Owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the airbags, electrical, and brakes. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2019Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2019 Mitsubishi Outlander: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Engine off, key in hand0/2
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/3
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2019's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2019 checks
Worth adding to your 2019 checks
Worth adding to your 2019 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cylGas | 4WD, FWD | 26–27 mpg |
| 2.4L 4-cylGas | 4WD, FWD | 26–27 mpg |
| 3.0L 6-cylGas | 4WD | 22 mpg |
| 2.0L 4-cylPlug-in hybrid | AWD | 310 mi range |
NHTSA complaints for the 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Several reports describe airbags that fail to deploy in serious crashes. These include frontal impacts that totaled the car and a 30 mph T-bone collision. One driver says the steering wheel airbag deployed partly flat and reports broken ribs and a broken sternum. Another crash report says front seat belts failed to lock. Outside of crashes, a "Service Air Bags" warning appears at about 60,000 miles. One buyer says the airbags were missing when the car was sold. Of these filings, 4 involve crashes and 2 report injuries.
The most serious report describes a fire near the engine compartment that starts while the car is parked and turned off. The car is destroyed, at roughly 100,193 miles. Other complaints describe stalling while driving, with speed dropping from 30 to 0 mph, and the car shutting off and restarting on its own. Owners also report headlights that surge and burn out repeatedly, an info display that resets, an electronic parking brake stuck on, and both sudden and sluggish acceleration.
Brake noise is the main complaint. Owners describe screeching and loud grinding that returns even after pads and the whole brake system are replaced, starting within months on a new car. Front calipers rattle over small bumps at around 45,000 miles, and replacing the calipers ends the noise. In one report, unbuckling the seat belt with brake auto hold active sets the parking brake and stops the car in the path of oncoming traffic.
Transmission complaints include an overheating warning followed by the car losing drive while moving. Owners also describe hesitation when shifting into drive or reverse, engine speed swinging 500-1000 RPM while cruising, and stuttering when pulling away from a stop. One report at about 6,500 miles says the car rolled backward on an incline with the shifter in Drive and the brakes did not respond until the start button was pressed. A parking brake that stops working is also mentioned.
The documented failure involves the right tailgate lift support strut. As the power tailgate opens, the strut's rod breaks loose and flies off with a bang loud enough to sound like a gunshot. In the reported case it struck the owner's shoulder blade and caused severe pain. One injury is on record, and the owner notes the rod could have hit someone's face. There is no warning before it lets go. The second complaint gives no details.
Both complaints involve the driver's seat. In one, the seatback slowly reclines on its own while driving, even after being set upright before the trip. In the other, the whole seat is loose and rocks at its base, on a car bought new. Either fault leaves the driver poorly supported behind the wheel. Neither report mentions a crash, an injury, or a repair.
Excerpts from complaints Outlander owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
My parking brake has stopped working/is completely locked up (like what is descrived in the recall, but my vin isn't included in thr recall list), and the airbags were missing at time of sell.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2024
There is a glitch in the electrical system. I have been replacing headlights constantly since I have purchased this vehicle in 2019. Last night was the final straw as both headlights went out at the same time. When I am stationary, you can watch the headlights surge when the vehicle is running. I have also had issues with the info center resetting for no reason during these glitches. No headlights at night is DANGEROUS!!!!
Filed with NHTSA, September 2025
While accelerating the gas gage goes up but there is resistance when pressing on gas. The vehicle does not accelerate right away and there is a drag before the vehicle gets up to speed. It takes off really slow.
Filed with NHTSA, August 2025
Front calipers made a ratting noise, every time we drive over small street cracks or bumps, this happen when my car reached about 45000 miles, we replace the calipers now there is no more ratting noise.
Filed with NHTSA, August 2024
Transmission not working properly. It said overheating and then stopped driving suddenly whil driving. Very unsafe. Also issue with parking break that just stopped working. This car seems to be a lemon. Not sure why this is happening.
Filed with NHTSA, May 2024
Hesitation when putting thee vehicle in drive or reverse. While driving RPMs fluctuate 500-1000RPMs continuously. Studdering when accelerating from a complete stop.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2023
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2019 ranks fifth for owner complaints among 7 Outlander years, well under the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2019 is the sixth model year of the Outlander's third generation (2014–2024).
It is also the first year of a mid-cycle update.
What changed for 2019
Recall repairs are free at any Mitsubishi dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
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.
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 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 October 6, 2025. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-25-002.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Outlander and 2018-2019 Outlander PHEV vehicles. The second-row center seat belt buckle may interfere with the right-side seat belt buckle when the seat backs are folded down. The interference may cause the right-side seat belt buckle cover to come off, making the buckle latch inoperable and unable to restrain an occupant.
Risk: An unrestrained occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will modify the second-row center seat belt buckle cover, install a new warning label to the second-row seat support base, and provide a new warning label insert for the owner's manual, free of charge. The recall began September 1, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-20-004.
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.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Mitsubishi Outlander vehicles equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels. The Certification Label lists an incorrect rear wheel rim size. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims.".
Risk: The incorrect rim size information on the label can cause the operator to replace the rim with an incorrect rim size, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: MMNA will notify owners and send them a corrected certification label, free of charge. Owners can also choose to have the label replaced by a dealer, free of charge. The recall began September 26, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-006.
Cars shoppers compare with the Mitsubishi Outlander, with their own 2019 checklists.
2019 owner complaints, side by side
