Airbag complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 7% | — |
| 2023 | 6 | 12% | 87,000 miles |
| 2022 | 8 | 4% | — |
| 2020 | 4 | 13% | 35,000 miles |
| 2019 | 7 | 24% | 30,000 miles |
| 2018 | 10 | 18% | 53,000 miles |
| 2017 | 8 | 16% | 42,000 miles |
| 2016 | 8 | 6% | 55,000 miles |
| 2015 | 3 | 6% | 20,000 miles |
| 2014 | 12 | 27% | 23,000 miles |
| 2013 | 3 | 12% | 47,000 miles |
| 2012 | 2 | 9% | 70,000 miles |
| 2011 | 4 | 7% | 54,000 miles |
| 2010 | 5 | 8% | 14,000 miles |
| 2009 | 3 | 7% | 101,000 miles |
| 2008 | 2 | 3% | 179,000 miles |
| 2007 | 8 | 6% | 5,000 miles |
| 2005 | 1 | 5% | 5,000 miles |
| 2004 | 7 | 13% | 58,000 miles |
| 2003 | 8 | 7% | 82,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owned a 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle crashed and T-bone another vehicle that ran a red light. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact struck her head on the front driver's side window and steering wheel, sustaining injuries to the head, back, shoulder, neck, and knee. The contact's daughter, seated in the rear passenger's seat struck her head against the rear passenger side window and sustained a head injury. The other child seated in the rear middle seat had not sustained any injuries. The contact and her daughter received medical attention. A Police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and then to a body shop by the Insurance Company. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. …
The contact owned a 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle sustained a rear-end collision from another vehicle at a high rate of speed. No air bags deployed. The contact stated that the vehicle's left side had violently crashed into a wall, then the vehicle ricocheted onto the front driver's side, causing the tire to collapse where it came to a stop. The contact stated that a passenger was sitting in the front passenger seat, a passenger in the rear driver side seat, and a passenger in the rear passenger seat. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a local tow lot where it was deemed a total loss. The contact stated that he spent 6 days in the hospital for injuries to both knees and the spine. The passenger did not seek medical attention. The local deal was not contacted. …
Front Collision Mitigation System, FCM, failed on frontal impact and airbags did not deploy. Vehicle did not activate audible or display emergency warning signals prior to frontal impact. We filed a complaint with Mitsubishi Motors national CR, and Director of Service with many calls, voicemails and emails just fell on deaf ears. Their response documented in the case report on the last call we made to Mitsubishi Motors on 6/17/22 the CR rep said the decision is final and that they would not do anything, and we should contact our insurance. Mitsubishi's not only "Did not inspect the vehicle" but also never inquired with any intelligent questions as to why the airbags and FCM system failed to operate. Vehicle has not been inspected by anyone and is currently in my garage with less then 400 miles on it and is available for inspection. No prior warning lights were displayed. …
Driver side airbag deployed with over power at the time of low speed front collision with flying from opposite direction of the parkway car wheel. Caused neck and back spinal cord disc herniation, damaged shoulder, torn muscle, concussion. Still going for PT every day for over a year. Car taken by insurance - total loss.
The contact owns a 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that while crossing an intersection at 35 MPH; another vehicle ran a red light and crashed into the contact's front driver-side door. The contact was knocked across the two-lane road and hit a telephone pole on the passenger side of the vehicle. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The authorities arrived on the scene and assisted the contact out of the vehicle through the passenger side of the vehicle. The contact was treated at the scene and was later taken to the emergency room for treatment. The contact was given an X-ray ,CT scan and an MRI. The contact was treated for pain and stiffness to the left side of the back, neck, elbow, and shoulder. The whereabouts of the other driver were unknown. A police report was filed. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated while another driver was driving at approximately 25-30 MPH, the driver experienced a medical emergency and crashed into a tree. The air bags failed to deploy. The occupant in the passenger's seat sustained a head injuries and medical attention was provided. The fire and police department were at the scene. There was no report of a fire. The vehicle was towed to an independent lot. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 6. The VIN was not available.
I am reporting a safety concern involving complete airbag non-deployment in a frontal collision. On January 9, 2026 I was involved in a frontal collision while driving my Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. The impact caused significant front-end damage, and the vehicle was subsequently deemed a total loss by the other driver's insurance company. None of the airbags deployed, including the driver and passenger frontal airbags. There were no airbag warning lights or system alerts illuminated prior to the collision. A police report was filed for this incident. I was not injured; however, the other driver sustained injuries. Given the severity of the frontal impact and the resulting damage, I believe the airbags should have deployed. This raises concerns regarding a potential defect or failure in the airbag system, crash sensors, or airbag control module. …
The contact owns a 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that the message "Service Air Bags" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was advised to pay a fee for a diagnostic test. The contact declined, and the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
NHTSA investigations
Electrical overstress
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events.
Frequently asked questions
Which Mitsubishi Outlander years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2014 (12), 2018 (10), 2003 (8), 2007 (8) and 2016 (8) model years. Airbag complaints make up 27% of all complaints for the 2014.
Is there a recall for Mitsubishi Outlander airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for any Mitsubishi Outlander model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Mitsubishi Outlander airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 48,000 miles; 58% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (7 mentions), followed by the side/window (2).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.