There are 5 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2004 Mitsubishi Outlanderin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. WHEN THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF IT REMAINED ON FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE. THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 29,000. UPDATED 09/16/09 *BF UPDATED 09/17/09.*JB
I HAVE A 2004 OUTLANDER AN I HAVE MANY THING WRONG LIKE THE HEATER KNOB BROKE OFF THE BACK WINDOWS FELL BUT MY MAJOR CONCERN IS THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AN ILL LOSE THE THROTTLE. IN TRAFFIC THIS IS PRETTY SCARY. EVERYTHING ABOUT THE CAR IS TIP TOP. 80,000 MILES NEVER HAD ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS TILL THIS, I'VE DONE THE GAS CLICKING THING TO THE GAS CAP. ALL THE FLUIDS ARE FULL AND THE ONLY WAY I CAN GET POWER BACK IS BY TURNING THE TRUCK OFF AN ON 5 TIMES TO REST THE COMPUTER. *TR
I HAVE ALWAYS CHANGED MY OIL WELL WITHIN THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE; I NOTICED AN ENGINE TICKING NOISE AROUND 15K MILES, AND SIGNS OF OVERHEATING (LOW LEVEL IN THE COOLANT OVERFLOW CONTAINER). DEALER CHECKED, FOUND NO PROBLEMS. DRIVING TO WORK ON 9/13/07, ENGINE TICKING NOISE GOT 10 TIMES LOUDER. A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP SAID IT SHOULD BE TOWED TO DEALER, WHICH IT WAS. DEALER SAID TIMING BELT SLIPPED; WHEN REPLACED THE BELT, LOUD NOISE STILL EXISTED. REMOVED ENGINE COVER, INSPECTION SHOWED VALVE DAMAGE. TECHNICIAN INSPECTED FURTHER, SHOWS OIL BURNED ONTO ENGINE PARTS. MISTUBISHI DENYING REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY, ALTHOUGH ALL MAINTENANCE RECORDS MEET REQUIRED STANDARD AND CAR ONLY HAS 24,000 MILES. NEVER HAD ANY WARNING LIGHTS FOR OVERHEATING OR LOW OIL. MITSUBISHI SAYS WRONG OIL FILTER USED BY VALVOLINE INSTANT OIL CHANGE SITE. I REMOVED THE OIL FILTER, SENT FOR TESTING. AWAITING RESULTS. ENGINE NEEDS REPLACING DUE TO DAMAGE, AND MITSU IS DENYING TO COVER THE REPAIRS. FILED COMPLAINT WITH STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL, IN PROCESS. THREE WEEKS WITHOUT A VEHICLE NOW, GOING ON 4. *JB
SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH 2004 MISTSUBISH OUTLANDER. ALL FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, EXCEPT LATEST PROBLEM. CAR WON'T RUN. HAD TO TOW TO DEALERSHIP. CAR SHAKES AND ENGINE CUTS COMPLETELY OUT. DEALERSHIP NOT COOPERATING, FIXED THE WRONG THING, ENGINE STILL CUTS OUT/STALLS, NOW SAYING I "OVERFILLED THE GAS TANK, RUINING THE CHARCOAL FUEL CANISTER." THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY?! THERE HAS TO BE ANOTHER REASON THIS HAPPENED. I HAVE NEVER OVERFILLED OR TOPPED OFF MY GAS. I THINK THEY MESSED IT UP, OR PERHAPS THE GAUGES ARE WRONG. IF THE GAUGES ARE WRONG, IT'S A FACTORY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY!!!! *JB
UPON LIGHT ACCELERATION, WITHOUT ENGAGING A GEAR CHANGE, ENGINE? WILL LOSE COMPRESSION/POWER, TACH FALL 500-700 RPS AS SPEEDOMETER RISES. ENGINE TICKS. INTERMITTENT WIPERS SPEED DECREASES WHEN VEHICLE AT STOP, AIR CIRCULATION FAN SPEED DECREASES WHEN VEHICLE AT STOP, BRAKES MAKING NOISE. DESPITE REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER, NO ONE RETURNS MY CALL. *JB
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026