Research · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD

2020 Mitsubishi OutlanderRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 32 owner complaints for the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander. Most complaints involve electrical system (12) and forward collision avoidance (7). The EPA rates it 22–27 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 4–5 stars overall.

Combined MPG
22–27mpg
EPA · 4 versions
NHTSA overall
4–5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
3campaigns
Latest Apr 2026
Owner complaints
32
Top: electrical system
Fuel cost / yr
$2,400est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

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

Structure: hatchback

Free remedy

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.

StructureReported Apr 20, 2026NHTSA 26V252000

Structure: hatchback

Free remedy

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.

StructureReported Aug 7, 2025NHTSA 25V507000

Seat belts: rear

Free remedy

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.

Seat beltsReported May 18, 2020NHTSA 20V280000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 28, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

32 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jun 2020 – Oct 2026
  1. Electrical system12
  2. Forward collision avoidance7
  3. Air bags4
  4. Exterior lighting2
  5. Structure2
  6. Engine2
  7. Lane departure2
  8. Service brakes2
  9. Seats2

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
5
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
7
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Electrical system

12 reports
“The contact owns a 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the Forward Collision Mitigation warning light illuminated, causing the vehicle to independently brake. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V620000 (Electrical System, Forward Collision Avoidance); as a possible cause for the failure; however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact stated that there was continuous chime during the failure and the vehicle accelerated or decelerated unexpectedly. The dealer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that the front collision mitigation camera needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was 134,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 21, 2026Electrical system, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11772657

Forward collision avoidance

7 reports1 crash
“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 cold weather in sight. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 28, 2026Forward collision avoidanceODI 11740553

Air bags

4 reports3 crashes
“The contact owns a 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that while crossing an intersection at 35 MPH; another vehicle ran a red light and crashed into the contact's front driver-side door. The contact was knocked across the two-lane road and hit a telephone pole on the passenger side of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The authorities arrived on the scene and assisted the contact out of the vehicle through the passenger side of the vehicle. The contact was treated at the scene and was later taken to the emergency room for treatment. The contact was given an X-ray ,CT scan and an MRI. The contact was treated for pain and stiffness to the left side of the back, neck, elbow, and shoulder. The whereabouts of the other driver were unknown. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to two separate independent mechanics; however, the contact was unaware if the vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 16, 2024Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11565755
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

4 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engines
2.4L 4-cyl · 2.0L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid · 3.0L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic (AV-S6) · Automatic (A1) · Automatic (S6)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel Drive · All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline · Premium Gasoline
EV range
310 mi (EPA)

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

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 28, 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
253027$2,400326
Outlander 4WD
Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L · 4-Wheel Drive
242926$2,450341
Outlander PHEV
Auto (A1), 4 cyl, 2.0 L · All-Wheel Drive
252625$2,550174
Outlander 4WD
Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.0 L · 4-Wheel Drive
202722$3,600402
  • Outlander 2WD
    Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    25 city · 30 hwy · $2,400/yr
    27
    mpg comb.
  • Outlander 4WD
    Auto (AV-S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    24 city · 29 hwy · $2,450/yr
    26
    mpg comb.
  • Outlander PHEV
    Auto (A1), 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    25 city · 26 hwy · $2,550/yr
    25
    mpg comb.
  • Outlander 4WD
    Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.0 L
    20 city · 27 hwy · $3,600/yr
    22
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 28, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
Mitsubishi OUTLANDER SUV AWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
16.4%
Overall
4 / 5
Mitsubishi OUTLANDER SUV FWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
18.5%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 28, 2026Vehicle 14541Vehicle 14537
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

2020 Outlander questions

How many recalls does the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander have?

3 safety recalls as of Oct 28, 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 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander problems?

Owners filed 32 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are electrical system (12), forward collision avoidance (7), air bags (4). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander get?

The EPA rates the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander at 22–27 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (4 versions rated).

How safe is the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander 4–5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 28, 2026