YearToAvoid

2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Best The 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander has 22 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 5, and ranks 19th worst out of 20 model years, earning a Best verdict. Six recalls apply, mostly for windshield-wiper water intrusion and a power-steering tube issue.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
5/100
#19 of 20 Outlander years
Verdict
Best
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
22
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
6
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
1
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Top issue
Transmission & Powertrain
Best nearby year
2013
rated Good
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
23
20.5 city / 26.5 hwy
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0

Top 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander problems

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

  1. Transmission & Powertrain6 (27%)
  2. Visibility & Wipers5 (23%)
  3. Other4 (18%)
  4. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (18%)
  5. Brakes3 (14%)
  6. Electrical System3 (14%)
  7. Engine3 (14%)
  8. Airbags2 (9%)
  9. Lane Departure1 (5%)
  10. Seat Belts1 (5%)

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

What owners report

  • Some drivers report the vehicle veering suddenly left and right on its own, with the traction control light coming on afterward.
  • Owners describe violent shaking at 40 mph traced to snow packing inside the wheel rims in cold weather.
  • Visor anchoring screws have fallen out while driving, with a second screw found loose shortly after.
  • Some owners waited an unreasonable amount of time for replacement wiper motor parts tied to recall 16V791000.
  • Rear brakes have been reported to run hot enough to smoke and smell when exposed to snow or rain.
  • Drivers report the rear end wobbling at various speeds, with dealers unable to diagnose or repair the cause.
2012 Mitsubishi Outlander complaints: complaints filed per month2Feb 2013Mar 2017Feb 2018Jul 2019Jan 2021May 2022Jan 2024
22 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2013 to Oct 2025; peak Sep 2018 (2).

2012 Mitsubishi Outlander recalls

6 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 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.

  3. NHTSA 17V461000Jul 20, 2017Visibility & Wipers100,082 vehicles

    Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor

    Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2007-2013 Outlander vehicles. In the affected vehicles, water may drop between the hood and the windshield and leak into the wiper motor breathing hole. The water may cause internal corrosion of the windshield wiper motor and the possible failure of the motor.

    Risk: Failure of the wiper motor can cause a loss of visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

    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. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-17-003.

See all 6 recalls for the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander →

2012 Mitsubishi Outlander fuel economy and fuel cost

City
20.5 MPG
Highway
26.5 MPG
Combined
23 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,175
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.

2012 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
2010Caution42601021.5
2011Caution2158823
2012Best522623
2013Good3226523
2014Caution6345426

All Mitsubishi Outlander years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander a good year?
Yes, relative to other Outlander model years. It has a complaint index of 5, the second-lowest of all 20 years tracked, and carries a Best verdict.
What problems does the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander have?
NHTSA lists 22 complaints for this year, with Transmission & Powertrain (27% of complaints) and Visibility & Wipers (23%) as the top problem areas. Median mileage at failure across all complaints is 86,000 miles.
Does the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander have any recalls?
Yes, six recall campaigns apply, covering front cross-member corrosion, engine belt tensioner, wiper motor water intrusion, and power steering tube issues. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2012 Outlander compare to the 2016 or 2022 Outlander?
The 2012 Outlander ranks far better, with a complaint index of 5 versus 95 for 2016 and 100 for 2022, both of which carry Avoid verdicts.

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.