YearToAvoid

2006 Mitsubishi Outlander Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2006 Mitsubishi Outlander ranks 20th out of 20 model years with a complaint index of 0 and 21 complaints, earning a Good verdict, though that rating is capped due to less complete records for 2005-2009 models. Electrical system issues, mainly headlight and instrument panel faults, were the top concern.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
0/100
#20 of 20 Outlander years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
21
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
2
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
1
Top issue
Electrical System
Best nearby year
2012
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21
18.5 city / 24.5 hwy
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0

Top 2006 Mitsubishi Outlander problems

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

  1. Electrical System9 (43%)
  2. Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (29%)
  3. Brakes2 (10%)
  4. Fuel System2 (10%)
  5. Structure & Body2 (10%)
  6. Engine1 (5%)
  7. Visibility & Wipers1 (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 suspension or control arm failure can cause sudden loss of steering control, in one case leading to a crash after the vehicle swerved across multiple lanes.
  • Headlight bulbs burn out repeatedly on both driver and passenger sides, with owners citing faulty sockets or moisture in the housing.
  • The instrument panel can black out while driving, sometimes requiring the driver to tap it to restore function.
  • The speedometer can drop to zero at low speeds while the vehicle vibrates and the engine stalls.
  • The fuel tank filler tube can corrode, causing fuel odor while filling and a small evaporative emission leak.
  • Some owners report the vehicle lacks anti-lock brakes despite believing ABS was standard on all 2006 Outlander trims.
2006 Mitsubishi Outlander complaints: complaints filed per month3Jul 2006Aug 2013Oct 2015Aug 2016Jan 2017Oct 2019
21 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2006 to Mar 2026; peak Jun 2016 (3).

2006 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.

2006 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.

2006 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
2008Caution16581221

All Mitsubishi Outlander years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2006 Mitsubishi Outlander reliable?
NHTSA lists only 21 complaints for the 2006 Outlander, the lowest count among the 20 model years tracked, giving it a complaint index of 0 and a Good verdict relative to other Outlander years.
Why is the 2006 Outlander's verdict capped despite a complaint index of 0?
The verdict is capped to Good rather than Best because complaint records for 2005-2009 model years are considered less complete.
What is the top problem area for the 2006 Outlander?
Electrical system complaints make up 43% of reported issues, mostly involving headlight bulbs burning out and instrument panel malfunctions.
Does the 2006 Outlander have any recalls?
Yes, one recall (campaign 16V458000) covers corrosion of the front cross members on certain 2003-2006 and 2007-2013 Outlander vehicles.
What is the median mileage for failures on the 2006 Outlander?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 100,000 miles across reported complaints for this model year.

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.