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2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 15 of 15 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Service Brakes complaints

4 reports
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8,600 miles · Jun 6, 2019
Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

THE FORWARD COLLISION MITIGATION SYSTEM ACTIVATED BRAKING WHEN A MOTORCYCLIST PASSED BETWEEN LANES ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH IN MEDIUM TRAFFIC. THE MOTORCYCLIST PASSED ON MY LEFT AND BRAKES WERE APPLIED BY THE CAR WHEN THE MOTORCYCLIST WAS APPROXIMATELY 20-25FT IN FRONT OF ME.

NHTSA ODI #11218316

1,600 miles · Apr 24, 2019
Service BrakesVehicle Speed ControlVisibility/wiper

PUT CAR IN DRIVE TOOK OFF ON IT'S OWN WENT UP TO 40 MPH AND STAYED THERE SHOUT IT DOWN AND RESTARTED RAN OK REST OF THE DAY. NEXT MORNING DID SAME THING. I DID THE SOMETHING I DID THE DAY BEFOR. CALLED SERVICE AND MITSUBISHI USA BOTH SAID BRING IT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SO I STARTED UP THE ROAD AND ON THE INTERSTATE I PUT IT …

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PUT CAR IN DRIVE TOOK OFF ON IT'S OWN WENT UP TO 40 MPH AND STAYED THERE SHOUT IT DOWN AND RESTARTED RAN OK REST OF THE DAY. NEXT MORNING DID SAME THING. I DID THE SOMETHING I DID THE DAY BEFOR. CALLED SERVICE AND MITSUBISHI USA BOTH SAID BRING IT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SO I STARTED UP THE ROAD AND ON THE INTERSTATE I PUT IT IN CRUISE CONTROL. THERE WASN'T ANYONE IN FRONT OF ME AND THE BRAKES SLAMMED ON. GOOD THING NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME .SO I TOOK IT OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL DROVE ON UP THE ROAD AND THE WIPERS CAME ON IT WASNT RAINING. JUST GOT IT BACK AND THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO IT. SAID COULDN'T GET IT TO DUPLICATE WHAT I SAID IT DID. SO GUESS I'M THERE TEST DUMMY FOR THIS CAR

NHTSA ODI #11203437

1,600 miles · Oct 26, 2018
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainService Brakes

PARKED ON A 25% GRADED POINTING DOWN HILL, WHEN I TRIED TO START THE OUTLANDER, THE SCREEN PRODUCED A RBS ERROR. THE GAS BASED ENGINE WOULD NOT START. THE EV MOTORS SEEMED TO COME ON WITH VERY LITTLE POWER. WHEN I CALLED MITSUBISI TO TOW THE CAR THEY SAID, OUOTE"THAT DOESN'T NORMALLY START THIS SOON" , THIS TELLS ME THEY KNO…

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PARKED ON A 25% GRADED POINTING DOWN HILL, WHEN I TRIED TO START THE OUTLANDER, THE SCREEN PRODUCED A RBS ERROR. THE GAS BASED ENGINE WOULD NOT START. THE EV MOTORS SEEMED TO COME ON WITH VERY LITTLE POWER. WHEN I CALLED MITSUBISI TO TOW THE CAR THEY SAID, OUOTE"THAT DOESN'T NORMALLY START THIS SOON" , THIS TELLS ME THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM. MY PHEV HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE MONDAY, I'M BEING TOLD THEY RESET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ERROR AND THEY DON'T SEE A PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT A FIX. I TOOK PICTURES AFTER I RESTARTED IT THE THIRD TIME. THE ONE THING THAT REMAINED WAS THE DRIVING RANGE FOR BOTH GAS AND EV ONLY HAD DASHES, THEY SHOULD SHOW HOW MANY MILES ARE AVALIABLE FOR EV AND GAS.

NHTSA ODI #11142788

10,000 miles · Oct 16, 2018
Service Brakes

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS I HAVE RECEIVED A BRAKE ALERT WHEN NOTHING WAS IN MY WAY. TODAY, WHEN DRIVING DOWN A SIDE STREET AT ABOUT 20 MILES PER HOUR, I WAS GIVEN A BRAKE WARNING AND THEN THE AUTOMATIC BRAKES TURNED ON AND MY CAR SKIDDED TO A STOP. I WAS FORTUNATE NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME OR WE WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED.

NHTSA ODI #11140741

Official recalls

5

26V252000 · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support Device/strut

Apr 20, 2026

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Outlander PHEV and 2014-2020 Outlander vehicles. The liftgate gas spring cylinders may corrode and lose pressure, which can result in a gas spring cylinder rupture or the liftgate falling unexpectedly.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A gas spring cylinder rupture or a liftgate falling unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: MMNA will replace the left and right liftgate gas springs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 17, 2026. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-26-001. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov June 3, 2026. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V507.

25V507000 · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support Device/strut

Aug 7, 2025

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Outlander PHEV and 2014-2020 Outlander vehicles sold and/or currently registered in Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The liftgate gas spring cylinders may corrode and lose pressure, which can result in a gas spring cylinder rupture or the liftgate falling unexpectedly.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A gas spring cylinder rupture or a liftgate falling unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: MMNA will replace the left and right liftgate gas springs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 6, 2025. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-25-002

20V403000 · Seat Belts: Rear/other:buckle Assembly

Jul 13, 2020

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Outlander and 2018-2019 Outlander PHEV vehicles. The second-row center seat belt buckle may interfere with the right-side seat belt buckle when the seat backs are folded down. The interference may cause the right-side seat belt buckle cover to come off, making the buckle latch inoperable and unable to restrain an occupant.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An unrestrained occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will modify the second-row center seat belt buckle cover, install a new warning label to the second-row seat support base, and provide a new warning label insert for the owner's manual, free of charge. The recall began September 1, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-20-004.

18V620000 · Electrical System:software; Forward Collision Avoidance:software:pedestrian/cyclist/object/obstacle/ Recognition

Sep 14, 2018

Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Outlander Sport, 2018-2019 Eclipse Cross, and 2017-2018 Outlander vehicles equipped with a Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) system that detects pedestrians. Due to incorrect software, the FCM-ECU (Electronic Control Unit) may apply braking for longer than needed, even after a pedestrian is no longer detected.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the FCM-ECU software activates the brake for longer than necessary, the driver may react by applying additional braking. The resulting rapid deceleration of the vehicle can increase the risk of a rear-end collision.

Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the FCM-ECU software with updated software, free of charge. The recall is began October 16, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-007.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Forward Collision Avoidance:software:pedestrian/cyclist/object/obstacle/ Recognition

Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Outlander Sport, 2018-2019 Eclipse Cross, and 2017-2018 Outlander vehicles equipped with a Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) system that detects pedestrians. Due to incorrect software, the FCM-ECU (Electronic Control Unit) may apply braking for longer than needed, even after a pedestrian is no longer detected.

Consequence: If the FCM-ECU software activates the brake for longer than necessary, the driver may react by applying additional braking. The resulting rapid deceleration of the vehicle can increase the risk of a rear-end collision.

Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the FCM-ECU software with updated software, free of charge. The recall is began October 16, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-007.

Electrical System:software

Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Outlander Sport, 2018-2019 Eclipse Cross, and 2017-2018 Outlander vehicles equipped with a Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) system that detects pedestrians. Due to incorrect software, the FCM-ECU (Electronic Control Unit) may apply braking for longer than needed, even after a pedestrian is no longer detected.

Consequence: If the FCM-ECU software activates the brake for longer than necessary, the driver may react by applying additional braking. The resulting rapid deceleration of the vehicle can increase the risk of a rear-end collision.

Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the FCM-ECU software with updated software, free of charge. The recall is began October 16, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-007.

18V621000 · Electrical System:software; Electronic Stability Control (esc); Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip

Sep 14, 2018

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport vehicles equipped with a Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) system and 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Eclipse Cross vehicles and 2017-2018 Outlander vehicles equipped with an Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system and/or an Electric Parking Brake (EPB) system. The software for the Hydraulic Unit Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may be incorrect, possibly preventing the intervention of a safety system such as automatic emergency braking, Anti-lock Braking (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), or the Brake Auto Hold (BAH) function when any of these systems are in use.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the safety systems do not function as intended, it can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will update the Hydraulic Unit-ECU software, free of charge. The recall began October 16, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-008.

Additional source detail variants (4)

Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport vehicles equipped with a Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) system and 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Eclipse Cross vehicles and 2017-2018 Outlander vehicles equipped with an Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system and/or an Electric Parking Brake (EPB) system. The software for the Hydraulic Unit Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may be incorrect, possibly preventing the intervention of a safety system such as automatic emergency braking, Anti-lock Braking (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), or the Brake Auto Hold (BAH) function when any of these systems are in use.

Consequence: If the safety systems do not function as intended, it can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will update the Hydraulic Unit-ECU software, free of charge. The recall began October 16, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-008.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport vehicles equipped with a Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) system and 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Eclipse Cross vehicles and 2017-2018 Outlander vehicles equipped with an Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system and/or an Electric Parking Brake (EPB) system. The software for the Hydraulic Unit Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may be incorrect, possibly preventing the intervention of a safety system such as automatic emergency braking, Anti-lock Braking (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), or the Brake Auto Hold (BAH) function when any of these systems are in use.

Consequence: If the safety systems do not function as intended, it can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will update the Hydraulic Unit-ECU software, free of charge. The recall began October 16, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-008.

Electrical System:software

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport vehicles equipped with a Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) system and 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Eclipse Cross vehicles and 2017-2018 Outlander vehicles equipped with an Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system and/or an Electric Parking Brake (EPB) system. The software for the Hydraulic Unit Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may be incorrect, possibly preventing the intervention of a safety system such as automatic emergency braking, Anti-lock Braking (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), or the Brake Auto Hold (BAH) function when any of these systems are in use.

Consequence: If the safety systems do not function as intended, it can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will update the Hydraulic Unit-ECU software, free of charge. The recall began October 16, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-008.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport vehicles equipped with a Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) system and 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Eclipse Cross vehicles and 2017-2018 Outlander vehicles equipped with an Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system and/or an Electric Parking Brake (EPB) system. The software for the Hydraulic Unit Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may be incorrect, possibly preventing the intervention of a safety system such as automatic emergency braking, Anti-lock Braking (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), or the Brake Auto Hold (BAH) function when any of these systems are in use.

Consequence: If the safety systems do not function as intended, it can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will update the Hydraulic Unit-ECU software, free of charge. The recall began October 16, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-008.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.