Mitsubishi Outlander: common problems, best years and what to check
Family SUV; the PHEV was Britain's first big-selling plug-in. Covers 2013–2021 cars: every popular engine, its known faults with typical UK repair costs, and how each year has held up on Britain's roads.
Updated November 2026 · By the Carnod team · How we build this guide
Is the Mitsubishi Outlander a good used buy?
Best buy
2019+ 2.4 PHEV
Avoid
PHEV with low battery capacity
Who it suits: Families who can charge at home and want a practical PHEV.
What's good
- Proven PHEV reliability
- Roomy
- Good towing for a PHEV
- 4x4
What's not
- Thirsty on long trips
- Battery degradation on older cars
- Dull to drive
- Brand left UK market
By the numbers
- #120 most common model on UK roads, with about 67k licensed (DfT).
- The biggest surviving year is 2015: 11.7k cars still licensed.
- 2013 cars survive 7% worse than comparable cars — check those harder.
- The most expensive common fault: Battery capacity loss (up to £6,000).
Mitsubishi Outlander common problems by generation and engine
Mitsubishi Outlander Mk3 (2012–2021) · SUV; PHEV; 7 seats (diesel)
How to spot it: 13 plate to 21 plate. Dynamic Shield chrome grille from 2015.
2.0 / 2.4 PHEV (4B11 / 4B12 + e, petrol plug-in hybrid, 2014–2021)
Reliable PHEV
- Battery capacity loss£0–£6,0006+ yrs · Check: Ask for battery capacity check
- Rear brake wear / seized calipers£200–£500any
2.2 DI-D (4N14, diesel, 2013–2018)
- DPF faults£400–£1,20070k+
Costs are typical UK independent-garage prices including parts and labour. Main dealers usually charge more.
Best and worst Mitsubishi Outlander years
How many Mitsubishi Outlanders from each year are still licensed today (DfT), coloured by how well that year survives compared with similar cars of the same age.
No year clearly outlasts similar cars. Years that fall off the road faster: 2013 — check these harder.
Mitsubishi Outlander MOT pass rate and common failures
First-time pass rate (2025)
Average UK car of the same age
MOT tests analysed (2013+ cars)
Mitsubishi Outlanders pass their MOT first time 1 points more often than the average UK car of the same age (78% vs 77%). Older cars fail more, so we compare like with like.
| First registered | Pass rate | Average UK car that age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 60% | 66% | 106k miles |
| 2014 | 66% | 69% | 101k miles |
| 2015 | 71% | 72% | 92k miles |
| 2016 | 76% | 75% | 84k miles |
| 2017 | 81% | 78% | 72k miles |
| 2018 | 84% | 81% | 65k miles |
| 2019 | 86% | 84% | 54k miles |
| 2020 | 86% | 86% | 44k miles |
| 2021 | 87% | 87% | 41k miles |
Pass rate by fuel
Hybrid
Diesel
Petrol
Electric
Fuels differ in age and mileage mix, so treat this as a pattern rather than a like-for-like comparison.
Most common MOT failures
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick3.09 per 100
- Position lamp: not working2.66 per 100
- Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play2.46 per 100
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.25 per 100
- Ball joint excessively worn2.23 per 100
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.11 per 100
- Tyres: has a cut2.07 per 100
- Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.59 per 100
Most common advisories
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm25.02 per 100
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick13.75 per 100
- Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened13.28 per 100
- Tyres: has a tear9.45 per 100
- Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded8.88 per 100
- Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn6.92 per 100
- Coil spring: corroded5.15 per 100
- Sub-frame: corroded and seriously weakened4.47 per 100
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results for 2025 (normal car tests). First-time pass counts faults fixed during the test as fails. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Does the Mitsubishi Outlander have a timing belt or chain?
| Engine | Type | When | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4B11/4B12 | chain | durable | £700–£1,200 |
| 4N14 | chain | durable | £800–£1,400 |
Mitsubishi Outlander running costs
Road tax (from April 2017)
Road tax (before April 2017)
Insurance groups
Real-world economy
Servicing (independent)
Tyres
Warranty when new
Is the Mitsubishi Outlander ULEZ compliant?
- Petrol and hybrid: compliant if Euro 4 — nearly all petrol cars from 2006, many from 2001.
- Diesel: compliant only if Euro 6 — generally cars first registered from September 2015; earlier diesels pay £12.50 a day in London's ULEZ.
- Electric: always compliant.
- Same standards apply in Birmingham and Bristol Clean Air Zones (which charge private cars) and Scotland's LEZs in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee (which fine them). Check the exact car on TfL's vehicle checker.
Safety and practicality
Euro NCAP
Boot
Seats
Electric / hybrid
Mitsubishi Outlander vs rivals
| Model | On UK roads | Insurance | Boot | Best buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitsubishi Outlander | 67k | 20–31 | 463 l | 2019+ 2.4 PHEV |
| Toyota RAV4 | 112k | 27–40 | 580 l | 2019+ XA50 2.5 Hybrid |
| Kia Sportage | 373k | 13–25 | 491 l | 2016–2021 QL 1.6 GDi or 1.7 CRDi; 2022+ HEV |
| Hyundai Tucson | 227k | 11–25 | 513 l | 2018–2020 TL 1.6 GDi manual or 2021+ HEV |
| Volkswagen Tiguan | 316k | 16–30 | 520 l | 2016+ Mk2 2.0 TDI 150 |
| Nissan X-Trail | 91k | 17–30 | 565 l | 2017+ T32 1.6 dCi manual |
What to check when buying a used Mitsubishi Outlander
- PHEV battery capacity check
Mitsubishi Outlander FAQ
›Is the Mitsubishi Outlander reliable?
Generally, if you pick the right version. Best buy: 2019+ 2.4 PHEV. Avoid: PHEV with low battery capacity.
›What is the Mitsubishi Outlander MOT pass rate?
78% of Mitsubishi Outlanders passed their MOT first time in 2025 (61,048 tests), better than the 77% average for cars of the same age. The most common failure: brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick.
›What are the most common Mitsubishi Outlander problems?
The costliest known faults are Battery capacity loss; DPF faults; Rear brake wear / seized calipers. Each one is listed by engine with typical UK repair costs above.
›Does the Mitsubishi Outlander have a timing belt or chain?
4B11/4B12: chain; 4N14: chain.
›What is the best year Mitsubishi Outlander to buy?
By DfT survival data, 2014, 2017, 2018 cars have outlasted comparable cars best. Condition and history still matter more than the year.
›How much does a Mitsubishi Outlander cost to run?
Real-world economy: PHEV 35–100 depending on charging; 2.2 DI-D 40–46 mpg. Insurance groups 20–31. A minor service is about £180–£250 at an independent garage.
›How much is road tax on a Mitsubishi Outlander?
Cars registered from April 2017 pay £200 a year (more if the list price was over £40k). Older cars pay by CO2 band, from £20 to £790.
›Is the Mitsubishi Outlander ULEZ compliant?
Petrol and hybrid: compliant if Euro 4 — nearly all petrol cars from 2006, many from 2001. Diesel: compliant only if Euro 6 — generally cars first registered from September 2015; earlier diesels pay £12.50 a day in London's ULEZ.
How we build this guide
We combine official UK data with what independent garages see most often on this model.
- How many are still on the road: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, by year first used. The survival comparison is against cars of the same age.
- MOT pass rates, failures and mileage: DVSA anonymised MOT results — every normal car MOT in Great Britain for the year, compared with all cars of the same age.
- Road tax: GOV.UK rates from April 2026. ULEZ: TfL and Clean Air Zone emission standards.
- Faults and repair costs: known problems by engine code, priced at typical UK independent-garage rates including parts and labour.
- Insurance groups, mpg, servicing and tyres: typical ranges, not quotes. Your car's exact figures depend on the version and where you live.
This is a buying guide, not a mechanical inspection. A specific car's MOT history tells you far more than any model average — run a free check on it before you go and see it.
Sources: licensed counts and survival from DfT vehicle licensing statistics; road tax from GOV.UK (April 2026 rates). Faults, costs, mpg and insurance groups are typical ranges, not quotes. A guide, not a mechanical inspection.