What are the most common problems with the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander?

Owners name the electrical system and the air bags most often, with the engine and power train after them.

Does the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander have recalls?

Yes. The by-year fact lists 6 recalls. Each one is shown in the Recalls section of this page.

Is the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander reliable?

NHTSA has 93 complaints for this year. Read the problem groups above and the by-year section to judge for yourself. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales.

What is the gas mileage of the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander?

See the fuel economy section on this page, which is built from EPA data.

Is 2018 a good year for the Outlander?

The by-year section on this page compares complaints and recalls across model years.

2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 93 owner complaints on file for the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander^[1]. The electrical system and the air bags are the two groups owners name most often^[2]^[3].

93owner complaints^[1]

6recalls^[4]

22–27MPG combined (EPA)^[5]

4–5★NHTSA overall rating^[6]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Here are the complaint groups in the stories we read, biggest first.

Electrical System. 20 complaints^[2]. Owners describe push button starting that failed, dash messages about an electrical fault, parking sensors that beeped with nothing in front, and warning lights that came on all at once.
Air Bags. 16 complaints^[3]. Owners describe bags that stayed shut in a front crash, a screen message asking for air bag service, and side bags that did not open after a deer strike. This group has the most crashes and injuries of any group listed here^[3].
Unknown Or Other. 14 complaints^[7].
Engine. 14 complaints^[8]. Owners describe the car stalling at a stop or when shifted into drive, starting only after several tries, a loose heat shield under the engine, and a check engine light tied to a fuel tank leak code.
Power Train. 13 complaints^[9]. Owners describe a gas engine that would not start, very weak power, stalling when reversing, a charger cord that melted, and a car that would not shift into park.
Brakes. 12 complaints^[10].
Structure. 10 complaints^[11].
Exterior Lighting. 7 complaints^[12].

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2018 Outlander is necessarily included.

Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate › Support Device/Strut (26V252), April 2026. About 108,046 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: injury. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[13]
Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate › Support Device/Strut (25V507), August 2025. About 121,529 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: injury. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[14]
Seat Belts › Rear/Other › Buckle Assembly (20V403), July 2020. About 177,000 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[15]
Forward Collision Avoidance › Adaptive Cruise Control (18V621), September 2018. About 58,916 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[16]
Forward Collision Avoidance › Software › Pedestrian/Cyclist/Object/Obstacle/ Recognition (18V620), September 2018. About 9,166 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: reduced braking. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[17]
Equipment › Other › Labels (18V591), September 2018. About 14,791 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[18]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
Outlander 2WD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[5]	25 / 30 / 27	$2,500
Outlander Sport 2WD, 2.0L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[19]	23 / 29 / 25	$2,700
Outlander Sport 2WD, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[20]	24 / 30 / 27	$2,500
Outlander Sport 2WD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[21]	23 / 29 / 25	$2,700
Outlander 4WD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, 4-Wheel Drive^[22]	24 / 29 / 26	$2,600
Outlander 4WD, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Premium, 4-Wheel Drive^[23]	20 / 27 / 22	$3,750
Outlander Sport 4WD, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, 4-Wheel Drive^[24]	23 / 29 / 26	$2,600
Outlander Sport 4WD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, 4-Wheel Drive^[25]	23 / 28 / 25	$2,700
Outlander PHEV, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (A1), Regular Gas and Electricity^[26]	25 / 26 / 25	n/a

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV AWD^[6]	5	4	5	4	16.4%
SUV FWD^[27]	4	4	5	4	18.5%
SUV AWD^[28]	5	4	5	4	13.7%
SUV AWD^[29]	4	4	5	4	16.9%
SUV FWD^[30]	4	4	5	4	19.1%

Engine and size

Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.

Engine	Horsepower
2018 Mitsubishi Outlander with 2.0L 4-cylinder^[31]	117 to 148 hp
2018 Mitsubishi Outlander with 2.4L 4-cylinder^[32]	166 to 168 hp
2018 Mitsubishi Outlander with 3.0L 6-cylinder^[33]	224 hp

How 2018 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Outlander model year. The 2018 is highlighted^[4].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
2003	116	6
2004	52	4
2005	19	1
2006	21	1
2007	125	9
2008	58	12
2009	46	13
2010	60	10
2011	88	14
2012	36	10
2013	68	14
2014	86	9
2015	235	12
2016	171	11
2017	78	6
2018	93	6
2019	56	6
2020	57	4
2021	19	3
2022	229	10
2023	58	2
2024	27	1
2025	18	2
2026	6	1

NHTSA's counts for the Outlander show 93 complaints and 6 recalls for 2018^[4]. Among the 25 model years listed, 19 have fewer complaints than 2018 and 5 have more^[4]. The fewest complaints are for 2027 (0) and the most are for 2015 (235)^[4]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2018 Outlander?

The 2018 Outlander has a fair number of owner complaints on file^[1]. The air bag reports stand out because they come with more crashes and injuries than the other groups^[3]. Electrical and engine complaints cover everyday trouble such as starting and stalling^[2]^[8]. These are unverified reports sent to NHTSA, and the counts are not adjusted for sales. Check the Recalls section on this page and ask a dealer whether any open recall applies before you buy.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander?: Owners name the electrical system and the air bags most often, with the engine and power train after them^[2]^[3]^[8]^[9].
Does the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander have recalls?: Yes. The by-year fact lists 6 recalls^[4]. Each one is shown in the Recalls section of this page.
Is the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander reliable?: NHTSA has 93 complaints for this year^[1]. Read the problem groups above and the by-year section to judge for yourself. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales.
What is the gas mileage of the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander?: See the fuel economy section on this page, which is built from EPA data.
Is 2018 a good year for the Outlander?: The by-year section on this page compares complaints and recalls across model years^[4].

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Mitsubishi Outlander

2015 235 complaints, 12 recalls
2016 171 complaints, 11 recalls
2017 78 complaints, 6 recalls
2018 this page
2020 57 complaints, 4 recalls
2022 229 complaints, 10 recalls
2024 27 complaints, 1 recall

Compare all model years of the Mitsubishi Outlander

All Mitsubishi models

Similar cars from 2018: small suvs

2018 Nissan Rogue 669 complaints, 4 recalls
2018 Subaru Forester 498 complaints, 3 recalls
2018 Toyota Highlander 274 complaints, 4 recalls
2018 Toyota RAV4 348 complaints, 3 recalls
2018 Volkswagen Atlas 466 complaints, 17 recalls
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan 292 complaints, 14 recalls

All small suvs we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 93 owner complaints on file for the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander (12 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 11 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
20 complaints name the electrical system component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 13,000). NHTSA vehicle records
16 complaints name the air bags component group (7 crashes, 0 fires, 8 injuries, median mileage at failure 53,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Mitsubishi Outlander model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Outlander 2WD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 25 city / 30 highway / 27 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,500. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 16.4%. NHTSA vehicle records
14 complaints name the unknown or other component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 10,330). NHTSA vehicle records
14 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 26,500). NHTSA vehicle records
13 complaints name the power train component group (2 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 10,329). NHTSA vehicle records
12 complaints name the brakes component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 14,000). NHTSA vehicle records
10 complaints name the structure component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 110,000). NHTSA vehicle records
7 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 26V252, filed April 20, 2026: Structure › Body › Hatchback / Liftgate › Support Device / Strut. NHTSA recall database
Recall 25V507, filed August 7, 2025: Structure › Body › Hatchback / Liftgate › Support Device / Strut. NHTSA recall database
Recall 20V403, filed July 13, 2020: Seat Belts › Rear / Other › Buckle Assembly. NHTSA recall database
Recall 18V621, filed September 14, 2018: Forward Collision Avoidance › Adaptive Cruise Control. NHTSA recall database
Recall 18V620, filed September 14, 2018: Forward Collision Avoidance › Software › Pedestrian / Cyclist / Object / Obstacle / Recognition. NHTSA recall database
Recall 18V591, filed September 5, 2018: Equipment › Other › Labels. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Outlander Sport 2WD, 2.0L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 23 city / 29 highway / 25 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Outlander Sport 2WD, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 24 city / 30 highway / 27 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,500. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Outlander Sport 2WD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 23 city / 29 highway / 25 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Outlander 4WD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, 4-Wheel Drive: 24 city / 29 highway / 26 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,600. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Outlander 4WD, 3.0L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Premium, 4-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 27 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,750. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Outlander Sport 4WD, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, 4-Wheel Drive: 23 city / 29 highway / 26 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,600. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Outlander Sport 4WD, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, 4-Wheel Drive: 23 city / 28 highway / 25 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Outlander PHEV, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (A1), Regular Gas and Electricity: 25 MPGe combined, 310 miles of range. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: overall 4 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 18.5%. NHTSA vehicle records
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 13.7%. NHTSA vehicle records
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 4 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 16.9%. NHTSA vehicle records
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: overall 4 stars, frontal 4 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 19.1%. NHTSA vehicle records
EPA Test Car List, 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander with 2.0L 4-cylinder: rated 117 to 148 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander with 2.4L 4-cylinder: rated 166 to 168 hp depending on version. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander with 3.0L 6-cylinder: rated 224 hp. www.epa.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2018 Mitsubishi Outlander: problems, recalls and fuel economy