This Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers informing them to replace the Power Seat Side Shield and apply felt tape when customers complain the Power Seat Side Shield is coming off while entering/exiting the vehicle.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2007 Mitsubishi Outlander electrical problems
moderate 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This Technical Service Bulletin instructs dealers to replace the seat adjuster assembly and power seat harness in affected vehicles with improved countermeasure parts. Due to a change in the reclining motor, the new longer harness and connector are necessary.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Technical Service Bulletin instructs dealers to replace the seat adjuster assembly and power seat harness in affected vehicles with improved countermeasure parts. Due to a change in the reclining motor, the new longer harness and connector are necessary.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This is a Technical Bulletin sent to dealers. This bulletin provides dealers with a basic description of the hands-free systems used in Mitsubishi built vehicles. The bulletin covers components and operation, system layouts showing the differences in Japan built and U.S. built vehicles, diagnostic flow charts, a list of commonly used acronyms and terms, and part numbers. The bulletin also provides a comprehensive Hands-free/FUSE Information Sheet to guide the service writer in getting complete and accurate details from the customer. With this information, dealer personnel can answer questions and conduct an efficient diagnosis to resolve customer concerns as quickly as possible.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This is a Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers. This bulletin updates the Chassis Electrical section of the affected Service Manuals to update diagnostics for ETACS-ECU CAN timeout diagnostics with DTC U0141.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe a scattered electrical system. Multiple steering wheel controls—cruise set and voice connect—cut out intermittently. The rear passenger window gets stuck mid-track with jerky motion. Interior lights, speakers, and power outlets all come and go unpredictably. One owner took the car to the dealer five or six times for dead 12-volt outlets; the dealer eventually blamed phone chargers and told them to use the outlets only as cigarette lighters.
Dashboard problems run the spectrum. Several owners report the clock and radio display are invisible in daytime sunlight—Mitsubishi said that was intentional design. Speedometers also go dark under certain lighting. Two owners experienced total instrument cluster failure: speedometer, tach, odometer, fuel gauge, and engine computer all dead at the same time; the dealer replaced the entire cluster each time.
More serious: one owner's headlights blinked out at 50 mph; the independent shop found a faulty wire and bad fuses in the fuse panel. Another reported a main control module (8637C096) failure that killed the wipers. When the air conditioning compressor cycles on, headlights and all other lights dim noticeably. A rear brake light on the driver side turns on only when the vehicle shifts out of Park.
Failure modes owners describe
Intermittent steering wheel electrical contact loss
Cruise control set button and voice connect button lose power intermittently on the steering wheel.
Symptoms owners cite: cruise control set button non-functional intermittently; voice connect button non-functional intermittently
Rear passenger window malfunction
Rear passenger window exhibits jerky motion and becomes stuck out of its track position.
Symptoms owners cite: window jerky up or down motion; window stuck out of position
Intermittent interior light failure
Front interior cabin lights work intermittently without a clear pattern.
Symptoms owners cite: interior lights work or do not work intermittently
Speaker audio dropout
Audio speakers cut in and out intermittently during normal use.
Symptoms owners cite: speakers cut in and out
Rear brake light malfunction in Park
Rear brake lights on the driver side do not illuminate when vehicle is in Park, but turn on when shifted to Drive or Reverse.
Symptoms owners cite: rear driver-side lights off in Park; rear driver-side lights on in Drive or Reverse
Power outlet inoperability
All 12-volt power outlets in the vehicle become inoperable, requiring dealer reset. Dealer attributed failure to phone charger use and recommended using outlets only as cigarette lighters.
Symptoms owners cite: all power outlets inoperable; outlets require repeated dealer reset
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer reset required multiple times; manufacturer recommendation to avoid phone chargers
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer attributed failures to phone charger use and advised using outlets only for cigarette lighter function
Headlight wire and fuse failure
Headlights blinked and shut off without warning while driving. Inspection found faulty wiring in the fuse panel and bad fuses.
When: 146,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: headlights blinked and went out without warning while driving at 50 mph
Repairs/costs cited: Wire in fuse panel replaced; fuses replaced
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated no recall available
Dash display unreadable in sunlight
Clock and radio display (CD information, Sirius Radio station number, 6-disc changer info) are not visible during daytime driving, particularly in mid-day sunlight. Manufacturer stated this was an intentional design feature.
When: 4,500 miles initial report
Symptoms owners cite: clock unreadable during daytime; radio display unreadable during daytime; display readable at night; visibility especially poor in mid-day sunlight
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated vehicle was designed that way; dealer has not repaired as of April 2008
Speedometer unreadable in certain lighting
Speedometer display becomes impossible to read under certain lighting conditions.
Symptoms owners cite: speedometer impossible to read under certain lighting conditions
Complete instrument cluster failure
Entire dashboard cluster including speedometer, tachometer, odometer, fuel gauge, and engine computer stopped functioning. Vehicle remained operational but provided no speed or fuel information.
Symptoms owners cite: speedometer non-functional; tachometer non-functional; odometer non-functional; fuel gauge non-functional; engine computer non-functional
Repairs/costs cited: Entire dashboard cluster replaced by dealer
Main control unit failure
Control module 8637C096 failed, causing wiper system failure. Module was replaced by dealer at significant expense.
Symptoms owners cite: wipers inoperable
Codes mentioned: 8637C096
Repairs/costs cited: Main control module 8637C096 replaced by dealer at high cost
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle had multiple wiper motor and other electrical recalls
Headlight dimming when air conditioning engages
Headlights dim noticeably when the air conditioning compressor cycles on. Blower motor and all other lights also dim or slow in response to air conditioning operation.
Symptoms owners cite: headlights dim when air conditioning cycles on; blower motor slows when AC cycles on; all other lights dim when AC cycles on
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had electrical trouble with your 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 56,473 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/Mitsubishi/Outlander.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.