2005 Mitsubishi Outlander recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-18. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.
1 safety recall, most serious first
1. Suspension
What's wrong, in plain English: Parts can break and cause loss of control. 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,…
What could happen: A detached front control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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 member will be replaced with a new one that has a sealing/anti-corrosion agent applied to it. These repairs will be perform…
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2005 OUTLANDER.
- Book a repair at any authorized Mitsubishi dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 16V458000 (manufacturer code SR-16-003).
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-888-648-7820.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
Summary: 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.
Consequence: A detached front control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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 member will be replaced with a new one that has a sealing/anti-corrosion agent applied to it. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began January 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-16-003.
Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Useful for owners
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Suspension (9), Body / structure (3), Transmission / drivetrain (3), Steering (2), Unknown Or Other (2).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (8)
08/17/2026 · Steering
This vehicle recieved the [XXX] recall treatment in 2019 but the crossmember snapped anyway in april 2026. It snapped all the way through on the driverside causing the wheel to go completely sideways pulling out the cv axle with it, smashing into the wheel well and fender making the driverside door inoperable, and causing the TOTAL loss of control and neede…
03/07/2022 · Suspension
The contact owns a 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that while his mother owned the vehicle, she received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V458000 (Suspension). She took the vehicle to a dealer and upon inspection of the vehicle, the dealer found no defect with the lower control arm and sprayed an anti-rust agent on the part to prevent…
10/27/2020 · Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL LOUD CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE NEAR THE DRIVER'S FEET. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE LEFT WHEEL HAD SEIZED. THE C…
07/04/2018 · Suspension
WHILE DRIVING ALONG A PAVED RURAL ROAD IN A MODERATE LEFT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE LOWER LEFT REAR CONTROL ARM DETACHED FROM THE REAR CROSS MEMBER. THIS NOTICEABLY AFFECTED THE HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED THE TIRE TO CONTACT THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE REAR CROSS MEMBER WAS FOUND SEVERELY RUSTED.
03/02/2018 · Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN. AFTER STOPPING TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE TWO FRONT WHEELS WERE POSITIONED IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNO…
01/07/2018 · Suspension
MY FRONT CROSSMEMBER AND CONTROL ARMS WERE RUSTED OUT I PAY CASH TO GET IT FIXED NOW IT'S UNDER A RECALL NOW MY REAR CROSS MEMBER IN CONTROL ARMS ARE RUSTED IN MITSUBISHI WON'T FIX THE CAR I TRIED TOO PAY CASH AND THEY TURN ME DOWN THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER WAS UNDER A RECALL SO THE REAR CROSSMEMBER SHOULD BE UNDER A RECALL AS WELL THE REAR IS RUSTY JUST LIKE…
01/28/2017 · Steering · crash
MY CAR IS PART OF A SAFETY RECALL DUE TO CORROSION OF THE CROSS MEMBERS OF MY VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THE RECALL MY VEHICLE FAILED DUE TO THE CROSS MEMBERS FAILING. AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE I WAS GOING 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE FRAME SNAPPED IN 2. THERE WAS A LOT OF DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE DUE TO THE IMPACT OF THE FRAME SPLITTING AND MANY OTHER PARTS OF TH…
12/14/2016 · Suspension · crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND CRASHED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SCRAP YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN N…