 · 3,241 vehicles
Defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Outlander and 2019 Outlander PHEV vehicles. The seat belt for the right side second-row seat may have been assembled incorrectly.
Risk: An incorrectly assembled seat belt may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the right side second-row seat belt and replace it as necessary, free of charge. This recall began June 17, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-20-002.
Service bulletins (96)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Electrical System 2026-03-30 · TSB-25-54-002 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this revised technical service bulletin instructs dealers to confirm that the sda2 audio unit touch screen is unresponsive, and if confirmed, to replace the sda2 audio unit.
Visibility/Wiper 2026-02-12 · TSB-23-55-001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this revised technical service bulletin provides instructions on how to remedy noise from the hvac system (heater, air conditioner, ventilation vents) when the blower motor is turned on.
Electrical System 2026-01-30 · PB-25-54-002 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this parts bulletin provides clarification on the correct part numbers to order / use based upon the situation of repair / replacement.
Electrical System 2026-01-29 · TSB-25-54-002 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this technical service bulletin instructs dealers to confirm that the sda2 audio unit touch screen is unresponsive, and if confirmed, to replace the sda2 audio unit.
Seat Belts 2025-11-21 · TECH TALK 289 · Other
tech talk is a service newsletter that was sent out to dealers. it covers various topics and reviews the previous months publications.
Structure:body 2025-10-08 · TIN-25-SR-002A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this technical information notice informs dealers that mmna is investigating the field performance of certain liftgate gas springs outside the population of vehicles covered by safety recall no. sr-25-002.
Showing the 6 most recent of 96 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-21 · Forward Collision Avoidance · 134,000 mi“the contact owns a 2020 mitsubishi outlander. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the forward collision mitigation warning light illuminated, causing the vehicle to independently brake. the contact referenced nhtsa campaign number: 18v620000 (electrical system, forward collision avoidance); as a possible cause for the fai…”
2026-07-31 · Exterior Lighting · 105,000 mi“the contact owns a 2020 mitsubishi outlander. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low beam headlights were significantly dim and progressively worsened and became inoperable. the vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer several times, where unknown repairs were performed; however, the failure persisted. the vehicle was …”
2026-07-10 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:hood:latch · 95,730 mi“the contact owns a 2020 mitsubishi outlander. the contact stated that while driving on the interstate at an undisclosed speed, there was wind underneath the hood, and the hood was vibrating. the contact was concerned about the hood becoming ajar. there were no warning lights illuminated. the contact stated that the failure was associated with tsb: …”
2026-05-28 · Forward Collision Avoidance · 79,000 mi“the contact owns a 2020 mitsubishi outlander. the contact stated that on several occasions while driving at 25 mph, a "be careful due to icy roads" message appeared, but it was the middle of may and there was no ice or cold weather in sight. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mil…”
2026-04-16 · Unknown Or Other“i made an appt for a recall on my touchscreen at hayward mitsubishi on may 27th 2025. i was left in the waiting room for two hours even with an appt. i was told mona would come get me but never did. i was very upset. eventually my information was taken and said the part would come in, in approximately 9 months. the time has passed and they dis not …”
2026-03-21 · Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings“multiple times i have been driving at a safe speed with no other vehicles or people around and the dashboard will beep and light up brake! brake!…”
2026-02-18 · Electrical System“the radio system failed two years ago many drivers with the same car have similar problem. …”
2026-01-09 · Structure“the contact owns a 2020 mitsubishi outlander. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 25v507000 (structure) and requested to be removed from the recall distribution list. the local dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. the contact had not experienced a failure.…”
2025-12-19 · Unknown Or Other“ i believe the locks should be recalled my lock actuatora on my 2020 mitsubishi outlander keeps going out……both my passenger front and back are out for a second time. and driver side doesn’t always unlock and lock with the key fob. all have been fixed before and it has been less than a year after being fixed. this is a safety issue and i think they…”
2025-09-17 · Lane Departure · 179,407 mi“the contact owns a 2020 mitsubishi outlander. while the contact’s wife was driving in a school zone, several unknown error codes became displayed. the lane departure warning light illuminated, and the automatic high beam headlights malfunctioned. while driving 70 mph, the vehicle lost motive power, and the driver shifted to neutral(n) and back to d…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.