Caution statements regarding the disposal of certain SRS components have been incorrect in the service manuals of affected vehicles. This TSB provides updated caution statements.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2012 Mitsubishi Outlander airbags problems
critical 7 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
7
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
2crashes
2injuries
1fatality
When does it fail?
Of the 7 airbags complaints filed for the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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
Airbags accounts for 19% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 4 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags 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 is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Airbags no longer will deploy according to collision repair shop. Had some hail damage repairs after that the dashboard light for airbags came on throughout the year and then stayed on permanently. I was driving on a street and the airbag light just came on and from that point has not went off.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Mitsubishi outlander sport. The contact stated that while driving about 45 MPH during night, the vehicle hit two pedestrians crossing the road and fatally injured one of the pedestrians. The other passenger was being pushed in a wheelchair and did sustain injuries but did not seek medical attention. The air bags did not deploy. There was no warning indicators. A police…
I was driving in freeway 110 when the passenger side airbag loosened and hanged semi-open. I did not notice it until I got home and a friend of mine came with me to pick up my son in school. When she sat in the front passenger seat, she noticed it and pointed it out to me. I just got this vehicle a month ago brand new. I was lucky it did not deploy while I was in the freeway because if it did it…
The air bag warning light on the dash is on. The car was taken to the dealership and it has been found that the airbag sensor beneath the passenger seat is defective. In order to fix this problem the entire passenger seat needs to be replaced and costs $1700. They are saying it is out of warranty, but this seems to a safety issue.
Had airbags trouble with your 2012 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 airbags problem on the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander?
It's a serious issue. 7 complaints have been filed, including 2 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Based on the 7 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 53,230 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 $1,100 for airbags 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 airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags 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/2012/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.