Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 19 safety complaints
about the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport with the US government. Of those, no death is recorded. One recall campaign is open against it, covering the power train.
The most complained-about system is the electrical system,
named in 6 complaints, 32% of the total.
The typical failure was reported at 22,000 miles,
the median across the 5
complaints that gave
an odometer reading.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files
· Covers May 2022 to September 2026 · How this is counted
What is on file
19 complaints on file
19
Complaints
0
Describe a crash
0
Mention fire
0
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 6 · 32%
6 32%
ENGINE 5 · 26%
5 26%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 4 · 21%
4 21%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 3 · 16%
3 16%
POWER TRAIN 3 · 16%
3 16%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 3 · 16%
3 16%
LANE DEPARTURE 2 · 11%
2 11%
BACK OVER PREVENTION 1 · 5%
1 5%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 1 · 5%
1 5%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 · 5%
1 5%
SEAT BELTS 1 · 5%
1 5%
048
Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it.
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 19.
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 2024 at 6.
8 6 4 2
222022232023242024252025262026
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure
happened. The range runs from 2022 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 2021 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
1 on file
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Outlander Sport vehicles equipped with continuously variable transmissions and mechanical key ignition systems. A software error in the transmission control unit (CVT-ECU) may incorrectly reduce the transmission gear ratio at high speeds, which can result in an engine stall.
The risk
An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will update the CVT-ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 24, 2022. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-22-004.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. · up to 76,508 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
I own a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. Mitsubishi's records show that Safety Recall C2204R/SR-22-004 was previously completed on my vehicle. This recall addressed improper CVT-ECU software programming that could cause an incorrect CVT gear-ratio command and potentially result in engine over-rev, engine damage, stalling, and an increased risk of a crash. My vehicle experiences serious and concerning problems following sustained driving at highway speeds. The vehicle begins to sputter and does not operate normally. Multiple dashboard warning lights begin flashing, and the backup camera activates and displays on the screen even though the vehicle is actively traveling forward and has not …
NHTSA complaint 11766146, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
At freeway speeds in the heat the vehicle intermittently and suddenly flashes yellow check engine light and vehicle shakes as it loses most of the engine power, forcing a slow or stop to "limp it" off the highway. No warnings no noises no change in emissions noted. Calls to dealerships and have been told they don't know what it is and haven't heard of any issues.
NHTSA complaint 11765535. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The brand new from the factory transmission that got replaced at a dealership to “fix” the initial recall stalled and went into limp mode while driving at under 50,000 miles.
NHTSA complaint 11726925. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
6,000 miles
The contact owns a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. The contact stated that the catalytic converter was stolen from the vehicle, and a new catalytic converter was installed. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle with catalytic converter failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called the dealer, but no assistance was provided. The failure persisted. The contact recently received an Extended Warranty for the infotainment touch screens due to common software and connectivity failures. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was …
NHTSA complaint 11710012, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I was turning out of my neighborhood and as I accelerated to merge with traffic my car started jerking. My dashboard “D” symbol only started flashing on and off and then my transmission service required light came on, (just had it done 8/25 and it is 11/25) and the BSW service required light came on as well. As I continued down the street everytime I pressed on the gas pedal the car kept jerking backwards and forward.
NHTSA complaint 11698038. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Driving home with no other cars around the forward collision warning goes off for no reason losing power and slowing down on it's own. This has been an ongoing situation since the car was new, I've made numerous attempts to have my local dealership look into this situation and all they tell me is to take video when it happens.
NHTSA complaint 11641459. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
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.
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API, newest campaign on this vehicle filed August 2, 2022.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file, published October 2, 2026.
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.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst