2003 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER Exterior Lighting Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WAITED A WHILE, AND WAS ABLE TO RESUME DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

Mileage: 160,000

RECENTLY BOUGHT A USED 2003 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER AND THE HEADLIGHT LENS ON BOTH SIDES ARE CRACKED, EXTREMELY CRAZED AND THE WHOLE THING IS MILKY, WHICH DULLS THE HEADLIGHT AT NIGHT, I HAVE RESEARCHED AND MITSUBISHI WILL NOT REPLACE AFTER WARRANTY, IT WOULD COST ABOUT $1000 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE, MITSUBISHI SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

THE HEADLIGHTS OF THIS MODEL GET SEVERELY CRACKED TO THE POINT OF RAINWATER ACCUMULATING INSIDE THEM AND BURNING THE LIGHTS. DRIVERS ARE RISKING LOOSING THEIR HEADLIGHTS WHEN THEY NEED THEM MOST - IN A BAD RAINSTORM. MITSUBISHI DOESN'T OFFER HEADLIGHT COVERS AS A SEPARATE PART, SO THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE CHANGED EVERY FEW YEARS. NO RECALL HAS BEEN DONE EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM IS RAMPANT. I HAVEN'T BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BUT MITSUBISHI HAS LET ALL OF THEIR OUTLANDER'03 CUSTOMERS TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES EVEN THOUGH IT'S SOMETHING THEY ARE BEST EQUIPPED TO FIX. *TR

ALL HEADLIGHTS ON 2003 -2006 OUTLANDERS CRACK SEVERELY BESIDES BESIDES BRING EXPENSIVE THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT BECAUSE OF RAIN THERFORE BECOME A SAFETY HAZARD [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

2003 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLIES HAVE FAILED. THEY FIRST BECAME CLOUDY WITH SMALL CRACKS. EVENTUALLY THOSE CRACKS BECAME LARGER AND THE HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLIES HAVE FILLED WITH WATER MAKING THEM INOPERABLE. THIS BEGAN IN YEAR FIVE OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND IS PARKED IN A GARAGE OVERNIGHT. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

DEFECTIVE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ON 2003 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER.. THE HEADLAMP LENSES ON THIS VEHICLE HAVE TOTALLY FAILED. THEY ARE MILKY IN COLOR, NOT THE CLEAR THEY SHOULD BE, AND THE LENSES THEMSELVES ARE CRACKED AND CRAZED, BUT SHOW NO IMPACT DAMAGE, OR DAMAGE OF ANY OTHER KIND OTHER THAN DETERIORATION OF THE PLASTIC ITSELF. THE VEHICLE IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT AND I WOULD ESTIMATE THE LIGHT OUTPUT AT MUCH LESS THAN 50% OF WHAT IT SHOULD BE. MY LOCAL DEALER WILL REPLACE THEM FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF $1,251.10 INCLUDING TAX AND LABOR BUT IT IS MY CONTENTION THAT THESE ITEMS ARE DEFINITELY SAFETY RELATED, AND ARE DEFINITELY SAFETY HAZARD. THEY SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE, OR AT LEAST MUCH LONGER THAN THEY HAVE. I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THESE AVAILABLE TO EMAIL AND THERE IS AN INTERNET SITE IN THE MITSUBISHI FORUMS THAT REPORTS NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS DESCRIBED ALMOST IDENTICALLY. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

I HAVE A 2003 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER WHICH I PURCHASED NEW. IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND HAS BEEN KEPT IN A GARAGE WHEN PARKED. BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE SEVERE CRACKS AND NOW I HAVE MOISTURE INSIDE THE LIGHTS. *TR

Mileage: 69,000

I ALSO HAVE THE CRACKING LIGHT PROBLEM WHICH REDUCES VISION AT NIGHT. WHENEVER THE CAR WAS MUCH NEWER I HAD TAKEN IT IN TO THE DEALER FOR A SERVICE COMPLIANCE AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE LIGHTS AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO EXCEPT REPLACE THE ASSEMBLIES AT ABOUT 150-200 DOLLARS PER SIDE. *TR

Mileage: 30,000

FROM THE TIME OF PURCHASE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES ARE CRACKING FROM THE INSIDE OUT REDUCING THE LIGHT, MAKING IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. *TR

Mileage: 36,000

MY MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER HEADLIGHTS ARE CRACKED AND HAZED, THIS IS NOT FROM NORMAL USE, THIS IS DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE HEADLIGHT ASSY. THEY HAVE CAUSED ME TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES 3 TIMES DUE TO POOR ILLUMINATION OF THE ROAD. I BELIEVE THAT MITSUBISHI SHOULD OFFER TO FIX THE HEADLIGHTS, OR OFFER A DISCOUNT, NOT $300 HUNDRED DOLLARS A PIECE TO REPLACE!!!!! *TR

Mileage: 15,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHT IN THE VEHICLE ARE CRACKED WHICH ALLOWS WATER TO GO INSIDE. DUE TO THIS, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. SHE DID RESEARCH ON THIS DEFECT AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM. SHE ALSO FOUND A TSB ON THIS PROBLEM AND SHE SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURE, THEY STATED IT WAS NOT A RECALL BECAUSE IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN. SHE BELIEVES THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND THAT THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 68,000.

Mileage: 35,000

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2003 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER HAVE STRESS CRACKS EVENTUALLY RESULTING IN THEM FOGGING OVER AND EVEN TAKING IN WATER AND BLOWING BULBS. WHEN I RESEARCHED IT ONLINE, IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG THIS MAKE/MODEL OF VEHICLE. REPLACEMENT ASSEMBLY KITS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH THE DEALER AND THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY KIND OF WARRANTY. *TR

Mileage: 25,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS ACTIVATED WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPONTANEOUSLY WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. IN ADDITION, THE SRS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V194000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM;WIRING,INTERIOR/UNDER DASH); HOWEVER, THE RECALL REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED AND THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING SMELL INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. ALSO, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD BECOME STUCK WITHOUT WARNING WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WAS INOPERATIVE. THE WEBBING FAILED TO EXTRACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

Mileage: 82,000

HEADLIGHT LENS (COVERS) HAS BECOME CLOUDY AND CRACKED, MAKING HEADLIGHTS VERY DIM TO ONCOMING CARS. DEALER SAYS IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. IT SEEMS STRANGE THAT AN ITEM THAT IS KNOWN BY DEALERS TO BE A HAZARDOUS, ILLEGAL ,PROBLEM IN MOST STATES, AND THAT COSTS OWNERS 700+ DOLLARS WOULD NOT BE RECALLED. *TR

HEADLIGHTS HAVE NUMEROUS STRESS CRACKS, UNABLE TO GET 2007 INSPECTION DUE TO HEADLIGHTS. HAVE CONTACTED DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES, WAS GIVEN MITSUBISHI DISTRICT MANAGER NAME AND NUMBER, WILL NOT RETURN CALL. HEADLIGHTS NOW HAVE WATER INSIDE . HAVE TAKEN NUMEROUS PICTURES OF OTHER MITSUBISHI OUTLANDERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. WAS FIRST QUOTED $750.00 FOR REPLACEMENT, NOW QUOTED $850.00. CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE SOMETHING THAT NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE. *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2003 MITSIBUSHI OUTLANDER IN JANUARY 2005 WITH 32,000 MILES ON IT. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE SHOWING SOME STRESS CRACKS FROM THE HEADLAMP HEAT. I NOW HAVE 69,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE SEVER STRESS CRACKS IN THE LENSES THAT ARE EXTREMELY NOTICEABLE. I HAVE HEARD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THESE CARS. *JB

NO EVENTS. HEADLIGHT GLOBES ARE INADEQUATE. THEY CRACKED FOR NO REASON OTHER THAN POOR QUALITY. THIS ALLOWED MOISTURE TO INTER THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BULBS TO FAIL. PAID $850.00 TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT FOR FEAR OF TRAFFIC CITATIONS AND OBVIOUS SAFETY REASONS. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

I HAVE CRACKS IN THE HEADLIGHT LENS IN BOTH HEADLIGHTS. THERE HAS BEEN NO WRECKS, BANGS, OR BAD TREATMENT OF THIS VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD BY A SOURCE CLOSE TO THE COMPANY THAT THEY ARE STRESS FRACTURES, I AM CONCERNED THEY MAY BEGIN TO LEAK AND TAKE ON WATER. PLUS THEY ARE $400 EACH TO REPLACE. I CALLED MITSUBISHI AND ALL THEY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT WAS WARRANTY. THEN I WAS TOLD THEY DO NOT DO RECALLS UNLESS YOU FOLKS BRING IT TO THEIR ATTENTION. ANY HELP WILL BE APPRECIATED. I TALKED WITH LOCAL MITSUBISHI DEALER ABOUT IT IN MID DECEMBER 2006. *NM

CONSUMER CANNOT UNLOCK THE FRONT AND REAR DOORS FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. WATER WENT UNDER FLOOR AND CORRODED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS PROBLEM WAS SIMILAR TO NHTSA RECALL 03V194000: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, WATER COULD ENTER THE FRONT FLOORBOARD AREA FROM OPENINGS IN THE SIDE SILL OR UPPER DASH AREA. THIS WATER COULD COLLECT UNDER THE SEAT AND CAUSE ELECTRICAL CORROSION TO OCCUR IN THE HARNESS CONNECTORS THAT CONTAIN THE WIRING FOR THE SEAT BELT RETACTOR, SIDE AIR BAG IMPACT SENSOR, AND STOP LAMPS. *AK

Mileage: 21,000