YearToAvoid

2005 Mitsubishi Outlander Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2005 Mitsubishi Outlander has a complaint index of 11 and ranks 18th out of 20 model years, with 19 complaints and 1 recall. It carries a Good verdict, though that rating is capped because complaint records for 2005-2009 are less complete.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
11/100
#18 of 20 Outlander years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
19
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
3
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
4
Top issue
Suspension, Wheels & Tires
Best nearby year
2012
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21
18.5 city / 24.5 hwy
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0

Top 2005 Mitsubishi Outlander problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Suspension, Wheels & Tires9 (47%)
  2. Structure & Body3 (16%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain3 (16%)
  4. Electrical System2 (11%)
  5. Engine2 (11%)
  6. Other2 (11%)
  7. Steering2 (11%)
  8. Airbags1 (5%)
  9. HVAC1 (5%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Front cross members can corrode and fracture, in one case snapping the frame while driving 65 mph on the interstate.
  • Front suspension noise and alignment problems appeared shortly after purchase, requiring repeated dealer visits.
  • Steering wheel control was lost at low speed, leading to a crash with no warning indicators illuminated.
  • Body panel welds at the driver-side pillar failed, causing rubbing and a high-pitched metallic sound.
  • Rainwater leaked into the front driver-side floorboard through a failed door water barrier trim.
  • Transmission hesitation or failure to accelerate occurred at low speeds, sometimes triggering the check engine light.
2005 Mitsubishi Outlander complaints: complaints filed per month2Oct 2005Nov 2006Nov 2014Sep 2016Jan 2018Oct 2020
19 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2005 to Aug 2026; peak Sep 2016 (2).

2005 Mitsubishi Outlander recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 16V458000Jun 23, 2016Suspension, Wheels & Tires194,674 vehicles

    Suspension:front:control arm:lower arm

    Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2002-2007 Lancer, 2004 Lancer Wagon, 2003-2006 Lancer Evolution, 2003-2006 Outlander and 2007-2013 Outlander V-6 vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. In the affected vehicles, the front lower control arms may detach due to the front cross member corroding from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.

    Risk: A detached front control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front cross members. Depending on the level of existing corrosion, either a sealing/anti-corrosion agent will be applied or the front cross member will be replaced with a new one that has a sealing/anti-corrosion agent applied to it. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began January 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-16-003.

2005 Mitsubishi Outlander fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18.5 MPG
Highway
24.5 MPG
Combined
21 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,100
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2005 compared with other Outlander years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Good1119121
2006Good021121
2007Caution68125919.5

All Mitsubishi Outlander years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2005 Mitsubishi Outlander reliable?
NHTSA lists 19 complaints and 1 recall for the 2005 Outlander, giving it a complaint index of 11, the second-lowest among the 20 model years tracked. It carries a Good verdict relative to other Outlander years.
What is the main problem with the 2005 Mitsubishi Outlander?
Suspension, wheels, and tires make up 47% of complaints, including corrosion of the front cross members covered by a recall, with a median failure mileage of 123,000 miles.
Does the 2005 Outlander have a recall?
Yes. Recall 16V458000 covers corrosion of the front cross members on 2003-2006 Outlander and related Mitsubishi models; dealers inspect and address corrosion depending on severity.
Why isn't the 2005 Outlander rated Best?
Its verdict is capped at Good because NHTSA complaint records for 2005-2009 Outlander model years are less complete, not because of a high complaint count.
How does the 2005 Outlander compare to other years?
With a complaint index of 11, the 2005 model ranks better than most Outlander years, including 2016, 2022, 2023, and 2024, which are rated Avoid with complaint indexes of 95, 100, 89, and 84.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.