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Mitsubishi Outlander vs Subaru Forester: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2026, owners filed an average of 57 complaints per model year about the Mitsubishi Outlander and 262 about the Subaru Forester.

Side by side

Mitsubishi OutlanderSubaru Forester
Model years compared2006-20262006-2026
Owner complaints1,1425,510
Complaints per model year57262
Recalls3540
Years to avoid200720162022201520162017201820192020
Best years200620122013200720082013
Most common problemTransmissionVisibility
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy25-28 mpg combined (2026)26-35 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 Mitsubishi Outlander: 212006 Subaru Forester: 8820062007 Mitsubishi Outlander: 1252007 Subaru Forester: 742008 Mitsubishi Outlander: 582008 Subaru Forester: 5020082009 Mitsubishi Outlander: 462009 Subaru Forester: 1782010 Mitsubishi Outlander: 602010 Subaru Forester: 26220102011 Mitsubishi Outlander: 582011 Subaru Forester: 1472012 Mitsubishi Outlander: 222012 Subaru Forester: 10720122013 Mitsubishi Outlander: 262013 Subaru Forester: 782014 Mitsubishi Outlander: 452014 Subaru Forester: 40320142015 Mitsubishi Outlander: 532015 Subaru Forester: 6172016 Mitsubishi Outlander: 1452016 Subaru Forester: 41620162017 Mitsubishi Outlander: 512017 Subaru Forester: 5942018 Mitsubishi Outlander: 572018 Subaru Forester: 49920182019 Mitsubishi Outlander: 292019 Subaru Forester: 8342020 Mitsubishi Outlander: 322020 Subaru Forester: 60420202021 Subaru Forester: 2152022 Mitsubishi Outlander: 2192022 Subaru Forester: 10020222023 Mitsubishi Outlander: 502023 Subaru Forester: 762024 Mitsubishi Outlander: 262024 Subaru Forester: 3120242025 Mitsubishi Outlander: 162025 Subaru Forester: 1022026 Mitsubishi Outlander: 32026 Subaru Forester: 352026
Mitsubishi OutlanderSubaru Forester

Problems compared

OutlanderForester
Transmission172418
Engine157851
Electrical154783
Body142178
Brakes117303
Suspension116264
Visibility901,237
Airbags94739
Acceleration48412

Questions about the Mitsubishi Outlander vs Subaru Forester

Which is more reliable, the Mitsubishi Outlander or the Subaru Forester?

Between 2006 and 2026, the Mitsubishi Outlander has 3 years to avoid and the Subaru Forester 6. The Mitsubishi Outlander has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Mitsubishi Outlander drew fewer complaints per model year (57 vs 262), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Mitsubishi Outlander or the Subaru Forester?

From 2006 to 2026, the Mitsubishi Outlander was covered by 35 recalls and the Subaru Forester by 40.

What years of the Mitsubishi Outlander and Subaru Forester should you avoid?

Mitsubishi Outlander: 2007, 2016 and 2022. Subaru Forester: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

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