2012 Ford Explorer vs 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2012 Ford Explorer | 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 822 | 22 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 6 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 88 | 104 |
| Investigations | 4 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 10 | 1 |
| Fire reports | 6 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | 4/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–23 | 21–27 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 70,050 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Mitsubishi Outlander |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 357 | 1 |
| Structure | 142 | 0 |
| Engine | 79 | 3 |
| Electrical System | 63 | 2 |
| Power Train | 55 | 6 |
| Air Bags | 27 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 27 | 0 |
| Suspension | 22 | 3 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Steering problems | 74 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 53 | 0 |
| Stalling | 41 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 22 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 16 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 15 | 0 |
| Water leaks | 13 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 11 | 0 |
2012 Ford Explorer
2012 Mitsubishi Outlander
Compare all Ford Explorer vs Mitsubishi Outlander years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.