Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Reliability — Best and Worst Years by the Data

Quick answer

The 2015 draws 2.67 complaints per run and the 2018 1.05, a 2.5-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 4 years of age, so 46.9% land after the 5-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Power Train, with 170 complaints, typically at 4.7 years.

Mitsubishi Outlander Sport years to avoid — and the best ones

FIG.01·Mitsubishi Outlander Sport — complaint rate by model year
Model year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Enough history?
2023	1.4	7	5	too new
2022	1.22	11	9	too new
2021	1.06	18	17	too new
2020	1.44	26	18	yes
2019	1.63	26	16	yes
2018	1.05	21	20	yes
2017	1.23	27	22	yes
2016	1.35	23	17	yes
2015	2.67	171	64	yes
2014	1.86	39	21	yes
2013	1.41	41	29	yes
2012	1	13	13	yes
2011	1.4	28	20	yes

ROWS 13·SOURCE NHTSA complaints, grouped by VIN production run

Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2015 Outlander Sport asks a median $6,000, against $8,900 for a 2016, the next model year: about 33% less, so sellers do price some of the trouble in.

Among the 6 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2015, 2014, 2013; the three worth hunting are 2018, 2017, 2011.

When it starts to break

FIG.02·Mitsubishi Outlander Sport — age at failure
Age at failure	Complaints	Running total	Warranty
0 years	36	8%	covered
1 year	52	19.5%	covered
2 years	31	26.3%	covered
3 years	63	40.3%	covered
4 years	58	53.1%	covered
5 years	58	65.9%	you pay
6 years	46	76.1%	you pay
7 years	38	84.5%	you pay
8 years	31	91.4%	you pay
9 years	17	95.1%	you pay
10 years	9	97.1%	you pay
11 years	8	98.9%	you pay
12 years	3	99.6%	you pay
13 years	1	99.8%	you pay
14 years	1	100%	you pay

ROWS 15·SOURCE NHTSA complaints with incident dates

Basic warranty on this car is 5 years / 60,000 miles. Only 53.1% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 46.9% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (10 years / 100,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 56% of the complaints here.

What actually fails — and at what age

On the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, the early trouble is Electrical System — reported at around 4 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Power Train at 4.7 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.

FIG.03·Mitsubishi Outlander Sport — what fails and when
System	Complaints	Typical age	Crash	Fire
Power Train	170	4.7 yrs	1	—
Engine	83	4.1 yrs	1	1
Electrical System	80	4 yrs	2	—
Unknown Or Other	63	4.3 yrs	1	—
Air Bags	49	5.4 yrs	20	—
Service Brakes	44	4.2 yrs	7	—
Vehicle Speed Control	40	4.1 yrs	2	—
Suspension	19	6.4 yrs	4	—

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaints

What else in this class

6 models share the Outlander Sport's vehicle class. Per production run, the Honda Pilot draws 3.9, the Ford Escape 8.92 and the GMC Terrain 2.44, against 1.65 for the Outlander Sport. That is the fewest complaints of the group.

FIG.05·Mitsubishi Outlander Sport — rivals in the same class
Same class as the Outlander Sport	Complaints on record	Recall campaigns	Years built
Honda Pilot	9,359	197	2003–2026
Ford Escape	28,602	227	2001–2026
GMC Terrain	3,172	45	2009–2026
Volkswagen Tiguan	2,278	69	2009–2026
Volkswagen Atlas	1,993	77	2018–2026
Jeep Compass	3,990	47	2006–2026

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns

The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.

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Everything on the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

Recalls67 campaigns Fuel economy28 mpg best Common problems874 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build Cargo space22 cu ft Used prices581 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car2011–2026

Frequently asked questions

Is the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport reliable?

By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.65 against 3.73 for the average car, and fewer than each of the 3 class rivals we compared.

Which Outlander Sport years should you avoid?

By complaints per production run, 2015, 2014, 2013. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2018, 2017, 2011. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.

When do Outlander Sport problems usually start?

Half of all complaints arrive by 4 years of age. The most reported system is Power Train, typically at 4.7 years, followed by Engine.

Will the warranty cover Outlander Sport problems?

Mostly yes: basic cover is 5 years / 60,000 miles, and 53.1% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 56% of the complaints here.

Is the Outlander Sport more reliable than the Honda Pilot?

Yes: 1.65 complaints per production run for the Outlander Sport against 3.9 for the Honda Pilot.

Complaint records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Rates, age-at-failure and warranty coverage computed by ForCar. Model years newer than 6 years are excluded from rankings — complaints accumulate for a decade (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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