This Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers informing them a shock absorber oil leak may result in replacement of absorbers unnecessarily when trace amounts of oil are noted to have adhered to the shock absorber.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2007 Mitsubishi Outlander suspension problems
moderate 47 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
47
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 47 suspension complaints filed for the 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 125,000-150,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 12 model years of Mitsubishi Outlander we track for suspension problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 47.
Suspension accounts for 38% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 10 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering suspension 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 was sent to dealers informing them a shock absorber oil leak may result in replacement of absorbers unnecessarily when trace amounts of oil are noted to have adhered to the shock absorber.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This is a Technical Service Bulletin that was sent to dealers. The bulletin updates the Steering section of the affected Service Manuals to update the lubricant, sealant, special tools, and procedures used in replacement of the Tie Rod End Ball Joint Dust Cover, which are now serviceable parts, for vehicles with hydraulic power steering.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This is a Technical Service Bulletin that was sent to dealers. The bulletin updates the Front Suspension section of the affected Service Manuals to update the special service tool used in replacement of the Lower Arm Ball Joint Dust Cover.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This is a Technical Service Bulletin that was sent to dealers. The bulletin updates the Front Suspension section of the affected Service Manuals to correct the starting torque of the Lower Arm Ball Joint rotation.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Front coil springs crack and snap with alarming frequency, often both sides simultaneously. Mitsubishi issued a service bulletin (TSB-14-33-002) in 2014 acknowledging corrosion from road salt and anti-freeze, covering springs to 120,000 miles or 9 years—then refuses to honor claims just 500–30,000 miles beyond that cutoff. Owners pay $250–$1,176 out-of-pocket for parts and labor.
The real killer is frame corrosion. Front and rear subframes, cross-members, and lower control arms rust through—especially in cold-weather states or coastal salt exposure. This causes A-arms to separate, steering linkage to fracture, and suspension to collapse at 20–60 mph. One owner's control arm gave way mid-turn; another's A-arm detached while leaving work, slamming his body against the steering wheel. NHTSA Recall 16V458000 addresses this, but parts stay on backorder for months, leaving owners stranded with unsafe vehicles they can't drive.
Brake failures follow suspension repairs. One owner's brakes went to the floorboard after subframe service—he had to deliberately crash into a guard rail to stop, triggering the air bag and chemical burns. Dealers fail to complete repairs completely, leaving corroded components untouched.
Across 47 complaints, the pattern is clear: aggressive design or material choice, narrow warranty windows, unavailable recall parts, and Mitsubishi's unwillingness to take responsibility.
Failure modes owners describe
Front coil spring fracture/corrosion
Front coil springs crack or fracture, often breaking in multiple places. Owners report springs break while parked, during low-speed maneuvers, or at highway speeds. Multiple narratives describe both driver and passenger side springs failing at nearly the same time. Mitsubishi issued TSB-14-33-002 acknowledging potential for springs to corrode from prolonged exposure to anti-freezing agents (calcium chloride) used in cold-weather road treatment, causing fracture. Failures occur well beyond the extended 120,000-mile/9-year warranty period that Mitsubishi set.
When: Failures reported from 64,000 miles to 157,720 miles; most occur after the 120,000-mile warranty extension expires
Symptoms owners cite: Loud bang, crack, or snap from front end; Loud clunking or clanking noise during turns or low-speed driving; Spring breaks while vehicle is parked or at rest; Bent or fractured coil spring visible upon inspection; Both front springs fail simultaneously or in quick succession
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement springs cost $260–$1,176+ depending on labor and whether both sides are replaced; Mitsubishi parts frequently on backorder; 2-week to months-long wait times reported; some owners required to replace both springs even if only one failed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB-14-33-002 extended warranty to 9 years/120,000 miles; Mitsubishi refuses coverage beyond this mileage limit, citing fine-print exclusion; parts on backorder; no recall issued; Mitsubishi purged TSB from dealer database in some cases
Front subframe/cross-member corrosion and structural failure
Front subframe, cross-member, and lower control arms corrode severely and fail structurally. Corrosion can cause the control arm to separate from the frame, suspension to collapse, or steering components to detach. Failures result in sudden loss of steering control, vehicle lurching, or abrupt stops. Corrosion occurs in cold-weather states (salted roads) and in salt-exposed conditions (coastal areas). NHTSA Recall 16V458000 addresses this; however, many vehicles are excluded from the recall based on VIN, or recall parts remain unavailable for extended periods.
When: Failures reported from 104,927 miles to 205,000 miles; corrosion begins early, structural failure occurs over time
Symptoms owners cite: Severe corrosion of front subframe, cross-member, or lower control arm visible upon inspection; Sudden jerking or swerving when turning or braking; Loud bang or clunk during turning or over bumps; Steering wheel jerks violently during turns; Front suspension collapses or control arm separates from frame; Brake pedal goes to floorboard or fails to respond; Vehicle wobbles at highway speeds
Repairs/costs cited: Subframe or cross-member replacement required; reported cost ~$1,500 for control arm repair; dealer repairs include subframe replacement but may not address all corroded components; fluid leaks observed after incomplete repairs
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 16V458000 (Suspension, Lower Control Arm Corrosion); Mitsubishi issued TSBs; however, recall parts chronically unavailable (backorder status extends months); recall applies only to certain VINs, excluding many affected vehicles; dealers unable to complete repairs due to parts shortage; Mitsubishi stated parts would be available but delays persist
Front and rear strut/shock absorber and suspension linkage wear
Front and rear struts, shock absorbers, stabilizer bar bushings, and links wear prematurely or fail. Vehicles experience bottoming out over bumps and suspension noise. One owner with 79,000 miles reported multiple component replacements at 59,000 miles including struts, bushings, links, and shock absorbers. A second failure of front engine mount also noted.
When: Early wear reported at 59,000–79,000 miles; vehicle used in Maine (2007–2011) then New Jersey, conditions conducive to corrosion
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle bottoming out over road bumps; Excessive suspension noise or clunking
Repairs/costs cited: Mitsubishi part numbers replaced: MN101368, 4056A079, 4156A014, MN184194, 4156A028, 4060A173, 4060A174, MN101372, MR272946, 4162A050, MR491946; includes front and rear struts, insulator-front suspension, bearing-front suspension strut, shock absorbers-rear, insulator-rear shock, stabilizer links and bushings
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response recorded; vehicle recalled for separate front cross-member corrosion (NHTSA Campaign 20V279000)
Tie rod/steering linkage corrosion and failure
Tie rods and steering linkage corrode and fracture due to rusted cross-member. When vehicle is driven over a bump or during normal turning, fractured tie rod causes sudden loss of control or vehicle becomes undrivable. One owner experienced tie rod fracture while driving 30 mph over a bump; another at 60 mph reported wobbling and tire pressure warning light.
When: Failures reported at 120,000 miles and 141,524 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Tie rod fractures due to corroded cross-member; Vehicle wobbles at highway speeds; Tire pressure monitoring system warning light illuminates; Vehicle becomes undrivable after tie rod fracture
Repairs/costs cited: Front cross-member and tie rod assembly require replacement; repair not yet completed in some cases
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle included in NHTSA Campaign 16V458000 (Suspension) but recall parts unavailable; one VIN not included in recall despite exhibiting same failure
Rear subframe corrosion
Rear subframe rusts completely through or corrodes severely. One owner found rear subframe corroded completely through during state inspection; another owner reports both front and rear subframes completely rotten and crumbling from rust, presenting extreme safety risk.
When: Discovered during routine inspections; timing not specified for all cases
Symptoms owners cite: Rear subframe rusted completely through; Rear subframe crumbling and severely corroded
Repairs/costs cited: Rear subframe replacement required; one dealership performed anti-corrosion treatment that did not fully address the defect
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Mitsubishi dealership recognized defect as recall item, but not listed in NHTSA safety recall database for all affected vehicles; inadequate anti-corrosion treatment provided
A-arm/suspension component separation
Driver-side A-arm separates from vehicle frame while driving at low speed, causing sudden abrupt stop and contact injury. Entire subframe found to be severely corroded upon inspection. Vehicle experienced fluid leaks post-repair due to incomplete service.
When: Failure at 157,000 miles during repair; A-arm separation at 20 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Front driver-side A-arm separates from frame; Sudden abrupt vehicle stop; Body impact against steering wheel; Back pain from sudden deceleration; Severe corrosion of entire subframe
Repairs/costs cited: Subframe replaced at dealer; other corroded components not addressed; fluid leaks began after repair completion; owner received medical assistance for back pain
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subframe replaced under warranty at dealer; however, incomplete repair left other corroded components unaddressed
Brake system failure following suspension repair
After subframe replacement, vehicle experiences brake pedal failure during subsequent drive. Brake pedal depresses but goes to floorboard without response; electronic parking brake fails; driver forced to intentionally crash vehicle into guard rail to stop. Air bag deployed, causing chemical burn to driver's arm.
When: Failure at 157,000 miles, occurring 35–40 mph while turning after subframe repair
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal goes to floorboard without response; Electronic parking brake fails to respond; Vehicle cannot be stopped through normal braking; Driver air bag deploys, expelling burning chemicals
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired; owner intentionally crashed passenger side into guard rail; driver sustained chemical burn from air bag deployment; police report filed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer referred owner to dealer; no resolution provided
Synthesized from 47 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 9 most recent
August 2016 saftey recall defect notice received from Mitsubishi for lower control arm, november 2016 received saftey notice for same defect to be inspected for corrosion. 12/13/16 inspection completed at university motors in morgantown wv. 3 holes found in part related to recall and advised replacement.free rental denied by dealer. 12/19/16 call to same dealership states recall part on…
Leaving parking spot, bang sound, then a clunking as I turned out. Driver's side coil spring snapped in two places. Now in three pieces. Dealer only part and hard to find. Bought car new. *tr
Front suspension has a clunk everytime you turn and start from cero. Radio, backlight is to low and is impossible to read it with sunlight in cold weather the vents for the a/c cycles every 15 seconds and headlight, interior light dim every time. People think you are changing lights when driving at night because of this cycling of vents going on with the a/c on. The system is not normal working.…
When visiting local dealership for a state inspection it was found the rear subframe of my 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander, 2WD Model XLS has rusted completely through. I an internet search it was found that this was a common occurrence and a highly dangerous issue and it would not pass for a safety inspection. It appears from the number of complaints posted on various message boards it is widely known…
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Mitsubishi outlander. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 16v458000 (suspension). The contact stated that the parts needed for the recall remedy were still not available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Mitsubishi has extended the warranty on this vehicles front coil springs to 120,000 miles or 9 years (whichever comes first). My front coil springs went bad at 120,500 and Mitsubishi refuses to make the necessary repair to their defective parts. The front coil springs, according to Mitsubishi have a "potential" to "corrode from prolonged exposure to anti-freezing agents (such as calcium chloride)…
Front driver side coil spring broken . When pulling out from parking lot heard a rattle and popping sound had it check by a mechanic and found that the spring was broken
The contact owns a 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle was wobbling. The tire pressure monitoring system warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the front subframe was corroded and the front lower control arms and ball joints needed to be replaced. The contact associated the failure…
Passenger side front coil spring fractured and separated while driving. This same issue was previously reported to NHTSA (complaint number: 11012748) for driver side front coil spring as well as to Mitsubishi north america (but got nowhere).
Had suspension 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 suspension problem on the 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 47 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $900 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Across the 23 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 103,789 and 151,281 miles, with the median around 123,995. A quarter of owners report trouble before 103,789; a quarter make it past 151,281. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $900 for suspension 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 suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension 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.