Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Suspension28
- Exterior lighting19
- Steering14
- Engine and engine cooling13
- Electrical system9
- Air bags8
- Visibility6
- Power train6
- Seat belts6
- Unknown or other5
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 8 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 11 2003 Outlander vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 9 people died inside them, and 4 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander failed the safety check 1.97% of the time — 6% less often than the average 2003 passenger car (2.11%). Median odometer at inspection: 135,563 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander cars on Dutch roads are the 2.0 petrol (100 kW, 134 hp) and 2.4 petrol (118 kW, 158 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 petrol | 100 kW 134 hp | 118 |
| 2.4 petrol | 118 kW 158 hp | 23 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
142 first registered in 2003 are on Dutch roads; 8% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde47
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt43
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld37
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm33
- Band onvoldoende profiel32
- Licht- donkerscheiding dimlicht onduidelijk29
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)28
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm28
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
15 cars built in 2003 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 18 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
44 of these cars first registered in 2003 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 284,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
2 2003 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 11.5–12.1 L/100 km (about 19–20 mpg US), CO₂ 265–278 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outlander · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 12.9 | 9.8 | 11.5 |
| Outlander 4WD · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 13.4 | 10.4 | 12.1 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander.
| 2016317 21 Jun 2016 | Structure On certain vehicles, road salt can corrode the front crossmember assembly, which may ultimately lead to separation of the control arm at the mounting point. Th… |
| 2004044 4 Feb 2004 | Other On certain vehicles, the owner's manual does not comply with the requirements of CMVSS 210. The manual does not contain language on the adjustment of the head … |
| 2003139 23 May 2003 | Electrical On certain vehicles, water may enter the front floorboard area from openings in the side sill or upper dash area. This water may collect under the seat and cau… |
| 2003023 31 Jan 2003 | Other On certain vehicles, in extremely low temperatures, ice can build up inside the engine throttle valve and cause the accelerator pedal to stick or not to return … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2002-2007 Lancer, 2004 Lancer Wagon, 2003-2006 Lancer Evolution, 2003-2006 Outlander and 2007-2013 Outlander V-6 vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. In the affected vehicles, the front lower control arms may detach due to the front cross member corroding from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH REMOVABLE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS AFFIXED TO THE DASH AND TO THE SUNVISOR DO NOT MEET THE SIZE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH DEALER-INSTALLED TRAILER HITCH WIRING HARNESS AND CONTROL MODULE. THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE CAN OVERHEAT.
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE OWNER'S MANUAL DOES NOT CONTAIN A STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION FOR HEADREST ADJUSTMENT WHEN INSTALLING A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM (CRS) TETHER STRAP.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, WATER COULD ENTER THE FRONT FLOORBOARD AREA FROM OPENINGS IN THE SIDE SILL OR UPPER DASH AREA. THIS WATER COULD COLLECT UNDER THE SEAT AND CAUSE ELECTRICAL CORROSION TO OCCUR IN THE HARNESS CONNECTORS THAT CONTAIN THE WIRING FOR THE SEAT BELT PRE-TENSIONER, SIDE AIR BAG IMPACT SENSOR, AND STOP LAMPS.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DURING EXTREMELY LOW TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS, ICE CAN BUILD UP INSIDE THE ENGINE THROTTLE VALVE. THIS ICE BUILD-UP COULD CAUSE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO STICK OR NOT TO RETURN TO IDLE AFTER ACCELERATING.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mitsubishi told its dealers about the 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10240443 | This is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has launched the 3rd quarterly technician quiz for 2023. |
| 10235609 | This Technical Service Bulletin provides instructions and material safety data sheets for removal of rap-film adhesive residue. |
| 10235608 | This Technical Service Bulletin reviews the regulations that require a label showing the reduction in load carrying capacity be affixed to vehicles when the total net weight of accessories is more than 1.5 percent of the vehicle's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or 100 lbs. |
| 10235606 | This is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has launched the 2nd quarterly technician quiz for 2023. |
| 10226082 | Tech Talk is a service newsletter that was sent out to dealers. It covers various topics and reviews the previous months publications. |
| 10211530 | This Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers to explain the difference between normal dew condensation, which is a natural phenomenon, and water penetration caused by improper sealing or a defective/broken part. |
| 10208837 | 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. |
| 10207798 | This Technical Service Bulletin instructs dealers to apply Nonwoven Fabric Tape between the Seat Back and Urethane Pad when customers report a condition where an abnormal rubbing noise is heard from the Seat Back when a driver and/or passenger is seated in the front seat(s). |
| 10200351 | 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. |
| 10199125 | 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. |
| 10182303 | This Technical Service Bulletin was sent informing dealers an abnormal rubbing noise is heard from the Seat Back when a driver and/or passenger is seated in the front seat(s) and instructs dealers to apply Nonwoven Fabric Tape between the Seat Back and Urethane Pad. |
| 10170852 | This Technical Service Bulletin updates the door adjustment procedure in the Body Section of the applicable service manuals. |
| 10170100 | This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers. |
| 10170099 | This is an index of Tech Talk newsletter articles released in 2012. |
| 10170097 | This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers. |
| 10170096 | This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers. |
| 10170087 | This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers. |
| 10170086 | This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers. |
| 10170074 | This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers. |
| 10170071 | This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers. |
| 10170070 | This TSB contains troubleshooting steps for diagnosis of various customer complaints relating to the audio system speakers in Mitsubishi vehicles equipped with original equipment audio components. |
| 10169006 | This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers. |
| 10163703 | This is a Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers. This bulletin supersedes TSB-18-00-003, issued April, 2018, to add updated information for Carrying Capacity Reduced Label. |
| 10145181 | This is a Technical Information Notice sent to dealers, to inform them that MB991855V (12-13 Pin Reprogramming Adapter) is now available for purchase. To reprogram 2002 - 2006 Montero and 2003 - 2006 Outlander vehicles, MB991855 is necessary. This tool was removed from our essential tool kit due to its limited application and became part of our tool loaner program. |
| 10130469 | This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)