Mitsubishi Reliability Overview
Based on 14,298 real complaints filed with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Mitsubishi reliability varies significantly by model. Compare models below and review the specific model-year page before buying.
Is Mitsubishi reliable? Quick answer
Based on 14,298 real NHTSA complaints across 15 Mitsubishi models
Mitsubishi shows above-average complaint rates — research the specific model carefully. Mitsubishi's brand-wide crash rate of 12.4% is above the mainstream average. This doesn't mean every Mitsubishi is problematic — several models are fine — but buyers should research the specific model year carefully, especially around transmission / drivetrain.
- Mitsubishi Outlander· 1,787 complaints
- Mitsubishi Mirage· 940 complaints
- Mitsubishi Lancer· 1,136 complaints
- Mitsubishi Montero Sport· severity 160800
- Mitsubishi Galant· severity 128917
59 reported fatalities in Mitsubishi complaints. Scroll down for the full model-by-model breakdown, or use the links above to jump to a specific model's year-by-year page.
Best Mitsubishi Models to Buy
Lowest complaint severity among Mitsubishi models with enough data for a confident comparison (200+ complaints).
Worst Mitsubishi Models to Avoid
All 15 Mitsubishi models — sorted by severity (highest first)
Mitsubishi Montero Sport
(1997–2009) high severityMitsubishi Galant
(1986–2012) high severityMitsubishi Montero
(1986–2006) high severityMitsubishi 3000Gt
(1991–2002) high severityMitsubishi Eclipse Cross
(2018–2025) high severityMitsubishi Endeavor
(2004–2011) high severityMitsubishi Lancer Evolution
(2003–2015)Mitsubishi Mirage G4
(2017–2024) high severityMitsubishi Outlander Sport
(2011–2024)Mitsubishi Raider
(2006–2009)Mitsubishi I-miev
(2012–2017) high severityMitsubishi Eclipse
(1989–2012) high severityMitsubishi Lancer
(1996–2017) high severityMitsubishi Mirage
(1986–2024) high severityMitsubishi Outlander
(2003–2025) high severityPick your model above, then check the VIN.
NHTSA data tells you which models & years to avoid. The VIN tells you if this specific car has hidden accidents, title issues, or odometer rollbacks. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
Most Common Mitsubishi Problems
Components most reported across all Mitsubishi models in NHTSA complaints.
| Component | Complaints | Crash % |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 662 | 2.7% |
| Airbags | 650 | 51.5% |
| Electrical Faults | 610 | 4.3% |
| Brakes | 538 | 15.4% |
| Automatic Transmission | 464 | 4.7% |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 449 | 89.1% |
| Engine Problems | 406 | 5.7% |
| Body Structure | 404 | 8.2% |
| Suspension Failures | 389 | 6.2% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 346 | 1.2% |
Mitsubishi Reliability — Frequently Asked Questions
How many NHTSA complaints does Mitsubishi have?
Mitsubishi has 14,298 NHTSA consumer complaints across 15 distinct models in the VinItel database (1995–present). 11.7% of those complaints involved a crash, and 59 involved a fatality. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation via VinItel.
Which Mitsubishi model has the most NHTSA complaints?
By total complaint volume, the top Mitsubishi models are: Mitsubishi Eclipse (2,784 complaints), Mitsubishi Galant (2,429 complaints), Mitsubishi Outlander (1,787 complaints). Note that higher-volume models naturally accumulate more complaints, so per-model severity depends on sales volume and crash rate. See the full sortable ranking at vinitel.com/stats/nhtsa-complaints/mitsubishi.
What are the most common Mitsubishi problems?
Across all Mitsubishi models in the NHTSA database, the most-reported issue categories are: Transmission / Drivetrain (662 complaints, 2.7% crash rate); Airbags (650 complaints, 51.5% crash rate); Electrical Faults (610 complaints, 4.3% crash rate). Crash percentages indicate how often that component failure resulted in an accident — higher percentages are safety-critical.
Which Mitsubishi model years should I avoid?
Mitsubishi models with the highest severity scores include Mitsubishi Montero Sport and Mitsubishi Galant. Specific model years to avoid depend on the model — click any Mitsubishi model to see its year-by-year breakdown with complaint counts, crash rates, and recalls. Our AVOID label is applied when a year's normalized complaint rate exceeds 1.5× the model's median.
Which Mitsubishi model is the most reliable?
Among Mitsubishi models with at least 200 NHTSA complaints (enough data for a confident comparison), the lowest severity scores are: Mitsubishi Outlander (1,787 complaints), Mitsubishi Mirage (940 complaints), Mitsubishi Lancer (1,136 complaints). Lower complaint volume plus lower crash/fire/injury rates indicates fewer reported safety issues per vehicle on the road.
Is Mitsubishi a reliable car brand?
NHTSA complaint data shows reliability varies significantly by model and year within every major brand — including Mitsubishi. A brand-level reliability verdict is misleading because it averages a bad year of one model with a great year of another. VinItel's approach: pick your target Mitsubishi model + year and view that specific page for actionable reliability data. See vinitel.com/stats/nhtsa-complaints/mitsubishi to browse all 15 Mitsubishi models.
Should I buy a used Mitsubishi?
Buying used requires two checks: (1) research the specific model + year for known problems using the NHTSA data on this page, and (2) run a VIN report on the exact car to check for hidden accidents, title issues, and odometer rollbacks. VinItel offers both — reliability research is free, individual VIN reports are $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99). Common Mitsubishi issues to ask about during inspection include transmission / drivetrain.
Looking for accident history? See Mitsubishi accident & safety statistics from our 16M+ vehicle history database.
Buying a Mitsubishi?
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