MODEL
Mitsubishi Outlander
NHTSA safety across every Mitsubishi Outlander model year we cover.
Across the 7 model years of the Mitsubishi Outlander we cover (2019 to 2025), the strongest crash-test showing is the 2025 at 90 on the NHTSA Safety Index, and the lowest is the 2019 at 77. 19 recalls have been issued across those years.
The Mitsubishi Outlander is a five-passenger compact SUV that competes in one of the most crowded segments in the American market. Aimed at budget-conscious families who want three-row versatility without a premium price tag, the Outlander has undergone a significant generational shift during our 2019-to-2025 coverage window, moving from a dated but functional platform to a more modern, feature-forward redesign.
The Mitsubishi Outlander presents a mixed but ultimately workable safety picture across our 2019-to-2025 coverage window. Its best NHTSA Safety Index score of 90 out of 100, achieved in the 2021 model year, is genuinely encouraging and places that specific year in the Exceptional band. However, shoppers should note that the index has moved across three distinct performance bands during our coverage period, landing at Exceptional, Strong, and Average depending on the model year. That kind of variability deserves attention when you are choosing a specific year to buy. Crash-test geometry tells a similar story of uneven performance. The best recorded results show a solid 5 out of 5 stars on the side-impact test and a respectable 4 out of 5 on both frontal and rollover evaluations, but a 4-star frontal rating is a step below what top-tier compact SUV competitors routinely post. The recall count of 19 across six model years is elevated and worth scrutinizing by year before purchase. Owner complaints total 358, with 31 reported crashes and 27 reported injuries among those unverified allegations. No deaths have been reported in this dataset. The honest bottom line is this: the 2021 Outlander stands out as the safety high-water mark in this range. Buyers targeting other years should pull the specific NHTSA data before committing.
WHAT REVIEWERS SAYReviewers generally regard the Outlander as a value-oriented compact SUV that improved substantially with its generational redesign, praising the updated interior quality and standard feature content. Most acknowledge that it trails class leaders in driving refinement and powertrain performance, positioning it as a practical choice for shoppers prioritizing affordability and space over outright polish.
- Safety performance varies meaningfully by model year, spanning Exceptional, Strong, and Average NHTSA index bands across 2019-2025, so pulling the score for your specific target year is essential before buying.
- The 2021 model year achieved the highest recorded NHTSA Safety Index of 90 out of 100, making it the standout year for safety within this coverage window.
- Nineteen recalls across six model years is a relatively high count for this segment and shoppers should verify that any used example has had all open recalls resolved through the NHTSA VIN lookup tool.
- Owner complaints include 31 reported crashes and 27 reported injuries among 358 total allegations, all unverified, which is a complaint volume worth monitoring and cross-referencing with NHTSA investigation records before purchase.
Most-recalled year on record: 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander with 7 recalls.