Are Mitsubishi Cars Reliable?
Ask an average person to mention some mainstream car brands, and familiar names will come up, like Ford, Toyota, Chevy, Honda, and Nissan. And less popular automakers may be noted, such as Mazda, Volkswagen, and Subaru. But, chances are Mitsubishi won’t be part of the conversation. It’s a vehicle brand that’s a shadow of its once-thriving U.S. operations. But, this underdog status can make a Mitsubishi vehicle a great value, particularly in the pre-owned market. And that leads to the obvious question, “Are Mitsubishis reliable?”
While Mitsubishi began selling cars in America in 1982, we’ll explore more recent models. In this breakdown, we’ll cover the SUVs and passenger cars you’re most likely to come across in a used vehicle search. Read on for information about reliability, recalls, and other details.
Mitsubishi in the U.S.—A Brief History
Mitsubishi traces its origins back 150 years in Japan but was re-established following World War II. Eventually, Mitsubishi Motors was launched in 1970 and a decade later joined the numerous Japanese automakers that had already created a beachhead in the U.S. The company’s initial vehicles were unremarkable economy cars, but things changed as the 1990s rolled around.
Sports cars like the 3000GT and Eclipse offered affordable and in-demand performance, while the Montero helped usher in America’s craze for SUVs. But, a failure to innovate can be a death sentence in the automobile business.
In 2002 (Mitsubishi’s best year in the U.S.), the company sold almost 350,000 vehicles. Yet, by 2009, annual sales had dropped 85%, according to CarSaleBase. Its cars were stale and uncompetitive. Industry experts expected Mitsubishi to pack up shop and head back to Japan. But, the company remained steadfast, and new product introductions helped turn things around. By 2015, U.S. sales approached 100,000 units and continued on a mostly upward trend. Today, Mitsubishi is part of an alliance with Renault and Nissan.
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Are Mitsubishis Reliable? Model Information
To keep our review of Mitsubishi pertinent and focused, we’ll look at the most popular models from the last decade. Here’s what carcomplaints.com and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) have to say.
Mitsubishi Outlander
The Outlander is the company’s bread-and-butter vehicle. A clever name that borrows from the Subaru Outback and Toyota Highlander, the Outlander SUV has steadily grown in size since its debut more than 20 years ago. The third generation was launched for the 2013 model year.
- 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander: With only about 12,000 sales in the U.S., there aren’t a lot of recorded complaints. Most reports center around engine acceleration issues and a handful of transmission failure incidents.
- 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander: Numerous owners report troubles with either the airbags or the seatbelts. Plus, given a high number of complaints across the board, approach this model year with caution.
- 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander: While earlier models years had some drivetrain issues, similar reports significantly increased for 2015 Outlanders. Be sure to have a mechanic check out the engine and transmission before making any purchase.
- 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander: Drivetrain and transmission problems continue to plague Outlander owners. If you’re going to skip an Outlander, make it the 2016 model year, as these repairs can be pricey.
- 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander: Mitsubishi turned the corner with the 2017 Outlander. Drivetrain problems are way down, and reported troubles center around non-major systems.
- 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander: Other than a small number of brake issues, complaints are minimal or mostly about minor problems. We say “yes” to the 2018 Outlander when asking, “are Mitsubishis reliable?”
- 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander: Curiously, brake and airbag troubles resurface for this model year. But, more serious issues (like engine or transmission concerns) are minimal.
- 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander: Carcomplaints.com shows a small number of reports, so it’s hard to judge the reliability of the 2020 Outlander. Remember that car sales dropped for most manufacturers at this time due to the pandemic.
- 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander: No data is available for this model year (the last year of the third-generation Outlander).
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Mitsubishi Outlander Recalls
There have been numerous recalls for these Outlanders with problems ranging from faulty seatbelts to engine malfunctions. Always check the NHTSA database to see if a prospective vehicle is affected by a manufacturer’s recall.
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
A 2018 addition to the Mitsubishi lineup, the Eclipse Cross is a compact crossover with Lexus-like exterior styling.
- 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross: Approach the first year of an all-new model with caution as automakers often have to work out initial kinks. So, the reports of some electrical issues are no surprise. Two recalls were issued for the car’s advanced safety system.
- 2019 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross: Information is minimal here as a small number of complaints range from a single report of engine troubles to a few electrical issues. As with the previous model year, a safety system recall was issued.
- 2020-2021 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross: There is insufficient data (and no recalls) to summarize Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross reliability for these model years.
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
Introduced for the 2011 model year, the diminutive Outlander Sport is the smallest crossover in Mitsubishi’s lineup.
- 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport: Sorry to sound like a broken record, but we suggest skipping this first year of an all-new model. Reports of engine troubles are never a good sign.
- 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport: Complaints about major systems are down for 2012, but still have any ten-year-old car checked out by a mechanic.
- 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport: Be cautious about this year for an Outlander Sport. There’s an increase in electrical system complaints and numerous reports of airbag issues.
- 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport: Sorry to be a bearer of bad news, but take a pass on a 2014 Outlander Sport. Numerous complaints about the transmission and entire drivetrain should be taken seriously.
- 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport: Carcomplaints.com says this is the least-reliable model year for the Outlander Sport. We agree entirely after reviewing the data and offer a sold “no” when answer the “Are Mitsubishis reliable?” question.
- 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport: Complaints are down significantly for the 2016 model year. But we suggest a thorough mechanical inspection before putting a 2016 Outlander Sport in your driveway.
- 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport: An increase in electrical system issues is troubling, as are reports about drivetrain and transmission issues. So we suggest bypassing this Mitsubishi.
- 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport: Complaints about the 2018 model year are few and mostly about less-important problems. We’ll give a thumbs up to this Outlander Sport.
- 2019-2021 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport: There’s not enough information to pass judgment on these models, so rely on a trusty mechanic to check things out.
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Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Recalls
Car recalls are a normal part of today’s auto industry, and the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is not exempt. Recalls deal with corrections for engine and transmission problems and numerous less-severe issues.
Mitsubishi Mirage/Mirage G4
The Mirage (five-door hatchback) and Mirage G4 (four-door sedan) are among the cheapest new cars you can buy in the U.S. As such, components in these vehicles focus on cost-savings over longevity. So, used examples should be thoroughly inspected for potentially expensive problem areas like the drivetrain and electrical system.
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