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2021 Mitsubishi Outlander

Plug-in hybridGas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
5 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
B
Safety Signal
81 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns3
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA17
Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA27 mpg
202720262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid and gas compact SUV with 5 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Outlander Sport 2WD, is EPA-rated at 27 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 17 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombRangekWh/100miCharge (240V)Annual fuel*
Outlander PHEVPlug-in hybridAWD2.4L 4-cyl + 60 and 70 kW DCPM262626 (39 MPGe blended)24 mi electric454 h$2,400
Outlander Sport 2WDGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl243027———$2,300
Outlander Sport 4WDGas4WD2.0L 4-cyl232926———$2,400
Outlander Sport 2WDGasFWD2.4L 4-cyl232925———$2,500
Outlander Sport 4WDGas4WD2.4L 4-cyl232825———$2,500

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 43726, 43473, 43477, 43474, 43478.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander is in the years where high-voltage electronics and module repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Structure

SR-26-001
108,046 vehiclesPlug-in hybrid only
ProblemMitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Outlander PHEV and 2014-2020 Outlander vehicles. The liftgate gas spring cylinders may corrode and lose pressure, which can result in a gas spring cylinder rupture or the liftgate falling unexpectedly.RiskA gas spring cylinder rupture or a liftgate falling unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.FixMMNA will replace the left and right liftgate gas springs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 17, 2026. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-26-001. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov June 3, 2026. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V507.
NHTSA campaign 26V252000reported Apr 20, 2026Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.
▲high

Structure

SR-25-002
121,529 vehiclesPlug-in hybrid only
ProblemMitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Outlander PHEV and 2014-2020 Outlander vehicles sold and/or currently registered in Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The liftgate gas spring cylinders may corrode and lose pressure, which can result in a gas spring cylinder rupture or the liftgate falling unexpectedly.RiskA gas spring cylinder rupture or a liftgate falling unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.FixMMNA will replace the left and right liftgate gas springs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 6, 2025. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-25-002
NHTSA campaign 25V507000reported Aug 7, 2025Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.
○minor

Power Train

SR-22-004
76,508 vehicles
ProblemMitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Outlander Sport vehicles equipped with continuously variable transmissions and mechanical key ignition systems. A software error in the transmission control unit (CVT-ECU) may incorrectly reduce the transmission gear ratio at high speeds, which can result in an engine stall.RiskAn engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.FixDealers will update the CVT-ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 24, 2022. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-22-004.
NHTSA campaign 22V563000reported Aug 2, 2022Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

NHTSA defect investigations

Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matt

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
17complaints filed

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2022: 4 · 2023: 3 · 2024: 6 · 2025: 2 · 2026: 2

Most-cited components

Electrical System6
Engine4
Forward Collision Avoidance4
Unspecified4
Vehicle Speed Control2
Power Train2

What owners describe

“The contact owns a 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. The contact stated that the catalytic converter was stolen from the vehicle, and a new catalytic converter was installed. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent…”Jan 9, 2026 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“I was turning out of my neighborhood and as I accelerated to merge with traffic my car started jerking. My dashboard “Dâ€� symbol only started flashing on and off and then my transmission service required light came on, (just had it done 8/25 and it is 11/25) and the BSW service required light came on as well. As I c…”Nov 6, 2025 · Vehicle Speed Control · NHTSA owner report
“Driving home with no other cars around the forward collision warning goes off for no reason losing power and slowing down on it's own. This has been an ongoing situation since the car was new, I've made numerous attempts to have my local dealership look into this situation and all they tell me is to take video when it …”Feb 8, 2025 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆14%
SUV AWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆17%
SUV FWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆19%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Other Outlander model years

A

2027 Mitsubishi Outlander

0 recalls · 0 complaints

A

2026 Mitsubishi Outlander

1 recalls · 5 complaints

A

2025 Mitsubishi Outlander

2 recalls · 17 complaints

A

2024 Mitsubishi Outlander

1 recalls · 27 complaints

A

2023 Mitsubishi Outlander

2 recalls · 55 complaints

F

2022 Mitsubishi Outlander

10 recalls · 225 complaints

C

2020 Mitsubishi Outlander

4 recalls · 57 complaints

F

2019 Mitsubishi Outlander

6 recalls · 56 complaints

F

2018 Mitsubishi Outlander

6 recalls · 91 complaints

F

2017 Mitsubishi Outlander

6 recalls · 78 complaints

F

2016 Mitsubishi Outlander

11 recalls · 170 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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