2010 Mitsubishi Outlander problems: recalls, complaints and whether this is a year to avoid
The 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander has 60 owner complaints on record with NHTSA, which ranks it 6 of 13 Mitsubishi Outlander model years by complaint volume. The worst year is 2015 (235); the cleanest is 2019 (29). 10 recall entries cover this year.
Is 2010 a good year for the Mitsubishi Outlander?
The spread across this nameplate is wide: the 2015 draws 8 times the complaints of the 2019. On a run like that the model year you buy matters more than the badge, and 2010 sits in the middle of it.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recall entries |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 48 | 2 |
| 2022 | 216 | 7 |
| 2020 | 31 | 3 |
| 2019 | 29 | 5 |
| 2018 | 57 | 6 |
| 2017 | 51 | 6 |
| 2016 | 171 | 8 |
| 2015 | 235 | 5 |
| 2014 | 45 | 4 |
| 2013 | 68 | 5 |
| 2012 | 36 | 6 |
| 2011 | 88 | 8 |
| 2010 ← this page | 60 | 10 |
Older years have been on the road longer and collect more complaints for that reason alone, and a year that sold in higher volume collects more while being no worse.
This retrieval holds 13 of the nameplate’s model years. 2021 is absent, which means no records came back for it — not that it was clean. The ranking above is among the years shown.
The 2010 accounts for 5% of every complaint filed against the Mitsubishi Outlander in this retrieval, which works out to 3.8 complaints per year on the road across the 16 years since it was sold new — the figure to compare against other years, because it removes the advantage a newer car gets simply from having had less time to accumulate reports.
Which recalls cover the 2010?
Structure
Regional recall — covers vehicles sold or ever registered in 7 states and territories.
Free remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front cross members. Depending on the level of existing corrosion.
Visibility
In the affected vehicles, water may drop between the hood and the windshield and leak into the wiper motor breathing hole.
Free remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiper motor, free of charge. The recall began July 28, 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820.
Engine and Engine Cooling
The drive belt automatic tensioner flange may crack, allowing the accessory drive…
Free remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the belt tensioner with one that has an improved shape, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 27, 2018.
Take the campaign number to any franchised Mitsubishi dealer. Recall repairs are free with no mileage or ownership limit, and they follow the car rather than the owner, so a used 2010 with an unrepaired campaign is a free repair you can claim. How recalls work.
Recall text is abridged from the NHTSA record. Search the campaign number at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the full notice and affected VIN ranges.
What do owners report on the Mitsubishi Outlander?
Across every Mitsubishi Outlander year, not the 2010 alone — NHTSA does not split component totals by model year.
- Power Train — 260 reports
- Electrical System — 130 reports
- Structure — 103 reports
- Unknown or Other — 98 reports
Which other Mitsubishi Outlander years should you compare?
2011 Mitsubishi Outlander → · All Mitsubishi Outlander years
If you are deciding between years, the table above is the short answer and the Mitsubishi Outlander page carries the full run with the component breakdown. Before money changes hands, run the VIN for open recalls and read the inspection checklist — ten minutes in the seller’s driveway finds most of what matters.
Check a 2010 before you commit
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How this works.
ANCEL AD310 Classic OBD2 Scanner
The glovebox tool. Wired, no app, no pairing, no batteries — plug it in and it reads and clears engine codes. This is the one that saves you a diagnostic fee the first time the check engine light comes on. Its limits are honest: engine codes only, no ABS or airbag, no live graphing.
Best for: Anyone who just wants to know what the light means
Check price on AmazonBlueDriver Bluetooth Pro OBD2 Scanner
Pairs with your phone and reads far more than engine codes — ABS, airbag, transmission and HVAC on most vehicles — plus live data. The real feature is the repair reports, which map a code to the fixes that most often resolved it on your specific year, make, model and engine. No subscription.
Best for: Owners keeping a car past warranty, or checking used cars
Check price on AmazonNOCO Boost Plus GB40 Jump Starter
A lithium pack the size of a paperback that starts a car with no second vehicle and no stranger required, and charges a phone besides. It is the single most useful thing in a car emergency kit, and the reason jumper cables have become optional. Recharge it every few months.
Best for: Every car, every climate
Check price on Amazon