2003 Mitsubishi Outlander: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander: 6 recalls, 116 owner complaints and up to 21 mpg combined.
Recalls
6 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Speed control / throttle Vehicle recall #03V028000 · 2003 · 31,000 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain sport utility vehicles, during extremely low temperature conditions, ice can build up inside the engine throttle valve. This ice build-up could cause the accelerator pedal to stick or not to return to idle after accelerating.
Why it matters: Failure to return to idle could result in a vehicle crash without warning.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the engine control computer to eliminate this condition. Owner notification began on January 29, 2003.
Electrical Vehicle recall #03V194000 · 2003 · 43,649 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain sport utility vehicles, water could enter the front floorboard area from openings in the side sill or upper dash area. This water could collect under the seat and cause electrical corrosion to occur in the harness connectors that contain the wiring for the seat belt pre-tensioner, side air bag impact sensor, and stop lamps.
Why it matters: Electrical corrosion of the harness could cause the seat belt pre-tensioner to malfunction, the side air bag not to deploy and/or the brake lamps not to illuminate or to falsely illuminate.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the side sills and dash panel for openings that May allow water leakage into the vehicle cabin. In addition to sealing any openings that May be found, the wiring connectors will be inspected for signs of electrical corrosion. The floor harness will be replaced if it has any…
Equipment Vehicle recall #04V067000 · 2004 · 134,000 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain sport utility and passenger vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 225, "child restraint anchorage systems." the owner's manual does not contain a step-by-step description for headrest adjustment when installing a child restraint system (crs) tether strap.
Why it matters: If the tether strap is improperly installed to the tether anchor, the child safety seat May not be sufficient restrained. In the event of a crash, the child could be injured.
The fix: A letter outlining the problem will be sent to owners along with a sticker containing the correct instructions as well as instructions on where to affix the sticker in the owner's manual. The recall began on March 29, 2004. Owners should contact Mitsubishi at 1-888-648-7820.
Trailer hitch Vehicle recall #04V197000 · 2004 · 2,175 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain sport utility vehicles May have been equipped with dealer-installed trailer hitch wiring harness and control module. The electronic control module can overheat.
Why it matters: Overheating of the trailer hitch wiring harness module could result in a fire.
The fix: Owners are being requested to stop using the harness until a newly designed replacement is provided and can be installed by the dealer. The recall began on May 28, 2004. Owners should contact Mitsubishi at 1-888-648-7820.
Equipment Vehicle recall #04V428000 · 2004 · 100,432 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain passenger vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 208, 'occupant crash protection.' the bilingual english/spanish removable air bag warning labels affixed to the dash and to the sunvisor do not meet the size requirements of the standard.
Why it matters: This does not meet the requirements of the standard.
The fix: Mitsubishi caribbean will mail a customer notification letter containing a written description and a graphic of the bi-lingual dashboard air bag warning label. In addition, all current 2000-2004 nativa owners will also receive replacement air bag alert labels for the sun visors. This recall is…
Suspension Vehicle recall #16V458000 · 2016 · 194,674 vehicles
What's wrong: Mitsubishi motors north america, Inc. (mmna) is recalling certain model year 2002-2007 lancer, 2004 lancer wagon, 2003-2006 lancer evolution, 2003-2006 outlander and 2007-2013 outlander v-6 vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania,…
Why it matters: A detached front control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Mmna will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front cross members. Depending on the level of existing corrosion, either a sealing/anti-corrosion agent will be applied or the front cross member will be replaced with a new one that has a sealing/anti-corrosion agent applied to it. These…
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 2 mention a fire, 8 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Suspension (28): the most common themes are rust / corrosion (8), steering problems (3).
- Exterior lights (19): the most common themes are warning light on (3), electrical failure (2).
- Steering (14): the most common themes are steering problems (6).
- Engine & cooling (13): the most common themes are overheating (4), fire / smoke (3), warning light on (3).
The 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander has 116 owner complaints, ranking #4 of 23 Outlander model years for complaints (2.0× the average Outlander year). Complaints peaked in 2003 (14 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 68,250 miles. Neighboring years: 2004 (52 complaints, 4 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic (S4) | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 24 | 21 | Regular |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic (S4) | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 18 | 23 | 20 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander.
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FAQ
Does the 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 vehicle recalls for the 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander problems?
Owners have filed 116 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are suspension (28), exterior lights (19), steering (14).
What gas mileage does the 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander get?
EPA ratings run up to 21 mpg combined (2.4 L, Automatic (S4)), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.