Mitsubishi Outlander Problems: Used Buyer's Guide for ZJ/ZK/ZL and ZM Petrol Models

The petrol Mitsubishi Outlander is roomy, cheap to buy and simple to service. Its weak point is the CVT. CarsGuide says the third-generation CVT "is not bullet-proof" and a replacement can cost more than the car is worth. Add a long recall list, rocker cover oil leaks on 2014–2016 2.4s and a warranty that only stretches to 10 years with dealer servicing. Check the CVT, history and recalls, then get it inspected.

Which Mitsubishi Outlander generation are you looking at?

Third generation, ZJ/ZK/ZL (2012–2021). The Mk3 Outlander sold from 2012 to 2021 with five or seven seats, 2.0 and 2.4-litre petrols, a 2.2 turbo-diesel and the PHEV. carsales notes the ZK's "Dynamic Shield" facelift in 2015 and another front-end change for 2019, with the 124kW 2.4 and CVT remaining the staple in 2WD or AWD (carsales, buying used 2012–2021). CarsGuide says the petrol engines use a timing chain, that the CVT was the only transmission unless you chose the diesel or a manual, and that the Exceed petrol weighs about 1,535kg (CarsGuide, used review 2012–2021; CarsGuide, 2021 Outlander).

Fourth generation, ZM (late 2021 on). The current Outlander uses a 2.5-litre petrol (135kW/245Nm) with a CVT that mimics eight steps, in 2WD or AWD, with 1,600kg braked towing. CarExpert found it "a little sluggish", especially loaded, and noted the lane-keeping system can be intrusive. The warranty is five years/100,000km, extended to 10 years/200,000km if you service within the Mitsubishi dealer network on its capped-price program, with the first 10 services totalling $3,190 (CarExpert, 2022 Outlander review). carsales says the PHEV followed in August 2022 (carsales); it has its own guide.

What are the most common Mitsubishi Outlander problems?

These are reported by Australian motoring experts and owners. They're not failure rates.

The CVT

CarsGuide's David Morley calls CVT longevity "the biggest reliability question mark" on the Mk3. Even with proper servicing it "is not bullet-proof", and some owners have found a replacement costs more than the car is worth. The CVT was also criticised for laggy acceleration, which was the subject of a software recall. The diesel's conventional auto suffered fluid leaks and the manual could suffer a failed shift mechanism, but Morley says both are better long-term prospects than the CVT (CarsGuide). RedBook Inspect, via carsales, lists "delayed engagement" on CVT cars as a manufacturing fault, and carsales advises testing the lag in slow traffic before you buy (carsales).

Engines: robust, but they need oil changes

Morley says the engines "seem pretty robust" with chain drive, but that any neglected Mitsubishi engine "can easily be a ticking time-bomb full of sludge". One batch of 2.4s sold between 2014 and 2016 leaked oil from the rocker cover, an easy fix (CarsGuide). RedBook Inspect lists oil leaks from the cooler seals or valve cover gasket, and coolant leaks from the water pump or radiator (carsales).

RedBook Inspect's common-fault list

carsales publishes what RedBook's inspectors find on Mk3 Outlanders: outstanding recalls, power steering stiffness and leaks, underbody damage from careless off-road use, electrical issues with windows and infotainment, premature brake pad wear, exhaust recirculation issues hurting performance, worn bushes, ball joints and struts, and battery drain (carsales).

ZM: sluggish, not faulty

CarExpert's criticism of the 2022 car is performance and intrusive driver aids, not reliability. It's heavier than the old car with only a modest power increase (CarExpert). Its recalls so far are software and a steering wheel sensor, below.

What Mitsubishi Outlander recalls should I check?

CarsGuide says the Outlander "has been the subject of plenty of safety recalls" and lists a seized park brake, a rear camera fault, driver-aid software, a door latch, water in the wiper motor, a towbar harness, a brake-light switch, the manual shifter, transmission fluid leaks, power steering and the CVT launch reflash (CarsGuide). We confirmed these on the federal register at vehiclerecalls.gov.au. Check by VIN with a Mitsubishi dealer or Mitsubishi Customer Service. PHEV-specific recalls are covered in the PHEV guide.

What this means for you: this is a long list and the register has more. Ask the dealer for a full VIN recall history rather than checking one at a time. Mitsubishi fixes recalls free.

What our inspectors check on a Mitsubishi Outlander

This is what we look at, and which package includes it. It's a list of checks, not a claim that the car has these faults.

1. 1.OBD-II scan of stored, pending and live codes across engine, CVT, ABS and body modules, and a look for recently cleared codes. (All packages)
2. 2.Engine bay and leak check, including the rocker cover, oil cooler seals, water pump and radiator, plus battery, starter and alternator tests. (All packages)
3. 3.Brake pads and tyre tread measured, with uneven tyre wear noted as a suspension signal. (All packages)
4. 4.Full mechanical inspection. Engine, cooling, belts, mounts, exhaust, driveline and steering, including power steering effort and leaks. (Comprehensive and Elite)
5. 5.Transmission checks. CVT engagement delay, response from a stop, noise under load, shudder, and fluid condition where accessible. Auto shift quality and leaks on diesels. (Comprehensive and Elite)
6. 6.Undertray removed where fitted, safe and permitted, with underbody photos of the nose, sills, exhaust and rear diff. (Comprehensive and Elite)
7. 7.Suspension bushes, ball joints, struts and mounts. (Comprehensive and Elite)
8. 8.Full electrical test and interior electronics, including windows, infotainment, rear camera, park brake and driver aids. (Comprehensive and Elite)
9. 9.Exterior paint and body repair indicators, interior trim condition, plus an odometer rollback check. (Comprehensive and Elite.) Elite adds a paint thickness gauge on every panel.
10. 10.PPSR check. (Comprehensive and Elite. Essential doesn't include one)
11. 11.Cold-start assessment by a senior inspector, when the seller leaves the engine cold. (Elite only)
12. 12.History deep-dive (odometer, owners, stolen or written-off status and recalls) and a valuation. (Elite only)

Road tests are 3–5km on Essential, 6–10km on Comprehensive and 10–12km on Elite.

How should you test-drive a used Outlander?

• Ask for the engine cold. CarsGuide says a reluctant cold start or any hesitation is a concern.
• Creep in slow traffic, or mimic it on a quiet street. Note the delay between throttle and response, and any shudder or clunk on engagement.
• Accelerate moderately on an open road. The CVT should be quiet and smooth. Whine, flare or a thump is a reason to stop.
• Turn the wheel lock to lock at a crawl. Heavy or notchy steering points to the power steering.
• Apply and release the park brake several times.
• Test every window, the camera and the screen.
• After the drive, look under the car for oil and coolant, and check the nose and sills for scrapes.

What paperwork and PPSR checks do you need?

• A PPSR check for finance owing, write-off and stolen status. It's in Comprehensive and Elite. See PPSR check NSW.
• Full service history with oil change invoices. CarsGuide's advice: on a high-kilometre car, check whether the transmission has been replaced or reconditioned.
• Recall completion by VIN, with the full dealer list.
• Warranty status. The 10-year term depends on dealer servicing. Missing a dealer service can drop it back to five years/100,000km. Confirm with Mitsubishi by VIN.
• Kilometres. CarsGuide suggests looking for under 200,000km and says the fewer the better.
• Nature of repairs carried out during ownership, which carsales lists as a specific check.

How do you negotiate on a used Outlander?

• Any CVT delay, noise or shudder is your strongest lever, or your reason to walk away. A replacement can exceed the car's value.
• Oil or coolant leaks are real costs. Get them quoted.
• A lapsed 10-year warranty (missed dealer service) changes the car's value. Price it in.
• Scuffed, scratched trim is cosmetic, but CarsGuide says the plastics weren't great, so it's still money off.
• Open recalls must be done before you pay.

Our Elite inspector can negotiate on the spot, using the findings.

Is a used Mitsubishi Outlander a good buy? Our verdict

Yes for space and value, if the CVT is healthy and the service record is complete. CarsGuide's verdict is the same: low kilometres, full history, and have the CVT checked.

• Mk3 2.4 petrol CVT: the most common. Buy on CVT behaviour and oil-change history.
• Mk3 2.2 diesel auto: the better long-term transmission per CarsGuide, but check for fluid leaks.
• Mk3 manual: rare. Check the shifter mechanism.
• ZM 2.5: newer, safer, slower. Confirm the camera and steering wheel recalls and whether the 10-year warranty is intact.

Learn more on our company facts page, or see how our pre-purchase car inspections in Sydney work.

Mitsubishi Outlander FAQs

What are the most common Mitsubishi Outlander problems?

CarsGuide and RedBook Inspect report CVT failures and delayed engagement, rocker cover and oil cooler leaks, power steering stiffness and leaks, water pump and radiator coolant leaks, premature brake pad wear, worn suspension bushes and ball joints, electrical faults with windows and infotainment, battery drain, and a long list of recalls. These are reported issues, not failure rates.

Is the Mitsubishi Outlander CVT reliable?

CarsGuide says it's the biggest reliability question on the third-generation car and "not bullet-proof" even with servicing, and that a replacement can cost more than the car is worth. It was also recalled for laggy launch software. Test it in slow traffic for delay, shudder and noise, and ask whether it's been replaced or reconditioned.

Does the Mitsubishi 10-year warranty transfer to a used Outlander?

CarExpert explains the ZM's warranty is five years/100,000km, extended to 10 years/200,000km only if every service is done in the Mitsubishi dealer network on the capped-price program. That makes the dealer service history worth real money. Ask Mitsubishi to confirm the status on the specific VIN before you pay for it.

Has the Mitsubishi Outlander been recalled in Australia?

Many times. Register entries include ETACS electronics (REC-001026), wiper links (REC-001039), power steering and driver aids (REC-003502), a trailer brake harness (REC-003716), the park brake (REC-001056), rear camera software on the ZM (REC-005476, REC-005938) and MI-PILOT steering wheel sensors (REC-006322). Ask a dealer for the full VIN history.

Which Outlander engine is best?

CarsGuide says the diesel gives the best performance and comes with a conventional auto that's a better long-term bet than the CVT, while the petrols are robust but bland. For most buyers a well-serviced 2.4 AWD petrol is the practical choice. The ZM 2.5 is adequate unladen but CarExpert found it sluggish with a load.

How many kilometres is too many for an Outlander?

CarsGuide says it's rare to see one for sale over 300,000km and suggests looking under 200,000km, the fewer the better. On a high-kilometre car, it says to check whether major components like the transmission have been replaced. We'd add that oil-change history matters more than the odometer on this engine.

Can a Mitsubishi Outlander tow?

CarsGuide lists up to 1,600kg braked on 2021 petrol CVT models, with some configurations rated higher, and CarExpert quotes 1,600kg for the ZM. Check the compliance plate for the exact car, and note the 2016 recall for a trailer brake harness that stopped electric trailer brakes working.

Do you inspect Outlanders in my area, and what does it cost?

Yes. We're mobile across Greater Sydney, Newcastle (including Maitland), the Central Coast, the Blue Mountains and Wollongong/Illawarra, 7 days. Essential is $199, Comprehensive is $329 and Elite Buyers' Protection is $449. No travel charges, the quoted price is the price, in every region we cover.

Aussie Auto Care Pty Ltd · ABN 19 701 853 090 · 02 8320 1246 · Mobile pre-purchase inspections, 7 days.

Sources

CarsGuide, Used Mitsubishi Outlander review: 2012–2021 (David Morley)

CarsGuide, Mitsubishi Outlander 2021 (towing, specs)

carsales, Buying a used Mitsubishi Outlander (2012–2021)

CarExpert, 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander review

REC-001026

REC-001039

REC-003502

REC-003716

REC-001056

REC-005476

REC-005938

REC-006322

PPSR