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Mitsubishi · NHTSA safety record

2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 21 safety complaints about the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport with the US government. Of those, 4 describe a crash, 3 people were injured and no death is recorded. 2 recall campaigns are open against it, covering forward collision avoidance and the electrical system.

The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 7 complaints, 33% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 50,694 miles, the median across the 9 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers October 2018 to March 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

21 complaints on file

21

Complaints

4

Describe a crash

0

Mention fire

3

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 7 · 33%
AIR BAGS 6 · 29%
POWER TRAIN 5 · 24%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 3 · 14%
SEAT BELTS 2 · 10%
SERVICE BRAKES 2 · 10%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 · 5%
ENGINE 1 · 5%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1 · 5%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 · 5%
LANE DEPARTURE 1 · 5%
SEATS 1 · 5%
0 4 8

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 21.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2020 at 5.

8 6 4 2
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2018 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2018 Mitsubishi OUTLANDER SPORT, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test SUV AWD SUV FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover 16.9% 19.1%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed. A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

2 on file

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

18V621000 · September 14, 2018

The defect
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport vehicles equipped with a Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) system and 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Eclipse Cross vehicles and 2017-2018 Outlander vehicles equipped with an Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system and/or an Electric Parking Brake (EPB) system. The software for the Hydraulic Unit Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may be incorrect, possibly preventing the intervention of a safety system such as automatic emergency braking, Anti-lock Braking (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), or the Brake Auto Hold (BAH) function when any of these systems are in use.
The risk
If the safety systems do not function as intended, it can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will update the Hydraulic Unit-ECU software, free of charge. The recall began October 16, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-008.

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. · up to 58,916 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

18V620000 · September 14, 2018

The defect
Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Outlander Sport, 2018-2019 Eclipse Cross, and 2017-2018 Outlander vehicles equipped with a Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) system that detects pedestrians. Due to incorrect software, the FCM-ECU (Electronic Control Unit) may apply braking for longer than needed, even after a pedestrian is no longer detected.
The risk
If the FCM-ECU software activates the brake for longer than necessary, the driver may react by applying additional braking. The resulting rapid deceleration of the vehicle can increase the risk of a rear-end collision.
The remedy
MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the FCM-ECU software with updated software, free of charge. The recall is began October 16, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-007.

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. · up to 9,166 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

POWER TRAIN

1 injured · crash · towed · 7,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT THE GEAR FROM DRIVE INTO REVERSE WITH THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A HOUSE WALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHTS BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT ADVISED THAT THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN REPAIR FACILITY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACTS RIGHT HAND WAS INJURED THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS

NHTSA complaint 11362358, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed

On 05AUG25, my wife was involved in a frontal collision while driving our 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. The vehicle struck another vehicle at an estimated speed of over 30 mph, resulting in significant damage to the front passenger side, including deformation of the hood and front quarter panel. Despite the severity of the impact, no airbags deployed. My wife was properly restrained and sustained visible bruising across her torso. She is currently in her second trimester of pregnancy. The seatbelt force alone presented a serious safety risk to her and our unborn child. There were no airbag system warning lights prior to the collision, and the SRS appeared to be functioning normally. The

NHTSA complaint 11679419, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash

This is a follow-up and correction to a complaint previously submitted for VIN [XXX] regarding airbag non-deployment during a passenger-side T-bone collision on [XXX]. A [XXX] child was properly restrained in a rear-facing car seat in the rear passenger-side seat. The vehicle was struck directly on the passenger side at an estimated 30 mph. The front passenger door was deformed to the point it can no longer be opened. Despite this significant side impact and the presence of an occupied child seat in the rear, no side curtain airbags deployed—including those designed to protect rear outboard passengers. This vehicle is equipped with side curtain airbags as standard equipment. We believe this

NHTSA complaint 11679429, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

crash · 50,694 miles

THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 63 MPH ON A RURAL BLACKTOP, WHEN A WHITE TAIL DEER RAN INTO THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHERE THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT AND REAR DOOR MEET. THE COLLISION CAUSED BOTH DOOR WINDOWS TO SHATTER, AND THE DOORS ARE DENTED SO BAD THEY CANNOT BE OPENED. THE SIDE AIRBAGS ON THE VEHICLE DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN AFTER TAKING A DIRECT HIT FROM THE DEER.

NHTSA complaint 11383834. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
Air bag symbol is lit on dash. Technicians unable to find issue, nor were they able to reset light. I feel the importance of said system functioning properly needs addressed. Not just we e can't find what is wrong.Nothing else we can do. No, that's b s

NHTSA complaint 11722776. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEAT BELTS
Center seat belt will not retract, causing the belt to be unusable and unsafe.

NHTSA complaint 11722558. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

90,000 miles

The contact owns a 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the air bag light warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the air bag sensor was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

NHTSA complaint 11641815. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The driver seatbelt come unattached while driving. The car looses electric system while driving

NHTSA complaint 11641330. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2022 11 1 —
2021 19 1 —
2020 26 1 —
2019 26 1 —
2016 26 8 —
2015 182 9 —
2014 41 6 —
2013 42 10 —
2012 14 6 1
2011 30 10 —

Other 2018 Mitsubishi models

Outlander 57 Eclipse Cross 19 Outlander PHEV 15 Mirage G4 11 Mirage 10

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Mitsubishi on this site — 46 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst