Model year 2020 · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD

2020 Mitsubishi Outlander: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings

EPA rates the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander at 22–27 mpg combined across 8 versions. NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 58 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 5 out of 5 stars.

Safety recalls

4

EPA combined mpg

22–27

NHTSA overall rating

5/5

Recall file dated Oct 27, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT

NHTSA lists this vehicle as OUTLANDER PHEV, OUTLANDER SPORT.

Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Mitsubishi dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.

2020 Mitsubishi Outlander recalls

NHTSA's recall file lists 4 safety recalls for the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander, newest first.

Structure: Body: Hatchback/liftgate: Support device/strut

NHTSA 26V252000 Reported Apr 20, 2026
Filed by
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (manufacturer recall no. SR-26-001)
Units affected
108,046 (estimate)
Problem
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Outlander PHEV and 2014-2020 Outlander vehicles. The liftgate gas spring cylinders may corrode and lose pressure, which can result in a gas spring cylinder rupture or the liftgate falling unexpectedly.
Risk
A gas spring cylinder rupture or a liftgate falling unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
MMNA will replace the left and right liftgate gas springs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 17, 2026. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-26-001. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov June 3, 2026. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V507.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Structure: Body: Hatchback/liftgate: Support device/strut

NHTSA 25V507000 Reported Aug 7, 2025
Filed by
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (manufacturer recall no. SR-25-002)
Units affected
121,529 (estimate)
Problem
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Outlander PHEV and 2014-2020 Outlander vehicles sold and/or currently registered in Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The liftgate gas spring cylinders may corrode and lose pressure, which can result in a gas spring cylinder rupture or the liftgate falling unexpectedly.
Risk
A gas spring cylinder rupture or a liftgate falling unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
MMNA will replace the left and right liftgate gas springs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 6, 2025. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-25-002

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Power train: Automatic transmission: Control module: Software

NHTSA 22V563000 Reported Aug 2, 2022
Filed by
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (manufacturer recall no. SR-22-004)
Units affected
76,508 (estimate)
Problem
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Outlander Sport vehicles equipped with continuously variable transmissions and mechanical key ignition systems. A software error in the transmission control unit (CVT-ECU) may incorrectly reduce the transmission gear ratio at high speeds, which can result in an engine stall.
Risk
An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will update the CVT-ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 24, 2022. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-22-004.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Seat belts: Rear/other

NHTSA 20V280000 Reported May 18, 2020
Filed by
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (manufacturer recall no. SR-20-002)
Units affected
3,241 (estimate)
Problem
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Outlander and 2019 Outlander PHEV vehicles. The seat belt for the right side second-row seat may have been assembled incorrectly.
Risk
An incorrectly assembled seat belt may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy
MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the right side second-row seat belt and replace it as necessary, free of charge. This recall began June 17, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-20-002.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.

2020 Mitsubishi Outlander fuel economy by version

EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination; electric figures are in MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent). Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.

2020 Mitsubishi Outlander EPA fuel economy
VersionEngineTransmissionDriveFuelCity/Hwy/CombElectric rangeFuel cost/yrCO2 g/mi
Outlander 2WD2.4L 4-cylCVT (6 modes)Front-Wheel DriveRegular25/30/27 mpg—$2,500326
Outlander 4WD2.4L 4-cylCVT (6 modes)4-Wheel DriveRegular24/29/26 mpg—$2,600341
Outlander 4WD3.0L 6-cylAutomatic 6-speed4-Wheel DrivePremium20/27/22 mpg—$3,750402
Outlander PHEV2.0L 4-cyl plug-in hybridSingle-speedAll-Wheel DriveRegular Gas and Electricity / Electricity25/26/25 mpg
74 MPGe on electricity
22 mi$2,700174
Outlander Sport 2WD2.0L 4-cylCVT (6 modes)Front-Wheel DriveRegular24/30/27 mpg—$2,500331
Outlander Sport 2WD2.4L 4-cylCVT (6 modes)Front-Wheel DriveRegular23/29/25 mpg—$2,700354
Outlander Sport 4WD2.0L 4-cylCVT (6 modes)4-Wheel DriveRegular23/29/26 mpg—$2,600344
Outlander Sport 4WD2.4L 4-cylCVT (6 modes)4-Wheel DriveRegular23/28/25 mpg—$2,700353

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.

EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.

2020 Mitsubishi Outlander crash-test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

2020 Mitsubishi Outlander NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicleOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover riskForward collision warning
2020 Mitsubishi OUTLANDER PHEV SUV AWD5 stars4 stars5 stars4 stars13.7%Optional
2020 Mitsubishi OUTLANDER SPORT SUV AWD4 stars4 stars5 stars4 stars16.9%Optional
2020 Mitsubishi OUTLANDER SPORT SUV FWD4 stars4 stars5 stars4 stars19.1%Optional
2020 Mitsubishi OUTLANDER SUV AWD5 stars4 stars5 stars4 stars16.4%Optional
2020 Mitsubishi OUTLANDER SUV FWD4 stars4 stars5 stars4 stars18.5%Optional

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.

Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.

2020 Mitsubishi Outlander owner complaints

Owners have filed 58 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander, most recently on Oct 21, 2026. 6 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 8 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.

Most-cited components in 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander complaints
Component named in complaintsMentions
Electrical system17
Unknown or other15
Engine10
Power train7
Air bags5
Forward collision avoidance: Warnings5
Seat belts3
Service brakes3
Forward collision avoidance2
Seats2

Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.

Had a safety problem with your vehicle? You can report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem.

Other Mitsubishi Outlander model years

Mitsubishi Outlander by model year
YearCombinedRecallsComplaintsOverall rating
2027 Outlander25–27 mpg——4/5
2026 Outlander25–28 mpg164/5
2025 Outlander25–27 mpg2185/5
2024 Outlander25–27 mpg1274/5
2023 Outlander25–27 mpg2584/5
2022 Outlander25–27 mpg102295/5
2021 Outlander25–27 mpg3195/5
2019 Outlander22–27 mpg6565/5
2018 Outlander22–27 mpg6935/5
2017 Outlander23–27 mpg6785/5
2016 Outlander22–27 mpg111715/5
2015 Outlander23–28 mpg122335/5

All Mitsubishi Outlander years compared · Decode a VIN

Other 2020 Mitsubishi models

Sources

  • Recalls: NHTSA recall flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010), dated Oct 27, 2026, plus a live check of api.nhtsa.gov in your browser.
  • Complaints: NHTSA consumer complaint flat files (COMPLAINTS_RECEIVED), counts only — we do not republish complaint text.
  • Crash tests: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings API.
  • Fuel economy: FuelEconomy.gov vehicles file (U.S. DOE and EPA), dated Sep 29, 2026.
  • NHTSA, EPA and DOE do not endorse OpenVIN. Vehicle names identify vehicles only; OpenVIN is not affiliated with Mitsubishi.