YearToAvoid

2005 Mitsubishi Outlander Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

11/100

#18 most-complained of 20 Outlander years

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

The 2005 Mitsubishi Outlander has 19 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 11 out of 100 — #18 highest of 20 Outlander model years (verdict: Best). The most reported problem area is suspension, wheels & tires (9 complaints, 47% of the total). Complaints report 3 crashes and 4 injuries.

Complaints
19
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
3 / 0
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21
18.5 city / 24.5 hwy

Top 2005 Mitsubishi Outlander problems

NHTSA owner 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%)
2005 Mitsubishi Outlander complaints: complaints filed per month3Oct 2005Nov 2006Nov 2014Sep 2016Jan 2018Oct 2020
25 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2005 to Aug 2026; peak Jan 2017 (3).

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
2005Best1119121
2006Best021121
2007Caution68125919.5

All Mitsubishi Outlander years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2005 Mitsubishi Outlander a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2005 Mitsubishi Outlander ranks #18 of 20 among Outlander model years (Complaint Index 11/100, verdict: Best). It has 19 complaints and 1 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Mitsubishi Outlander?
The most reported problem areas are suspension, wheels & tires (9 complaints), structure & body (3 complaints), and transmission & powertrain (3 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 88,000 miles.
Does the 2005 Mitsubishi Outlander have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2005 Mitsubishi Outlander, most recently reported 2016, covering suspension, wheels & tires.
What is the fuel economy of the 2005 Mitsubishi Outlander?
EPA rates the 2005 Mitsubishi Outlander at 21 MPG combined (18.5 city / 24.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,100. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

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.