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2012 Mitsubishi Outlander problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
41% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Better than 52% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 9 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 31%).
Does the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 11 of 27 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (41%), and the largest group is filed under power train (7). For comparison, the 2011 scores 55% and the 2013 scores 37%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2012 compares with other Mitsubishi Outlander years
Of the 13 Mitsubishi Outlander years with enough complaints to score, the 2012 is the 6th-worst on engine and transmission share (41%). The worst is the 2015 (75%), the best the 2022 (20%). By volume, the 2012 drew 36 complaints (11 drivetrain), against 88 for the 2011 and 68 for the 2013.
Mitsubishi Outlander years to avoid and best years →
2010 Outlander problems · 2011 Outlander problems · 2012 · 2013 Outlander problems · 2014 Outlander problems · 2015 Outlander problems · 2016 Outlander problems · 2017 Outlander problems · 2018 Outlander problems · 2019 Outlander problems · 2020 Outlander problems · 2022 Outlander problems · 2023 Outlander problems
The rest of the picture on the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 11 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2012 Mitsubishi Outlander engine recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 10 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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.
Risk: If the drive belt detaches, the battery will discharge and the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the belt tensioner with one that has an improved shape, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 27, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at…
9 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander
Does the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 11 of 27 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (41%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander is air bags: 8 of 36 complaints (22%) name it, followed by power train (7) and engine (5). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 41% of the relevant total.
Is the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 41% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is better than 52% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 13 Mitsubishi Outlander years we score, it ranks 6th-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 10 in total: 18V069000 (engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Mitsubishi Outlander years are better?
Among the Mitsubishi Outlander years we track, the 2022 (20%), the 2020 (29%) and the 2023 (29%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2012 (41%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/mitsubishi-outlander
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.