There are 5 owner-reported steering complaints for the 2004 Mitsubishi Outlanderin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
THE FRONT CONTROL ARM WHERE IT BOLTS TO THE K FRAME RUSTED AWAY COMPLETLY RESULTING IN THE FRONT DRIVERS TIRE TO COME OFF. WAS IN A GET IN GO PARKING LOT TURNING WHEN THIS HAPPENED LUCKLY NO ONE WAS HURT.
VEHICLE VIBRATED BADLY AND HAD A TENDENCY TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. VERY BAD ACCIDENT OCCURRED JULY 12, 2006. ONE CAR ACCIDENT. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS. A WOMAN DRIVING BEHIND HER SAID THEY HAD BEEN DRIVING NORMALLY, NO SPEEDING OR WEAVING, WHEN MY WIFE'S OUTLANDER SUDDENLY PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT, HIT A LARGE CURB AND FLEW THROUGH THE AIR, LANDING AND ROLLING ON TO THE SIDE. *JB
THERE IS A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST IS ENGINE NOISE (LOUD "TICKING, " CLICKING" NOISE) THIS ALL THE TIME. IT WAS TAKEN IN A NUMBER OF TIMES AND EVERY TIME SOMETHING WAS CHANGED AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS FIXED. THE NOISE IS STILL THERE! THE KEYLESS ENTRY MODULE WAS REPLACED FOR ERRATIC LOCK AND LIGHT FUNCTION, HOWEVER IT HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND "SCUFFS" THE TIRES ( WE HAVE ROTATED THE TIRES AT ABOUT EVERY 1500 MILES TO TRY TO PREVENT THIS). I HAVE TAKEN IT IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD ALIGNMENT WAS OK, AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE! THERE IS ALSO A CONSTANT "THUMPING,CLUNKING" NOISE FROM FRONT END OVER BUMPS(WAS TOLD UNABLE TO FIX OR DUPLICATE). LASTLY, THIS VEHICLE HAS A INTERMITTENT SEVERE HESITATION OR SOMETIMES NO POWER. I WAS TOLD "UNABLE TO DUPLICATE" AND EVERY THING WAS OK WITH THE VEHICLE. ALL THE WORK WAS DONE BY THE DEALER WERE I PURCHASED IT, AND I BELIEVE THEY ARE TIRED OF SEEING ME! *NM
(1) STEERING IS LOOSE. VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT EITHER TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. EXCESSIVE VIBRATION EVEN THOUGH THE DEFECT DID NOT CAUSE ANY ACCIDENT OR NEED ANY PARTS REPLACEMENT, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE MANUFACTURER DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM IN ASIA. I AM SURPRISED NORTH AMERICA IS NOT NOTIFIED. *LA
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A STEERING PROBLEM. THE STEERING IS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. *AK
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 26, 2026