Reliable Auto DB

2020 Mitsubishi Outlander reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander holds 31 complaints after 7 years, a rate of 3 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Outlander years here — under the median of the other years, which is 8. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Support strut and Rear or other.

2012 Mitsubishi Outlander
Photo by TTTNIS, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC0
Complaints

31

Per year

3

Recalls

3

Years on the road

7

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (11 of 31), then Forward collision avoidance (6) and Air bags (4). Those filings include 5 that report a crash and 4 that report an injury.

Next to 2019 and 2021

The 2019 Outlander has 29 complaints, 4 per year, and the 2021 has 0 complaints, 0 per year. The 2020 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019. The 2020 has more complaints per year than the 2021.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (3)

Recall structure, body, liftgate, support strut 2026-04-20 · NHTSA campaign 26V252000
Summary Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Outlander PHEV and 2014-2020 Outlander vehicles. The liftgate gas spring cylinders may corrode and lose pressure, which can result in a gas spring cylinder rupture or the liftgate falling unexpectedly.
Remedy MMNA will replace the left and right liftgate gas springs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 17, 2026. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-26-001. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov June 3, 2026. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V507.
Recall structure, body, liftgate, support strut 2025-08-07 · NHTSA campaign 25V507000
Summary Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Outlander PHEV and 2014-2020 Outlander vehicles sold and/or currently registered in Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The liftgate gas spring cylinders may corrode and lose pressure, which can result in a gas spring cylinder rupture or the liftgate falling unexpectedly.
Remedy MMNA will replace the left and right liftgate gas springs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 6, 2025. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-25-002
Recall seat belts, rear or other 2020-05-18 · NHTSA campaign 20V280000
Summary Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Outlander and 2019 Outlander PHEV vehicles. The seat belt for the right side second-row seat may have been assembled incorrectly.
Remedy MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the right side second-row seat belt and replace it as necessary, free of charge. This recall began June 17, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-20-002.

Complaints by component (31 total)

Electrical system
11
Forward collision avoidance
6
Air bags
4
Engine
2
Exterior lighting
2
Lane departure
2
Seats
2
Service brakes
2
Structure
2
Latches, locks, and linkages
1
Powertrain
1
Steering
1
Suspension
1
Wheels
1
Show 6 more Show less
Crash-flagged

5

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

4

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

12020620211202222023720247202572026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "The contact owns a 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low beam headlights were significantly dim and progressively worsened and became inoperable. The vehicle…"
    Exterior lighting · filed 2026-07-31
  • "The contact owns a 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that while driving on the interstate at an undisclosed speed, there was wind underneath the hood, and the hood was vibrating. The contact was concerned…"
    Latches, locks, and linkages · filed 2026-07-10
  • "The contact owns a 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at 25 MPH, a "be careful due to icy roads" message appeared, but it was the middle of May and there was no ice or…"
    Forward collision avoidance · filed 2026-05-28
  • "I made an appt for a recall on my touchscreen at Hayward mitsubishi on may 27th 2025. I was left in the waiting room for two hours even with an appt. I was told mona would come get me but never did. I was very upset.…"
    Unknown or other · filed 2026-04-16
  • "Multiple times I have been driving at a safe speed with no other vehicles or people around and the dashboard will beep and light up brake! Brake!"
    Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance · filed 2026-03-21

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2020 Mitsubishi OUTLANDER PHEV SUV AWD 5 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2020 Mitsubishi OUTLANDER SUV AWD 5 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2020 Mitsubishi OUTLANDER SUV FWD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Outlander two-wheel drive 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S6) Front-wheel drive 25 30 27 MPG $2400
Outlander four-wheel drive 3L, 6-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Four-wheel drive 20 27 22 MPG $3650
Outlander four-wheel drive 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S6) Four-wheel drive 24 29 26 MPG $2500
Outlander plug-in hybrid 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (1-speed) All-wheel drive 25 26 25 MPG / 310 mi range $2600
Outlander Sport two-wheel drive 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S6) Front-wheel drive 23 29 25 MPG $2600
Outlander Sport two-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S6) Front-wheel drive 24 30 27 MPG $2400
Outlander Sport four-wheel drive 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S6) Four-wheel drive 23 28 25 MPG $2600
Outlander Sport four-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S6) Four-wheel drive 23 29 26 MPG $2500

Specs and fitment

Third generation (GF), 2014–2021
Body styles SUV
Oil 0W-20 (common four-cylinder; ~4.9 qt with filter—confirm V6 in the owner's manual) , 4.9 qt capacity
Tire size 225/55R18

Known issues for this generation

Recall 18V070000 covers certain 2014-2016 Outlander vehicles (with Outlander Sport on the same campaign) where water may enter the rear brake calipers so parking-brake actuator shafts corrode and bind; dealers inspect and replace boots, levers, caliper bodies, and piston assemblies as needed. Recall 20V403000 covers certain 2014-2019 Outlander vehicles where the second-row center seat-belt buckle may interfere with the right-side buckle; dealers modify the cover and add warning labels. Shared unit counts apply when other Mitsubishi models are listed.

Compare

Previous year 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander See every Mitsubishi Outlander model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander holds 31 complaints after 7 years, a rate of 3 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Outlander years here — under the median of the other years, which is 8. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Support strut and Rear or other.

What are common problems with a 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander?

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (11 of 31), then Forward collision avoidance (6) and Air bags (4). Those filings include 5 that report a crash and 4 that report an injury.

Is the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2019 Outlander has 29 complaints, 4 per year, and the 2021 has 0 complaints, 0 per year. The 2020 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019. The 2020 has more complaints per year than the 2021.

Has the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander been recalled?

The 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander has 3 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander?

Owners have filed 31 complaints about the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander is 25.4 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What generation is the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander?

Fourth generation (2022-on).

What oil does a Mitsubishi Outlander take?

US notes list 0W-20 for the common four-cylinder engines; confirm V6 grades in the owner's manual when equipped.

What tire size does a Mitsubishi Outlander commonly use?

Third-generation US pages often list 225/55R18; fourth-generation trims use 235/60R18 or 255/45R20.