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Kia Sportage vs Mitsubishi Outlander: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2026, owners filed an average of 143 complaints per model year about the Kia Sportage and 57 about the Mitsubishi Outlander.

Side by side

Kia SportageMitsubishi Outlander
Model years compared2006-20262006-2026
Owner complaints3,0121,142
Complaints per model year14357
Recalls2435
Years to avoid201220132017200720162022
Best years201920212022200620122013
Most common problemEngineTransmission
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy24-42 mpg combined (2026)25-28 mpg combined (2026)

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2006 Kia Sportage: 1112006 Mitsubishi Outlander: 2120062007 Kia Sportage: 772007 Mitsubishi Outlander: 1252008 Kia Sportage: 982008 Mitsubishi Outlander: 5820082009 Kia Sportage: 802009 Mitsubishi Outlander: 462010 Kia Sportage: 202010 Mitsubishi Outlander: 6020102011 Kia Sportage: 1812011 Mitsubishi Outlander: 582012 Kia Sportage: 3922012 Mitsubishi Outlander: 2220122013 Kia Sportage: 3812013 Mitsubishi Outlander: 262014 Kia Sportage: 1252014 Mitsubishi Outlander: 4520142015 Kia Sportage: 1462015 Mitsubishi Outlander: 532016 Kia Sportage: 1342016 Mitsubishi Outlander: 14520162017 Kia Sportage: 4042017 Mitsubishi Outlander: 512018 Kia Sportage: 1662018 Mitsubishi Outlander: 5720182019 Kia Sportage: 712019 Mitsubishi Outlander: 292020 Kia Sportage: 1692020 Mitsubishi Outlander: 3220202021 Kia Sportage: 542022 Kia Sportage: 472022 Mitsubishi Outlander: 21920222023 Kia Sportage: 1952023 Mitsubishi Outlander: 502024 Kia Sportage: 752024 Mitsubishi Outlander: 2620242025 Kia Sportage: 552025 Mitsubishi Outlander: 162026 Kia Sportage: 312026 Mitsubishi Outlander: 32026
Kia SportageMitsubishi Outlander

Problems compared

SportageOutlander
Engine1,583157
Electrical435154
Brakes332117
Transmission211172
Fuel system14465
Driver assistance14492
Body118142
Suspension31116

Questions about the Kia Sportage vs Mitsubishi Outlander

Which is more reliable, the Kia Sportage or the Mitsubishi Outlander?

Between 2006 and 2026, the Kia Sportage has 3 years to avoid and the Mitsubishi Outlander 3. Both are about equally consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Mitsubishi Outlander drew fewer complaints per model year (57 vs 143), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Kia Sportage or the Mitsubishi Outlander?

From 2006 to 2026, the Kia Sportage was covered by 24 recalls and the Mitsubishi Outlander by 35.

What years of the Kia Sportage and Mitsubishi Outlander should you avoid?

Kia Sportage: 2012, 2013 and 2017. Mitsubishi Outlander: 2007, 2016 and 2022.

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