Mitsubishi Outlander problems, reliability and known faults
If you are considering buying a used Mitsubishi Outlander, these are the common problems worth knowing about first. Our garage database tracks 3 known faults for this model. Every one below is a repair bill a seller has good reason not to mention.
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Is the Mitsubishi Outlander reliable?
The Mitsubishi Outlander has 3 known faults in our database, 0 of them rated high severity. The most serious are gearbox (two reports link the belt-driven 2.2 diesel built by PSA to the crankshaft oil seal) and gearbox (failed clutches and dual mass flywheels are common on manual Outlanders used for towing). None of them makes the car a bad buy on its own; the risk is a seller who knows and says nothing.
That is a count of the faults we hold, not a reliability score. Popular cars get written about more, and a newer generation has had less time to show its faults.
Generation 1 of 13 known faults · 7 owner reports · 6 good notes
Mitsubishi Outlander (2007 to 2012) problems
Brakes/SuspensionMedium severity🏛️ Official recall
Water gets past badly sealed boots on the rear calipers' handbrake shafts and rusts them, the shaft sticks and the handbrake loses its hold; in the worst case a parked car can roll away. DVSA safety recall R/2018/180 covers Outlander PHEV, Outlander and ASX built between July 2012 and January 2016 (the build window differs by model and VIN range), with an inspection and new parts where needed. Owners have still had rear calipers seize and need replacing.
Rough guide
£0 (free safety recall)
Typical symptoms
handbrake does not hold the car on a slope
handbrake lever travelling further than it used to
rear brake dragging or a seized rear caliper
Affected vehicles
Engines:
All
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
Transmission/ClutchMedium severity💬 2 owner reports, 2014 to 2016
Two reports link the belt-driven 2.2 diesel built by PSA to the crankshaft oil seal leaking onto the clutch. A 2009 Outlander had repeated seal failures fouling its clutch, and a 2010 Outlander SST twin-clutch automatic needed a new clutch pack at £2,500, with the seal thought the likely cause.
Rough guide
£2500
Typical symptoms
clutch slipping or juddering
oil dripping where the engine meets the gearbox
Affected vehicles
Engines:
2.2 DI-D diesel (PSA-built, cambelt)
Typical mileage:
unknown miles
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
Transmission/ClutchMedium severity📝 Editorial
Failed clutches and dual mass flywheels are common on manual Outlanders used for towing, because first and second gears are too tall to move off with a trailer without slipping the clutch.
Typical symptoms
clutch slipping, especially pulling away loaded
rattle or judder from the flywheel at idle or moving off
burning smell after towing
Affected vehicles
Engines:
Manual gearbox, all engines
Typical mileage:
unknown miles
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
What owners report
7 single reports, unconfirmed
One owner each, in their own words rewritten as a line, and not counted in our risk scoring. A fault joins the list above once a second report or an editorial source backs it.
Exhaust · September 2019A 2010 Outlander 2.2 experienced cabin fumes entering through the vents when stationary; a manifold and EGR valve replacement did not resolve the issue.
Gearbox and clutch · December 2018A 2018 Outlander experienced clutch failure after six months and 5,000 miles of use.
Bodywork · May 2018A 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander windscreen suffered multiple chips, suggesting it was particularly susceptible to damage.
Exhaust · September 2017A 2011 Outlander 2.2 (4N14 engine) lost power on the motorway, believed to be due to its diesel particulate filter being full of ash.
Engine · July 2017A 2010 Outlander with 63,000 miles developed a diesel knocking sound upon engine start-up.
Engine · March 2017A 2014 Outlander 2.3 diesel developed a knocking sound at 45,000 miles, leading to timing chain failure.
Electrics · August 2015A Mitsubishi dealer quoted £7,800 to replace the navigation system in a 2014 Outlander after its screen was accidentally cracked.
What owners like
6 notes
The Outlander achieved a 4-star Euro NCAP rating for occupant protection, 3-star for child protection, and 2-star for pedestrian safety.
The car offers a good blend of ride comfort and handling characteristics for drivers.
The 2,179cc 2.2 PSA/Ford diesel engine significantly enhances the driving experience of this Outlander model.
The interior is practical and spacious, with most models offering seven seats.
The car is easy to drive, providing a comfortable ride and safe handling characteristics.
The Outlander achieved a 5-star Euro NCAP rating, with high scores for adult, child, and safety assist protection.
Sellers rarely admit these faults outright
We track 8 specific phrases sellers use in adverts to soft-pedal these exact issues. Paste any Mitsubishi Outlander advert and we check it in seconds.
Repair costs are typical UK ranges, not quotes. Actual cost depends on condition and garage.Data last verified: November 2026
Mitsubishi Outlander buying questions
What are the most common Mitsubishi Outlander problems?
Three stand out. Gearbox: two reports link the belt-driven 2.2 diesel built by PSA to the crankshaft oil seal leaking onto. Gearbox: failed clutches and dual mass flywheels are common on manual Outlanders used for towing. Brakes: water gets past badly sealed boots on the rear calipers' handbrake shafts and rusts them. The full list above is grouped by generation, with typical mileage and a rough repair cost for each.
What should I check when viewing a used Mitsubishi Outlander?
Ask the seller about the gearbox and brakes faults on this page and whether they have been fixed, with invoices. On the test drive watch for clutch slipping or juddering, clutch slipping, especially pulling away loaded and handbrake does not hold the car on a slope. Read the MOT history for repeat advisories, then paste the advert into the free check, which reads it against all 3 known faults before you travel. Check a Mitsubishi Outlander advert →
What is the real MPG of a Mitsubishi Outlander?
Owners report 37.2 mpg on average across the Mitsubishi Outlander engines with data, about 94% of the official combined figure. The gap between official and real-world economy varies a lot by engine, so the Real MPG page lists every engine and generation separately, from 249 owner submissions. Mitsubishi Outlander Real MPG by engine →
Where this Mitsubishi Outlander fault data comes from
If you used to check the Honest John “Good & Bad” section before the site closed in 2026, this page is where that information now lives. We rebuilt the Mitsubishi Outlander owner-report history from the archived Honest John dataset, added our own research, specialist and owner-club sources and DVSA recall data, and we keep it free. Each fault above is badged with its source. The same data feeds our free advert check, which reads a listing against every known fault for the exact engine and year.
Knowing what a Mitsubishi Outlander goes wrong with is half of it. The rest is reading the advert and checking the car's history before you hand any money over.