YearToAvoid

2008 Mitsubishi Outlander Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

16/100

#17 most-complained of 20 Outlander years

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

The 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander has 58 owner complaints and 12 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 16 out of 100 — #17 highest of 20 Outlander model years (verdict: Best). The most reported problem area is electrical system (14 complaints, 24% of the total). Complaints report 1 crash, 1 fire, and 2 injuries.

Complaints
58
Recalls
12
Crashes / fires
1 / 1
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21
18.5 city / 25 hwy

Top 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System14 (24%)
  2. Engine11 (19%)
  3. Suspension, Wheels & Tires11 (19%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain9 (16%)
  5. Visibility & Wipers9 (16%)
  6. Other7 (12%)
  7. Structure & Body6 (10%)
  8. Brakes5 (9%)
  9. Steering3 (5%)
  10. Airbags2 (3%)
2008 Mitsubishi Outlander complaints: complaints filed per month7Apr 2008Apr 2010Nov 2014Mar 2017Dec 2017Oct 2018Nov 2020
77 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2008 to May 2026; peak Apr 2008 (7).

2008 Mitsubishi Outlander recalls

12 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V279000May 18, 2020Structure & Body141,200 vehicles

    Structure:frame and members

    Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2008-2010 Lancer, 2009-2010 Lancer Sportback, 2008-2013 Outlander, and 2011-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. 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 a loss of vehicle control, 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. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-20-003.

  2. NHTSA 18V071000Jan 26, 2018Visibility & Wipers56,641 vehicles

    Visibility:sun/moon roof assembly

    Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Outlander, 2008-2010 Lancer, 2009-2010 Lancer Evolution, and 2010 Lancer Sportback vehicles equipped with sunroofs. The sunroof glass may detach from the sunroof assembly, becoming a road hazard to other vehicles.

    Risk: If the sunroof glass detaches from the assembly while driving, it can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sunroof glass assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 27, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-003.

  3. NHTSA 18V069000Jan 26, 2018Engine141,053 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:belts and associated pulleys

    Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Lancer, 2008-2012 Outlander, 2010-2012 Lancer Sportback, and 2011-2012 Outlander Sport vehicles equipped with either a 4B11 or 4B12 engine. The drive belt automatic tensioner flange may crack, allowing the accessory drive belt to detach.

    Risk: If the drive belt detaches, the battery will discharge and the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

    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. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-001.

See all 12 recalls for the 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander →

2008 Mitsubishi Outlander fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18.5 MPG
Highway
25 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.

2008 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
2006Best021121
2007Caution68125919.5
2008Best16581221
2009Caution58461321
2010Good42601021.5

All Mitsubishi Outlander years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander ranks #17 of 20 among Outlander model years (Complaint Index 16/100, verdict: Best). It has 58 complaints and 12 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander?
The most reported problem areas are electrical system (14 complaints), engine (11 complaints), and suspension, wheels & tires (11 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 99,000 miles.
Does the 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns for the 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander, most recently reported 2020, covering structure & body, visibility & wipers, engine, and suspension, wheels & tires.
What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander?
EPA rates the 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander at 21 MPG combined (18.5 city / 25 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.