Best Mitsubishi Years to Buy by Model
The best Mitsubishi years to buy: the 2018 Outlander Sport and 2014 Lancer — the cleanest federal complaint records for each model. Years to skip include the 2015 Outlander Sport and 2022 Outlander. Based on 2,965 NHTSA owner complaints across 6 Mitsubishi models, rated model year by model year.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, recall campaigns & service bulletins · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · How we rate model years
Best Mitsubishi years, model by model
| Model | Best years | Years to skip | Years on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitsubishi Outlander | No standout year yet | 20112015201620222023 | 18 (2008–2025) |
| Mitsubishi Outlander Sport | 20182021 | 20152016 | 15 (2011–2025) |
| Mitsubishi Lancer | 20122014 | 2008200920102011 | 18 (2008–2025) |
| Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution | No standout year yet | 20082010 | 18 (2008–2025) |
| Mitsubishi Mirage | No standout year yet | None rated avoid | 12 (2014–2025) |
| Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback | No standout year yet | None rated avoid | 18 (2008–2025) |
Verdicts are each model’s own, rated against that model’s history; counts behind them are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
The cleanest year for each Mitsubishi model
2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport: 21 NHTSA owner complaints on record · all best-rated years: 2018 and 2021 · Best Outlander Sport years →
2014 Mitsubishi Lancer: 23 NHTSA owner complaints on record · all best-rated years: 2012 and 2014 · Best Lancer years →
Years to skip, in detail
Frequently asked questions
What are the best Mitsubishi years to buy?
By model: Outlander Sport 2018 and 2021; Lancer 2012 and 2014. Each matches that model's own best-years page, built from NHTSA owner-complaint and recall records.
Which Mitsubishi years should I skip?
By model: Outlander 2011, 2015, 2016, 2022 and 2023; Outlander Sport 2015 and 2016; Lancer 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011; Lancer Evolution 2008 and 2010. The full breakdown is on the Mitsubishi years-to-avoid page.
Which Mitsubishi models have no years to avoid?
The Mirage and the Lancer Sportback — no model year of these rates "avoid" in current federal data.
How are the best Mitsubishi years chosen?
Each model year's NHTSA owner complaints are weighted for severity, converted to a rate per year on the road and compared with the rest of that model's own history; the lowest rates among years with enough road time earn "best". Full method at /research/years-to-avoid/methodology.