2022 Mitsubishi Outlander: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 209 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the body and structure, electrical, and suspension. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2022- Owner complaints
- 209
- Recalls
- 7
- Crashes reported
- 14
- 10 injuries
Your inspection sheet
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2022 Mitsubishi Outlander: inspection sheet
Paperwork and questions
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Cold start, engine bay, and underside
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/3
Test drive
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/4
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.
Which Outlander is it?
EPA figures for each version of the 2022 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 | 25 mpg |
| 2.5L 4-cylGas | 4WD, FWD | 26–27 mpg |
| 2.4L 4-cylPlug-in hybrid | AWD | 320 mi range |
- The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander was sold in four versions. Confirm which one this is from the window sticker, the engine cover, or the VIN report before you compare prices.
- On the plug-in hybrid, watch for the car moving off on electric power at low speed and for any hybrid system warning on the dash.
- Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A Outlander that averages well under the EPA 25 mpg combined on a mixed route may have an engine or tire problem.
Check the odometer against these mileages
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Rear suspension instability
9,000–19,000 miles
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Body and structure69No crashes
Hood flutter at speed is the dominant problem here. Owners describe the hood shaking, bouncing, and flexing from as low as 25 mph, getting worse at highway speed and in wind. Many notice it on their first drive and fear the hood will fly open and block the view, even though it is properly latched. Dealers often call it a known issue. Reported fixes include weatherstripping and hood replacement, but many owners say the flutter continues after several visits. At least one owner past 60,000 miles was asked to pay for the repair.
Electrical221 crash
Sudden shutdowns while driving are the most serious pattern. The dash goes dark, power is lost, and some owners say the car braked hard on its own at highway speed. Cold weather brings hard starts or no starts that need a jump, and some owners report repeated battery drain. Key fob problems lock owners out or leave the car dead. Other complaints cover a backup camera that freezes, linked to one crash, false collision warning lights, and phantom emergency braking in the rain. Dealers often find nothing wrong.
Suspension11No crashes
The rear end feels loose and unstable. Over bumps, dirt roads, and bridge joints, owners say the back bounces or kicks sideways as if it could spin out. Onset is often early, around 9K to 19,000 miles. Dealers frequently find nothing at first, but some later find a leaking rear shock, with replacement parts on backorder. Other reports describe control arms that bend or break without any impact, a noisy front strut bearing when turning, clunking, and fast tire and brake wear.
Airbags85 crashes
Two opposite failures appear in these reports, and most involve crashes. In several frontal impacts, including a deer strike at 70 mph, the airbags did not deploy. In other crashes, owners say deployment itself caused injuries to the legs, neck, and back. One report describes side airbags firing after a wheel rode over a curb at about 30 mph with no body impact. A lit airbag warning light also appears. Three of these complaints involve injuries.
Fuel system8No crashes
Fuel pump failures cause stalls, including in busy intersections, and some owners report a second pump failure under warranty. Several describe waiting months for fuel pump parts, with dealers repeatedly saying the parts are on back order. A strong raw gasoline smell inside the cabin is another pattern. Four injuries trace to one family reporting dizziness and nausea from the fumes. Dealers can reproduce the smell but struggle to find the cause or get parts. A check engine light after refueling, tied to the capless filler, also blocks remote start.
Brakes81 crash
Rear brakes wear out early while the fronts stay healthy. One owner had rear pads down to 2mm at 25k miles. Replacing rear pads requires putting the electronic parking brake into service mode, and owners say many shops cannot do it, while pads can be hard to find. Phantom emergency braking also appears, with the car slowing sharply at 35 and 70 mph. Other reports cover a recurring brake warning light traced to the front caliper, and parking sensors and automatic braking that fail to alert, linked to one crash.
Automatic emergency braking62 crashes
The system sometimes fails to warn or brake before a collision. Two reports involve crashes, one with an injury, where no alert or automatic braking occurred. Owners also describe the system shutting off on the highway along with adaptive cruise, sometimes with ABS and 4WD malfunction warnings at the same time. A failed front camera can make the center screen blink and beep nonstop and lock up the controls. Dealers often cannot reproduce the fault and simply reset the system.
Transmission51 crash
Total power loss while driving is the main concern. The engine shuts off and the infotainment reboots, and at highway speed owners lose power steering and brake assist. Dealers often cannot recreate the problem. In one crash with an injury, the car did not go into Park when the button was pressed and rolled after the driver got out. Other reports describe hesitation and jerking on acceleration, and a rear differential coupler clunk with the part out of stock at the dealer.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints Outlander owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Two issues: 1: since the purchase of the vehicle the hood would bounce up and down while on the highway. The service team acknowledged this was a known issue and advised they would resolve. It has been 3 month with no resolution. 2: when the gas mileage drops below 30 miles left to empty the display changes to “—“ and no longer comunicates mileage left to empty.
Filed with NHTSA, September 2022
The hood flutters and bounces up and down the entire time I'm driving making me too anxious to drive the car at all. I just bought the car used with 21,000 miles yesterday and noticed it after leaving the dealership to drive home. I have an appt for weatherstripping on 7/24.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2023
I was backing out of my driveway and my camera froze and I ran into a truck that was parked behind my car. The form would not let me continue until I checked the air bags box. But I do not know if that pertains to this situation
Filed with NHTSA, August 2025
The dealer and corporation will not do repair/service to make the key-fob starter functional so the vehicle can be unlocked and the engine started. The vehicle is unusable making it a safety hazard The problem has been confirmed by the dealer. The component has been inspected and worked on by the dealer. No warning lamps or messages, the problem appeared when starting the engine.
Filed with NHTSA, September 2023
I only had my car 6 months, this is second set of tires I have put on it and it the back ones right off. Also the hood shakes and wobbles while driving the vehicle down the road. I have consulted a lawyer because the rear suspension was fixed once with only 19,000 miles on the car.
Filed with NHTSA, September 2024
Excess play with front axles, manufacture defect improperly torqued axles, under or no grease for axles. Loud clunk noise when braking, rotors and brakes were replaced noise still exists, dealership claims it was the rotors and brakes from harsh driving which is false. Issues with axle, premature wear of front and rear rotors and brakes caused by front axles and suspension failure & defects dealership is refusing to honor warranty.
Filed with NHTSA, September 2025
Driver side airbag deployed with over power at the time of low speed front collision with flying from opposite direction of the parkway car wheel. Caused neck and back spinal cord disc herniation, damaged shoulder, torn muscle, concussion. Still going for PT every day for over a year. Car taken by insurance - total loss.
Filed with NHTSA, June 2025
Unaware of the airbags under the steering wheel until I was in an accident, the airbags deployed causing traumatic injury to both legs. Accident happened November 26. Still numb on part of my left leg currently still healing.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2025
How the 2022 compares with other Outlander years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2022 has the most owner complaints of the 7 Outlander years we cover, about 6.6 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Body and structure692
- Electrical227
- Suspension111
- Airbags84
- Fuel system80
- Brakes81
Where the 2022 fits in the Outlander's history
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2022 is the ninth model year of the Outlander's third generation (2014–2024).
It includes the 2019 update.
What changed for 2019
- New twin blade grille design
- Revised front and rear bumper
Recalls to confirm (7)
Recall repairs are free at any Mitsubishi dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
25V369000Backup cameraJun 2025
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Outlander and 2023-2025 Outlander PHEV vehicles. Due to a software error in the in-vehicle infotainment system (A-IVI), the rearview camera image may freeze, or not appear on the display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility.".
Risk: A rearview image that does not display properly reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the A-IVI software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 30, 2025. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-25-001. This recall replaces and expands previous NHTSA recall number 23V345. Vehicles previously repaired under recall 23V345 will need to have the new remedy completed.
23V345000Backup cameraJun 2023
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Outlander and 2023 Outlander PHEV vehicles. Due to a software error in the in-vehicle infotainment system (A-IVI), the backup camera rearview image may not appear on the display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility.".
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will update the A-IVI software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2023. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-23-001. This recall was replaced by NHTSA recall number 25V369.
22V470000Backup cameraJul 2022
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2022 Outlander vehicles. The rearview camera may not display the rearview image due to a software error. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility.".
Risk: An inoperable rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 1, 2022. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-88-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-22-003. This recall was replaced by NHTSA recall number 25V369.
22V335000Seat beltsMay 2022
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2022 Outlander vehicles. The Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) in the right front, second-row right, and second-row left seat belt assemblies may deactivate before the seat belts are fully retracted, which can result in an unsecured child restraint system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection.".
Risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2022. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-88-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-22-002.
22V027000Fuel systemJan 2022
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2022 Outlander vehicles. The commutator and wires inside the fuel pump may be fused incorrectly, potentially causing the fuel pump to fail.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 18, 2022. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-22-001.
21V821000Body and structureOct 2021
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling one 2022 Outlander vehicle. A software programming error with a welding robot may have caused the vehicle's center pillar to be welded incorrectly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 214, "Side Impact Protection" 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages" and 216, "Roof Crush Resistance.".
Risk: In the event of a crash, the reduced strength of the vehicle body may increase the risk of injury.
Fix: MMNA will repurchase and replace the affected vehicle, free of charge. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-21-009.
21V596000Seat beltsAug 2021
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2022 Outlander vehicles. The front and second-row passenger seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection.".
Risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect, and replace as necessary, the right front seat belt assembly, and the right and left second-row seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 28, 2021. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-21-007.
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2022 owner complaints, side by side
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