Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc
If the safety systems do not function as intended, it can increase the risk of a crash.
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Light NHTSA footprint — 21 owner complaints and 2 active recall campaigns. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.
The 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport has 21 NHTSA owner complaints and 2 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is airbags at 5 complaints, typically surfacing around 70,347 miles (~$1,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 Outlander Sport | 0 | 9 |
| 2016 Outlander Sport | 0 | 8 |
| 2017 Outlander Sport | 27 | 0 |
| 2018 Outlander Sport (this page) | 21 | 2 |
| 2019 Outlander Sport | 26 | 1 |
| 2020 Outlander Sport | 26 | 1 |
| 2021 Outlander Sport | 17 | 1 |
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Driver-assist features on the tested model: Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: Optional
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SUV AWD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: airbags is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 70,347 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 2 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 8.4/10 model. The priciest documented failure is powertrain (~$2,500) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →The vehicle was traveling at approximately 63 MPH on a rural blacktop, when a white tail deer ran into the side of the vehicle where the drivers side front and rear door meet. The collision caused both door windows to shatter, and the doors are dented so bad they cannot be…
I am filing this complaint regarding serious safety issues with my 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, VIN: [XXX] , purchased from Carvana in 2019. Recurring transmission problems have created a significant safety risk for me and others. About a year after purchase, the vehicle’s…
I had a recall schedule an appoint with Mitsubishi dealer in des moines, ia * went to my appt today 10-25 and was told they cannot do the recall because the computer they need to reset the software is down. No call or offer to give me a loan car due to the saftey issue of the…
The contact owns a 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. The contact stated that the message "Air Bag System Service Required" was displayed. Additionally, the message "Window Washer Fluid Low" was displayed while there was sufficient washer fluid in the reservoir. The contact…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
If the safety systems do not function as intended, it can increase the risk of a crash.
If the FCM-ECU software activates the brake for longer than necessary, the driver may react by applying additional braking. The resulting rapid deceleration of the vehicle can increase the risk of a rear-end collision.
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.4 out of 10 based on 21 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
On the NHTSA data, the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 8.4/10 — above the segment average; 2 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the airbags first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 5 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 70,347 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 8.4 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 21 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is airbags. Typical failure occurs around 70,347 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 5 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 70,347 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.
The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 70,347 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 21 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.