2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport.

20112013
Complaints
18
Crashes
3
Fires
0
Injuries
2
Fatalities
1
Recalls
6

Worst 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#16 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:44,030 mi
Crash-related:2
#22 complaints

Electrical Faults

#32 complaints

Engine Problems

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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport.

Airbags
6
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
44,030
Electrical Faults
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wipers & Visibility
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Transmission / Drivetrain
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structural Problems
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Body Structure
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~584,954 vehicles.

20V279000Structure:frame And Members · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm
~141,200 affected

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2008-2010 Lancer, 2009-2010 Lancer Sportback, 2008-2013 Outlander, and 2011-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The front lower control arms may detach due to the front cross member corroding from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.

18V103000Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:linkages
~158,651 affected

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2011-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles. Water may enter between the hood and windshield and cause the front wiper link ball joint to corrode, possibly resulting in the wiper link separating and the wipers becoming inoperative.

18V069000Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:belts And Associated Pulleys
~141,053 affected

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Lancer, 2008-2012 Outlander, 2010-2012 Lancer Sportback, and 2011-2012 Outlander Sport vehicles equipped with either a 4B11 or 4B12 engine. The drive belt automatic tensioner flange may crack, allowing the accessory drive belt to detach.

16V867000Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge And Attachments · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate
~50,228 affected

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Outlander Sport vehicles manufactured August 26, 2010, to June 1, 2012, and 2016 Outlander Sport vehicles manufactured January 11, 2016, to July 8, 2016. The lift gate support outer tube on the affected vehicles may have insufficient anti-corrosion treatment that can allow the outer tube to corrode due to salt and water penetration.

16V792000Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
~93,801 affected

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2011-2015 Outlander Sport vehicles manufactured August 26, 2010, to January 5, 2015. In the affected vehicles, water may drop between the hood and the windshield and leak into the wiper motor breathing hole. The water may cause internal corrosion of the windshield wiper motor and the possible failure of the motor.

12V001000Exterior Lighting:turn Signal
~21 affected

MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 OUTLANDER SPORT VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 9, 2011, THROUGH DECEMBER 16, 2011. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE TURN SIGNAL LEVERS IN THE VEHICLE WERE NOT MANUFACTURED CORRECTLY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE AUTO-CANCEL FUNCTION OF THE TURN SIGNAL BECOMING INOPERATIVE.

Other Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Years

2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport has 18 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash-related, and 6 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Airbags with 6 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport?
Top reported problems: Airbags (6 complaints, avg 44,030 mi); Electrical Faults (2 complaints); Engine Problems (2 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 44,030 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport?
NHTSA complaints for the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport include 3 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 2 injuries, and 1 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport have any recalls?
Yes — 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 584,954 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Mitsubishi Outlander Sport reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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