2003 Mitsubishi Outlander Problems, Recalls & Reliability
149 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander, alongside 6 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 55/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Suspension leads the reports, typically around 74,692 miles.
Below average
Where 2003 sits among all Outlander years
What owners report
“1. Ever since i purchased the vehicle, it has always pulled to the right. I took the vehicle into the shop and a alignment was done. The problem still persist. The right side tire is starting to worn even with the new alignment and balance and rotation. 8jb”— owner report to NHTSA, 2003 Outlander
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 98 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 70,200 miles. Half of those reports fall between 25,000 and 104,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (6)
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,…
Fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front cross members. Depending on the level of existing corrosion, either a sealing/anti-corrosion agent will be applied or the front cross…
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…
Fix: MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL CURRENT 2000-2004…
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH DEALER-INSTALLED TRAILER HITCH WIRING HARNESS AND CONTROL MODULE. THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE CAN OVERHEAT.
Fix: OWNERS ARE BEING REQUESTED TO STOP USING THE HARNESS UNTIL A NEWLY DESIGNED REPLACEMENT IS PROVIDED AND CAN BE INSTALLED BY THE DEALER. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 28, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT…
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…
Fix: A LETTER OUTLINING THE PROBLEM WILL BE SENT TO OWNERS ALONG WITH A STICKER CONTAINING THE CORRECT INSTRUCTIONS AS WELL AS INSTRUCTIONS ON WHERE TO AFFIX THE STICKER IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE RECALL…
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…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SIDE SILLS AND DASH PANEL FOR OPENINGS THAT MAY ALLOW WATER LEAKAGE INTO THE VEHICLE CABIN. IN ADDITION TO SEALING ANY OPENINGS THAT MAY BE FOUND, THE WIRING CONNECTORS WILL…
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.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ENGINE CONTROL COMPUTER TO ELIMINATE THIS CONDITION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JANUARY 29, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED…
Technical service bulletins
62 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and suspension — are on file for the 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2003 Outlander TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander reliable?
The 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander drew 149 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 55/100, scored against the model's worst year (2022).
What are the most common 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander problems?
The top reported problems for the 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander are suspension (29 complaints), electrical (28), and engine (16).
At what mileage do 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander problems show up?
Owners most often report 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander problems around 70,200 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 25,000 and 104,000 miles.
Does the 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander have recalls?
6 recall campaigns apply to the 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.