Owners have filed 30 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical, airbags, and automatic emergency braking. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2020Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2020 Mitsubishi Outlander: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Engine off, key in hand0/4
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/1
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/2
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 2020's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2020 checks
Worth adding to your 2020 checks
Worth adding to your 2020 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2020 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 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Touchscreens stop responding, and this is the dominant problem. Losing the screen cuts off the radio, volume, hands-free calling, navigation, and settings for lights and wipers. Failures often start as weak touch response, turn intermittent, then go dead. Dealers replace the unit rather than repair it, and some failures land just past the 36,000-mile warranty, leaving owners with a large bill. Other reports cover door lock actuators that fail again after repair, a driver's seat stuck reclined, and false "Brake!" alerts. One highway report describes EV system warnings and a car unable to go over 20 mph.
Airbags fail to deploy in three of the four reports, and all three involve crashes with injuries. The impacts vary: a side hit at an intersection at 35 mph, a collision with a tree at 25 to 30 mph, and a rear-end strike that pushed the vehicle into a solid object. Six people were injured across these filings. The remaining report describes an "Airbag system Service Required" warning that came on with a passenger in the second row, shortly after purchase.
False alerts and unwanted braking show up in both reports. The forward collision warning lights up with no vehicle ahead, and the car begins braking on its own. Another filing describes an icy-road caution appearing on several occasions at 25 mph in the middle of May with no cold weather, at about 79,000 miles. Sudden braking with nothing ahead is a hazard in traffic. These reports match the false "Brake!" alerts that also appear in electrical complaints for this year.
Sunroof glass shatters in one report, which gives no detail on speed, mileage, or cause. The second filing describes no failure at all. It concerns a campaign notice the owner received, followed by a dealer repair. With only two filings, there is no repeating pattern to point to. A cracked or replaced sunroof panel is still worth checking for on any used example.
Excerpts from complaints Outlander owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Touch screen radio stopped working by touch reported the problem and was told by our dealer they couldn’t fix it it had to go to another dealer. That dealer said they could fix it and sent us back by the time they had time for us the warranty was out and they want us to pay for it after only 2 years. A family member had this say issue and sued and got a settlement and radio fixed
Filed with NHTSA, August 2023
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 need to put a recall out!
Filed with NHTSA, December 2025
Forward collision warning light comes on with no car in front of me and car starts braking. I did see that Mitsubishi was recalling these cars with this particular problem but I have not received a recall notice.
Filed with NHTSA, October 2021
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2020 ranks fourth 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 2020 is the seventh model year of the Outlander's third generation (2014–2024).
It includes the 2019 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 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.
Cars shoppers compare with the Mitsubishi Outlander, with their own 2020 checklists.
2020 owner complaints, side by side
