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2008 Mitsubishi Outlander engine problems

moderate Owners of the 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander have filed 7 NHTSA complaints about the engine at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →

Complaints
7
Recalls
2
Avg fix
$3,100
engine complaints on the Mitsubishi Outlander, by model year
Model yearengine complaints
2008 Outlander (this page) 7
2009 Outlander 6
2010 Outlander 18
2011 Outlander 22

When does it fail?

Of the 7 engine complaints filed for the 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.

0-25k
1 (33.3%)
25-50k
0 (0%)
50-75k
0 (0%)
75-100k
1 (33.3%)
100-125k
1 (33.3%)
125-150k
0 (0%)
150k+
0 (0%)

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

All 2 active engine recalls on this vehicle land at critical or severe — none classified moderate.

No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.

Related recalls

severe NHTSA 18V069000 January 26, 2018

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc

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

Fix: 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.
severe NHTSA 14V562000 September 12, 2014

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc

If the drive belt detaches, the battery may discharge, resulting in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the drive belt with a rubber belt. Drive pulleys that are excessively worn will be replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 15, 2014. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-14-009.

Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins

The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine 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.

Service Bulletin TSB-23-11-001 Jan 2023

This TSB provides revisions to the Removal and Installation procedures for the rocker cover due to changes in the quantity of mounting bolts for vehicles equipped with 4B1 series engine. (Service Manual Revision)

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗
Service Bulletin TIN-21-13-001 Apr 2021

This Technical Information Notice provides additional instructions to dealers when replacing the Valve Cover Gasket due to a customer concern of oil leaking.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗
Service Bulletin TIN-20-SR-003 Aug 2020

This Technical Information Notice was sent to dealers informing that a recall campaign was released on July 22, 2020 (SR-20-003) for the Crossmember Corrosion.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗
Service Bulletin ATIN-20-SR-003-B Jun 2020

This Advanced Technical Information Notice was sent to dealers informing them of the upcoming recall being released for the inside and outside surfaces of the front cross members used on certain vehicles, if exposed long term to snow melt water and anti-freezing agents, may corrode due to insufficient performance of the rust protection.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗
Service Bulletin TSB-19-13-003 Apr 2019

This is a Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers. The bulletin instructs dealers to confirm a list of specific Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) if vehicle experiences the following symptoms in cold weather: the check engine light illuminating with a limited vehicle speed (failsafe mode), or the engine does not restart after driving a short distance and stopping the engine for a few minutes. Once symptoms and DTCs are confirmed, dealers should replace the following relays with anti- freezing types: ETV, A/T (CVT), injector, and starter. This bulletin supersedes TSB-18-13-003, issued December, 2018, to add Eclipse Cross, applicable Canadian models, and countermeasure dates.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.

What owners are reporting 4 most recent

engine · filed 12/23/2014

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Mitsubishi outlander. The contact received notification for NHTSA campaign id number: 14v562000 (engine and engine cooling) and stated that the part needed was unavailable. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The VIN was not available. The contact had not experienced a failure.

engine · 1,600 mi · filed 12/22/2008

I have noticed a bad noise like a knock at the muffler area six weeks after the vehicle was acquire. This noise can be heard shortly after the engine is turned on. I reported the problem at the Mitsubishi dealer service, but the replied back that this sound is a normal condition of the vehicle. *tr

engine · 99,847 mi · filed 11/10/2014

I received a safety recall notice regarding my 2008 Mitsubishi outlander regarding the drive belt and pulley system. I made an appointment with my dealership, jerry's Mitsubishi, in parkville md 21234 and then they cancelled the appointment stating they do not have the parts and have no date when they are to arrive. I tried calling Mitsubishi customer relations 888-648-7820 and their automated…

engine · 110,000 mi · filed 11/06/2014

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Mitsubishi outlander. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate and the service engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.

Had engine trouble with your 2008 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 engine problem on the 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander?

It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 7 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.

At what mileage does the engine typically fail?

Based on the 7 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 97,362 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?

Yes — 2 active recall(s) cover engine issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.

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/2008/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.
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