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Research · Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD

2010 Mitsubishi OutlanderRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 10 safety recalls and 60 owner complaints for the 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander. Most complaints involve engine (12) and engine and engine cooling (7). The EPA rates it 20–24 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
20–24mpg
EPA · 4 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
10campaigns
Latest May 2020
Owner complaints
60
Top: engine
Fuel cost / yr
$2,600est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

10 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Structure: frame and members

Free remedy

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2008-2010 Lancer, 2009-2010 Lancer Sportback, 2008-2013 Outlander, and 2011-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The front lower control arms may detach due to the front cross member corroding from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.

StructureReported May 18, 2020NHTSA 20V279000

Engine and engine cooling: belts and associated pulleys

Free remedy

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Lancer, 2008-2012 Outlander, 2010-2012 Lancer Sportback, and 2011-2012 Outlander Sport vehicles equipped with either a 4B11 or 4B12 engine. The drive belt automatic tensioner flange may crack, allowing the accessory drive belt to detach.

Engine and engine coolingReported Jan 26, 2018NHTSA 18V069000

Visibility: sun

Free remedy

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Outlander, 2008-2010 Lancer, 2009-2010 Lancer Evolution, and 2010 Lancer Sportback vehicles equipped with sunroofs. The sunroof glass may detach from the sunroof assembly, becoming a road hazard to other vehicles.

VisibilityReported Jan 26, 2018NHTSA 18V071000
See all 10 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 11, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

60 complaints filed with NHTSA · Dec 2010 – Jun 2024
  1. Engine12
  2. Engine and engine cooling7
  3. Electrical system6
  4. Power train6
  5. Visibility/wiper5
  6. Service brakes5
  7. Air bags5
  8. Suspension4
  9. Wheels3

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Outlander model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2003129
200452
200519
200621
2007125
200858
200946
201060
201188
201236
201368
201445
2015238
2016171
201751
201857
201929
202032
2022219
202350
202426
202516
20263
Crashes reported
4
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
2
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Engine

12 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V069000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MITSUBISHI MOTOR SALES OF CARIBBEAN (LOCATED AT PR-167, BAYAMON, TOA BAJA 00953, PR, (855) 251-8715), BUT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 16, 2019EngineODI 11196687

Engine and engine cooling

7 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. WHILE THE ENGINE WAS IDLING, THE ODOR OF EXHAUST FUMES WAS PRESENT IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER, SENDELL MOTORS OF GREENSBURG, PA, WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 9, 2017Engine and engine coolingODI 10994135

Electrical system

6 reports
“I AM HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT I THOUGHT WERE JUST IN MY STEERING COLUMN BUT NOW I AM FINDING OTHER ISSUES THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. 1.) THE STEERING WHEEL VOLUME CONTROL EITHER DOES NOT WORK OR INCREASES WHEN THE DECREASE BUTTON IS PUSHED. 2.) THE STICK CONTROL FOR SIGNALING WILL NOT LOCK THE HIGH BEAMS ON SO IF YOU NEED THE EXTRA LIGHT YOU WOULD HAVE TO HOLD THE STICK BACK MANUALLY. 3.) THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT WILL NOT ALWAYS TURN ON/SHUT OFF.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 26, 2018Electrical systemODI 11103936
All 2010 Outlander problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

4 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engines
2.4L 4-cyl · 3.0L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic (AV-S6) · Automatic (S6)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline · Premium Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 11, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Outlander 2WD
Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
212724$2,600370
Outlander 4WD
Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L · 4-Wheel Drive
212522$2,850404
Outlander 2WD
Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
192521$3,700423
Outlander 4WD
Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.0 L · 4-Wheel Drive
182420$3,850444
  • Outlander 2WD
    Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    21 city · 27 hwy · $2,600/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • Outlander 4WD
    Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    21 city · 25 hwy · $2,850/yr
    22
    mpg comb.
  • Outlander 2WD
    Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.0 L
    19 city · 25 hwy · $3,700/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Outlander 4WD
    Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.0 L
    18 city · 24 hwy · $3,850/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 11, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander as of Nov 11, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 11, 2026Vehicle 5621
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2010 Outlander questions

How many recalls does the 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander have?

10 safety recalls as of Nov 11, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander problems?

Owners filed 60 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine (12), engine and engine cooling (7), electrical system (6). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander get?

The EPA rates the 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander at 20–24 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (4 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 11, 2026