The 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander has 7 recalls, the most serious including a throttle that can stick at speed in extreme cold and a front control arm that can detach, either of which can cause sudden loss of vehicle control.
Recalls 1 and 4 describe the same throttle issue: ice builds up inside the throttle valve in very cold weather, causing the accelerator pedal to stick or refuse to return to idle. On vehicles fitted with a dealer-installed trailer hitch wiring harness, the control module can overheat and start a fire.
Water intrusion drives another cluster of concerns. Water can seep into the front floorboard through gaps in the side sill or upper dash area, pool under the seat, and corrode the wiring connectors there. That corrosion can disable the seatbelt pretensioners, prevent the side airbags from deploying in a crash, or cause the brake lights to stop working or flash on without reason.
There is also a documentation recall affecting Canadian-market vehicles: the owner's manual is missing instructions on how to properly route the child seat tether strap, which can leave a child restraint inadequately secured.
At a glance
What can fail
The front cross member can corrode from salt water exposure in certain regions, potentially causing the front lower control arms to detach.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the front cross member and either apply a sealing/anti-corrosion agent or replace it with a new sealed one at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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At a glance
What can fail
The dealer-installed trailer hitch wiring harness and control module can overheat.
What the fix does
Stop using the harness. A dealer will install a newly designed replacement at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The owner's manual lacks instructions for adjusting head restraints when using tether anchorages for child car seats. Improper tether strap placement could fail to properly restrain a child restraint system.
What the fix does
A sticker with step-by-step head restraint adjustment instructions will be mailed to owners for placement in the manual.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Water enters the front floorboard through openings in the side sill or upper dash, collects under the seat, and corrodes electrical connectors in the harness that powers the seatbelt pre-tensioner, lateral airbag sensor, and stop lamps, causing these systems to malfunction.
What the fix does
Dealer will seal openings in the side sills and dash panel, and replace the corroded floor harness.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Water can enter the front floor area through openings in the side sill or upper dash. The water collects under the seat and corrodes the electrical connectors for the seat belt pre-tensioner, side air bag sensor, and stop lamps.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and seal any openings allowing water leakage, check connectors for corrosion, and replace the floor wiring harness if water damage or corrosion is found.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
In extremely cold weather, ice can accumulate inside the engine throttle valve, causing the accelerator pedal to stick or fail to return to idle after accelerating.
What the fix does
The dealer will update the engine control computer software to address this issue.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
In extremely cold temperatures, ice can accumulate inside the engine throttle valve, causing the accelerator pedal to stick or fail to return to idle after acceleration.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the engine control computer to prevent ice buildup in the throttle valve.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
