Window & Wiper complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 6 | 3% | 0 miles |
| 2019 | 1 | 3% | 12,000 miles |
| 2018 | 1 | 2% | 13,000 miles |
| 2017 | 6 | 12% | 46,000 miles |
| 2016 | 4 | 3% | 64,000 miles |
| 2015 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2014 | 5 | 11% | 37,000 miles |
| 2013 | 6 | 23% | 69,000 miles |
| 2012 | 5 | 23% | 7,000 miles |
| 2011 | 8 | 14% | 69,000 miles |
| 2010 | 6 | 10% | 115,000 miles |
| 2009 | 6 | 13% | 47,000 miles |
| 2008 | 9 | 16% | 1,000 miles |
| 2007 | 20 | 16% | 89,000 miles |
| 2006 | 1 | 5% | — |
| 2004 | 2 | 4% | 69,000 miles |
| 2003 | 8 | 7% | 100,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I CAN NOT EXPRESS HOW DISAPPOINTED I AM WITH THIS CAR. You cannot use the review camera as the screen goes black or freezes. You cannot put the visor down as you will not be able to see out the windshield. If you go to push the gas the car stutters and sometimes shuts off completely. I bought my car brand new with 200 miles on it and after 6 months of driving it they told me my tires needed to be replaced because they were dangerous. After taking it into the dealership several times I was told that's just how the car is. The first chance I get I am trading this car and getting something else, and I will never purchase from them again. They have NO PRIDE in their cars at all and it will end up getting someone killed.
While backing out of my driveway, the rearview camera did not function properly and there was a collision with a dumpster in the neighbor's driveway. This resulted in the shattering of the back glass and the reordering of the entire back lift gate of the vehicle.
Failure of driver side exterior mirror. 3 years after purchase of vehicle the mirror would no longer move in and out. Dealer replaced with OEM quality mirror July 2021. 2 years later (August 2023)mirror now has the exact same malfunction/defect. Mitsubishi is unable to tell me why the failure happened in the first place or why it has again happened. Mitsubishi refuses to take any action to fully rectify this issue. They only suggest again replacing the mirror. As the mirror is part of a side vehicle warning system the malfunction creates the possibility of a side collision with another vehicle. Thank you , [redacted]
I am the owner of a 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander. On February 14, 2022 at 1:00 PM, my wife and I were driving home along the 405 freeway northbound from our son's house. All of a sudden, we heard a loud bang and shattered glass entered the vehicle from overhead. The majority of the sunroof glass spontaneously flew off with only remnants of shattered glass entering the vehicle. Upon later inspection, I noticed that the glass was very fragile (easily breaks). There were no warning messages and no prior indication of problems with the glass sunroof. The glass sunroof randomly broke without incident (i.e., no contact with any other vehicles). The experience was tremendously jarring and unsettling because it was completely unexpected and could have caused me to lose control of the vehicle. Fortunately, I was able to maintain control of the vehicle and avoided any accident. …
Wife was driving her 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander from bisbee to sierra vista, az on sr 92 when all of a sudden she heard an explosion. She immediately ducked thinking that someone had shot at her. A nearby motorist was pointing to her and her car. She didn't know what to make of it, so she pulled over and examined her car and noticed a huge hole in her car sunroof. She had called me (husband) and told me what happened and advised her to continue to drive home slowly, so she activated her emergency lights and drove slow. Then shortly, she was pulled over by a cochise county deputy and asked her if she was in a car accident and told the deputy she was not involved in a car accident and told him what happened and was taken back by the sunroof damage. The deputy advised her she couldn't drive the vehicle because all the glass was falling onto the roadway. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander. While driving various speeds, the parking brake handle was levered, but failed to stick. The contact mentioned that there was a clicking noise coming from the parking brake handle. In addition, the windshield wipers were hesitant and failed to operate in a timely manner. The contact also noticed water leaking from the windshield wipers. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 18V103000 (visibility) and 18V070000 (parking brake). The approximate failure mileage was 41,892.
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that the windshield wipers, when activated, failed to return to the downward position. The contact took the vehicle to hayward Mitsubishi (25601 mission blvd, hayward, ca 94544; [phone]) where it was diagnosed that the windshield motor was corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there was a recall on the vehicle; however, the VIN was not included. The approximate failure mileage was 79,000.
We had a spontaneous sunroof glass explosion. We were driving down the highway approximately going 65mph at night, and there was no other vehicles around. All of a sudden there was a large explosion sound. I thought at first that a tire May have blown. I then heard a large amount of wind coming from the top of car. I pulled over to inspect and saw the sunroof was shattered, with many of the pieces on top of the inside shield.
Related recalls (4)
Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2007-2010 Outlander, 2008-2010 Lancer, 2009-2010 Lancer Evolution, and 2010 Lancer Sportback vehicles equipped with sunroofs. The sunroof glass may detach from the sunroof assembly, becoming a road hazard to other vehicles.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sunroof glass assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 27, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820.
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Motor
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2007-2013 Outlander vehicles. In the affected vehicles, water may drop between the hood and the windshield and leak into the wiper motor breathing hole. The water may cause internal corrosion of the windshield wiper motor and the possible failure of the motor.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiper motor, free of charge. The recall began July 28, 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-17-003.
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Linkages
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2007-2013 Outlander vehicles manufactured September 8, 2006, to March 29, 2013. In the affected vehicles, water may enter between the hood and windshield and cause the front wiper link ball joint to corrode, possibly resulting in the wiper link…
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rubber boot on the ball joint to prevent water intrusion. Additionally, they will inspect the wiper motor crank arm for excessive play, replacing it as necessary.
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
On certain sport utility vehicles located in the caribbean, due to a software programming error in the electronic timing and control system (etacs), while using the intermittent wiper mode, the intermittent wiper sweep time interval May increase as much as 6.8 second between wiper sweeps.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the etacs module. Owner notification began November 14, 2003. Owners should contact Mitsubishi caribbean at 1-800-981-0452.
Frequently asked questions
Which Mitsubishi Outlander years have window & wiper problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2007 (20), 2008 (9), 2003 (8), 2011 (8) and 2009 (6) model years. Window & Wiper complaints make up 16% of all complaints for the 2007.
Is there a recall for Mitsubishi Outlander window & wiper problems?
Yes — 4 recalls, including 18V-071 (sun/moon roof assembly, Jan 26, 2018); 17V-461 (motor, Jul 20, 2017); 16V-791 (linkages, Oct 31, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Mitsubishi Outlander window & wiper problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 65,000 miles; 46% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the sun/moon roof assembly (5 mentions), followed by the glass, side/rear (4).
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.