FORCAR
Go Pro

Mitsubishi Outlander Sport VIN Check

NHTSA holds 455 owner complaints on the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport from 275 production runs; the worst run has 9, the typical one 1.7.

NHTSA complaint records · 455 complaints · 275 runs · 2011–2026 · Updated Nov 3, 2026
Quick answer

The most-reported Outlander Sport run is 4A4AP3AU3FE (2015 builds) with 9 complaints, 5.3× the typical run. Power train problems make up 31% of reports; 2015 is the worst model year at 2.7 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 26 recall campaigns for Outlander Sport model years 2011–2022.

Which build runs owners report most

A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport has 275 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 8% of every Outlander Sport complaint on file.

FIG.01·Mitsubishi Outlander Sport — complaints by production run
Production run (VIN 1–11)YearComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
4A4AP3AU3FE••••••20159——
4A4AP3AU8FE••••••20157——
4A4AR3AU1FE••••••20157——
4A4AR3AU3FE••••••20157——
4A4AP3AU4FE••••••20156——
4A4AR3AU9FE••••••201561—
4A4AR4AU1FE••••••20156——
4A4AP3AU7FE••••••20156——
4A4AP3AU5FE••••••20155——
4A4AP3AU2FE••••••20155——
4A4AP3AUXFE••••••20155——
4A4AR3AU7FE••••••20155——
ROWS 12·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records, grouped by VIN prefix

Each of the other 263 Outlander Sport runs has 5 complaints or fewer. ForCar has checked 80 Outlander Sport VINs so far, most often 2021, 2020, 2019 builds; 1 of them belong to one of the 12 runs above.

Which model years to check twice

Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport the gap between build years is 2.7×: a 2015 car draws 2.7 complaints per run, a 2012 one 1.

FIG.02·Mitsubishi Outlander Sport — complaint rate by model year
YearPer runComplaintsRunsCrashes
20231.475—
20221.2119—
20211.11817—
20201.426181
20191.626165
20181.121204
20171.227224
20161.42317—
20152.7171642
20141.939214
20131.441293
2012113133
20111.428203
ROWS 13·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Heaviest year here is 2015 at 2.7 complaints per run; lightest is 2012 at 1. The 2023 line is still collecting reports, so it reads low.

What to inspect on this car

One system accounts for 31% of everything Mitsubishi Outlander Sport owners report: Power Train, 170 of 455 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.

FIG.03·Mitsubishi Outlander Sport — most-reported systems
SystemComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
Power Train1701—
Engine8311
Electrical System802—
Unknown Or Other631—
Air Bags4920—
Service Brakes447—
Vehicle Speed Control402—
Suspension194—
ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Recalls to check against your VIN

NHTSA has 26 recall campaigns on the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport; the 6 below cover build years 2011 to 2022. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.

FIG.04·Mitsubishi Outlander Sport — recall campaigns
CampaignComponentModel years
18V103000Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:linkages2011–2016
20V279000Structure:frame And Members2011–2016
16V792000Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor2011–2015
22V563000Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module:software2019–2022
18V070000Parking Brake2013–2016
16V867000Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge And Attachments2011–2016
ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA recall campaigns

18V103000 was opened in 2018 on cars built from 2011: 7 years on the road before the recall.

How serious were they

Of the 455 reports on the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, 6.8% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, above the norm.

FIG.06·Mitsubishi Outlander Sport — complaint severity
OutcomeMitsubishi Outlander SportAll vehicles
Complaints filed4551,115,966
Involved a crash31 (6.8%)64,194 (5.8%)
Involved a fire1 (0.2%)26,974 (2.4%)
Injuries reported2658,013
Deaths reported12,728
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Upgrade to Pro

You know what it is. Find out what it's worth.

  • Exact value for this VIN, adjusted for mileage
  • The original window sticker and factory options
  • Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
  • Decode a whole list of VINs at once
  • No ads, no tracking — and much more
See plans → Start free →
Free plan available — no credit card needed

How this check works

The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport share of that is 455 complaints over 275 runs, 0.04% of everything on record.

Everything on the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
Recalls67 campaignsFuel economy28 mpg bestReliability4.0/5Common problems874 complaintsCargo space22 cu ftUsed prices582 listingsWhat yours is worthValue by year & mileageInsurance costEstimated per yearWindow stickerOriginal Monroney labelDecode a VINWhat each character meansAbout this car2011–2026

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a Mitsubishi Outlander Sport VIN for free?

Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 455 NHTSA complaints from 275 Outlander Sport runs and 26 recall campaigns. No account, no card.

Which Outlander Sport production run has the most complaints?

4A4AP3AU3FE, a 2015 build, with 9 complaints. The typical Outlander Sport run has 1.7.

Which Outlander Sport years have the most complaints?

Per production run, 2015 is heaviest at 2.7 complaints per run and 2012 lightest at 1.

How many Outlander Sport complaints involve a crash?

6.8% of 455 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 1 involved a fire.

Complaint and recall records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Per-run rates computed by ForCar. Federal data covers safety only — title, odometer and insurance history are not included. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
Found this useful?

Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.

Prefer ForCar →