2003 Mitsubishi Outlander: check engine light

Filed Sep 21, 2017 · Fuel system · 160,000 miles · MI

Heavy smell of gasoline when fuel tank is filled. Fill garage with fumes. Check engine light is on. If filled to a half tank or so, no indication of fuel smell. Does not appear to be leaking. I had an ase certified mechanic look at it and the fuel tank as well as filler nozzle are deteriorated. I called mitsubishi motors north america and they acted as if this was the first time they ever heard of this problem. I called multiple dealers, and all have experienced the same problem with their customers. The inter-net is full of similar complaints on 2003 to 2006 outlanders. I have had a recall for the front end because of excessive rust making it unsafe to drive. I do not think this is a normal wear and tear with the fuel tank. Mitsubishi should acknowledge this problem and correct it for their customers. I am the original owner. The car is always garaged when not being driven.

Filed Nov 24, 2015 · Fuel system · 152,000 miles · IN

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 mitsubishi outlander. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the check engine warning indicator illuminated continuously. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the muffler and the fuel tank needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 152,000.

Filed Jun 8, 2015 · Fuel system · 98,000 miles · WI

The vehicle is was purchased used with no check engine light on at the time of purchase. After driving for a week the light came on and there was a strong fuel smell after filling the gas tank. A diagnosis check was done and it was found there is an issue with the fuel tank. It was brought to the dealership and found that there is a hole in the top of the gas tank causing fumes to leak. The tank cannot go below a quarter tank or the engine will shut off as well. After researching through the internet it was found that this is a very common problem with the vehicle. Mitsubishi was contacted to find out if there was a recall to find out there was not, they also did not assist in any way to make this issue any better. Dealership would charge $1700.00 to replace tank.

Filed Jun 25, 2009 · Engine · 57,000 miles · NY

There have been no repair issues with this 2003 outlander. There have been no coolant or any fluid leaks with this car. The car suddenly filled with smoke on the passenger's side; smoke poured from the engine; prior to that - five minutes earlier the check engine light went on and acceleration was difficult; there was an odd odor as well as a metal on metal type sound. 911 was called as the smoke was heavy. The dealership was asked by mitsubishi corp. To pull the engine to determine if it was the engine - warrantied or our fault- a radiator issue. This was a 400$ cost to us unless they found in our favor..this was in addition to the 80$ diagnostic fee to begin the process. They are saying that there is a crack in the radiator where the engine connects by a hose to the radiator and that it is "normal" wear. There is nothing normal about this. It was immediate and catastrophic. They want to charge us $3600 to replace the engine. I am arguing that this is obviously a defect - we have 100,000/7 year warranty on the drivetrain. My car only has 57,000 miles and has run perfectly fine up to last week. I have asked mitsubishi to reconsider and have been promised an answer by a case manager by close of business tomorrow -6/25. I hold little hope that they will cover the cost of an engine yet I feel that the way in which the engine overheated and then died is not all normal for a car with such low mileage and one which has no history of repairs. We never received a recall notice on a radiator fan control part and wonder if that is what caused this series of events to occur. If so, are they not responsible for the repair? I currently have only four payments left on the car for a total of a bit under 2000$. The dealership told me that without replacing the engine, they could only give me 500$ toward a trade! I would appreciate your intervention and help.

Filed Feb 21, 2008 · Engine · 80,000 miles · CT

On 12/21/07 I had my car serviced for the 75,000 mile service at the dealer. Then on 2/14/08 I was driving home from work when all of a sudden my mitsubishi outlander starting shaking and the service engine light came on. I immediately telephoned the dealer to see what they recommend I was asked to bring the car first thing in the morning. The very next day I barely made it to dealer which is only 7minutes away from my home (in the same town). As soon as I pulled into the dealership the car turned off. I was told that the heating coil burned out which caused my spark plugs to burn out and the car to misfire. I am being told that I may need to replace the engine if any of the pistons were damaged if not then I only have to replace the parts which were damaged. What I don't understand is how can this happen to a vehicle which has had every recommended service performed to it on or before the recommended mileage?!

Filed Jan 9, 2008 · Electrical, Engine · 70,200 miles · VA

This is for a mitsubishi outlander 2003. There was a lot of water under the seats, don't know how, and the service engine light is on due to bad oxygen sensor and there might be corrosion in the electrical system, this can cause a fire, rear stop light stop working, the seat belt tensioner can go bad. Took the car to the dealership, and the manufacturer said that I only have 1 recall when the federal safety agency says that there's a recall for this,=the federal safety agency campaign number 03v194000.