Mitsubishi Outlander Transmission Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Yes. 295 of the 1,268 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008–2025 Mitsubishi Outlander (23.3%) name the transmission, 1.8× the median share across the 139 models we track. We have no published sales figures for this model, so there is no per-1,000 rate. The worst years are 2015 and 2016.
Transmission complaints
295
Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2025 models
Per 1,000 sold
No sales data
Not computed without a published sales figure
Share of all complaints
23.3%
of 1,268 complaints for this model
Transmission recalls
2
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Mitsubishi Outlander transmission complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline). Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Transmission complaints | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Transmission recalls | Transmission TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 9 | 15.5% | 1 | — | 18 |
| 2009 | 5 | 10.9% | 0 | 14V365000 | 19 |
| 2010 | 6 | 10% | 0 | — | 17 |
| 2011 | 9 | 10.2% | 0 | — | 15 |
| 2012 | 7 | 19.4% | 0 | — | 13 |
| 2013 | 7 | 10.3% | 0 | — | 13 |
| 2014 | 7 | 15.6% | 0 | — | 11 |
| 2015WORST | 142 | 60.9% | 2 | — | 10 |
| 2016WORST | 68 | 40.7% | 1 | 16V563000 | 19 |
| 2017 | 7 | 13.7% | 0 | — | 16 |
| 2018 | 8 | 11.4% | 2 | — | 15 |
| 2019 | 3 | 10% | 0 | — | 14 |
| 2020 | 1 | 3.4% | 0 | — | 14 |
| 2022 | 8 | 3.8% | 1 | — | 13 |
| 2023 | 4 | 9.8% | 1 | — | 12 |
| 2024 | 4 | 18.2% | 1 | — | 10 |
| 2025 | 0 | 0% | 0 | — | 0 |
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- No row for 2021: NHTSA's complaints data returned no records for that year under this model's names.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the transmission.
Common Mitsubishi Outlander transmission problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 295 transmission complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Mitsubishi Outlander years to avoid for the transmission
2015 Mitsubishi Outlander
142 transmission complaints (60.9% of the year's 233). Most often described: hesitation or delayed engagement.
2016 Mitsubishi Outlander
68 transmission complaints (40.7% of the year's 167). Most often described: hesitation or delayed engagement. Covered by transmission recall 16V563000.
Worst years are those with at least 10 transmission complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Mitsubishi Outlander years to avoid.
Mitsubishi Outlander transmission recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Power Train for any Mitsubishi Outlander model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 16V563000 · 2016-07-28 · 2016 models
The affected vehicles are equipped with a constant velocity transmission (CVT) that, in certain driving conditions, may cause a delay in the vehicle accelerating.
- 14V365000 · 2014-06-25 · 2009 models
During servicing, the affected vehicles were repaired with replacement transfer case assemblies whose oil seal may come out of position.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 142 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander, 60.9% of all 233 complaints for that year. The most common description is "hesitation or delayed engagement" (47 complaints). 2 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 68 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander, 40.7% of all 167 complaints for that year. The most common description is "hesitation or delayed engagement" (24 complaints). One transmission-related recall covers it: 16V563000. 1 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which Mitsubishi Outlander years have the most transmission complaints?
2015 (142), 2016 (68) and 2008 (9), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the transmission. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so treat them as a signal, not a rate.
What are the most common Mitsubishi Outlander transmission problems?
In the 295 transmission complaints, owners most often describe hesitation or delayed engagement (26.4%), transmission repaired or replaced (15.6%) and jerking, lurching or harsh shifts (14.6%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a transmission failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Without sales figures, a high count can simply mean a high-selling model.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Mitsubishi Outlander model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a transmission complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline).
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 transmission complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration