2015 Mitsubishi OUTLANDER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
52 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
35,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2015 model year. Data snapshot: . 33 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 24 of 52 complaints (46.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 18 | 34.6% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 13.5% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 3.8% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 3.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 24 |
| Engine | 12 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
Power Train: 24; Engine: 12; Unknown Or Other: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Electrical System: 5; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Service Brakes: 4; Air Bags: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 19 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 3 |
2015: 6; 2016: 13; 2017: 4; 2018: 8; 2019: 6; 2020: 3; 2021: 1; 2022: 2; 2023: 4; 2024: 2; 2025: 3
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 18 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10680382 · 2015-02-01 (February 1, 2015)
DRIVER PROCEEDED TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC AND THE BRAKES FAILED AND DID NOT ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE DID NOT COME TO A STOP AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT. ACCORDING TO AN OF-DUTY POLICE OFFICER DIRECTLY BEHIND MY VEHICLE, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE LIT UP AS IF THE BRAKES WERE FUNCTIONING BUT NO SLOWING OF THE VEHICLE OCCURRED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10680382 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10748613 · 2015-08-13 (August 13, 2015)
VEHICLE JUST STALLED/STOP WHILE DRIVING.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10748613 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10764192 · 2015-09-16 (September 16, 2015)
AT A LOW SPEED OR SLOWING DOWN THE TRANSMISSION WILL SHUTTER. THE LONGER YOU DRIVE THE MOR IT HAPPENS.
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10764192 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10782407 · 2015-10-15 (October 15, 2015)
DURING ACCELERATION, AN AT LOW SPEED, A STUMBLE OUR LACK OR ACCELERATION IS EXPERIENCING SOME ISSUES AN IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY.
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10782407 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10788626 · 2015-11-05 (November 5, 2015)
HEAR STICK POPS OUT OF FEAR WITH SLIGHTEST TOUCH WHILE DRIVING. TRANSMISSION DROPS TO LOWER FEAR WHILE DRIVING. HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART CAR TO GET IT TO WORK PROPERLY. ENGINE HAS 15,693 MILES, MECHANIC SAYS A ROD IS KNOCKING AND SHOULDN'T BE RUNNING THE FAN TO COOL AS MUCH AS IT DOES. ALL THIS HAS MULTIPLE OCCURANCES. MITSUBISHI HAS HAD THE CAR TWICE BUT FOUND NOTHING WRONG.
Owner-reported narrative. 14,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10788626 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10807893 · 2015-12-02 (December 2, 2015)
YES I HAVE A 2015 OUTLANDER AND I AM HAVE TWO ISSUES WITH IT. NUMBER 1. HAVE THE TIME THE CAR DOESNT WANT TO START. I TURN THE KEY AND IT BARELY WANTS TO TURN OVER SO I TURN IT OFF, WAIT A MINUTE OR TWO THEN I WILL TRY AGAIN AND THEN IT WILL START NORMALLY. THE 2ND ISSUE IS THE USUALLY WHEN I START THE VEHICLE, I SMELL GAS FUMES LIKE CRAZY. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME NOTHING WAS WRONG. THESE ISSUES ARE STILL NOT FIXED AND IT IS GIVING ME A BAD TASTE IN MY MOUTH HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE TWO DEALERSHIPS NOT VERY …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10807893 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10819691 · 2016-01-12 (January 12, 2016)
NEW VEHICLE PURCHASED NOV 16 2015. TWO WEEKS AFTER BOUGHT, VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN, THEN HESITATE, STALL OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO SHOP DUE TO A COMPUTER CHIP ISSUE THAT OCCURRED ON 'THE LINE.' GOT VEHICLE BACK AND SAME PROBLEM. MITSUBISHI PUT BACK IN SHOP AND REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN DEC 2015. NOW SAME ISSUE, STALLING IN LIGHTED INTERSECTIONS, AT STOP SIGNS, WON'T SPEED UP, DECELERATES. MITSUBISHI'S ANSWER? PUT BACK IN SHOP AND GOING BACK IN TODAY, JAN 12, 2016. THREE TIMES IN LESS THAN THREE MONTHS I HAVE HAD VEHICLE. I AM AFRAID F…
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10819691 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10821131 · 2016-01-19 (January 19, 2016)
TRANSMISSION BROKE DOWN AFTER ABOUT 17000 MILES FROM A PROGRAMMING PROBLEM FROM THE MANUFACTURER. REPLACED TRANSMISSION AND STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. CAR IS STILL IN SHOP AND THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 30 DAYS AGO. I DID GET CAR FOR A WEEK AND HAD TO RETURN IT BACK TO THE SHOP.
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10821131 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
5 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
17V609000 · Electrical System:Starter Assembly:Relay
Reported: 2017-09-29 (September 29, 2017)
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Outlander, 2015-2016 Lancer and Outlander Sport, and 2015 Lancer Evolution vehicles. These vehicles may have defective relays that can result in an engine stall, reduced engine power or the engine overheating.
Consequence: If the engine stalls, there is an increased the risk of a crash.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected relays, free of charge. The recall began October 24, 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-17-005.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V070000 · Parking Brake
Reported: 2018-01-26 (January 26, 2018)
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Outlander and 2013-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles. Water may enter the rear brake calipers causing the parking brake actuator shafts to corrode and possibly bind.
Consequence: If the parking brake actuator shaft binds, the parking brake may not engage or disengage fully. If the parking brake does not engage properly, the vehicle may move unexpectedly if it is parked on a slope, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear brake calipers and replace the parking brake boot and lever or the brake caliper body, as necessary. Dealers will also replace the piston assembly of the rear brake caliper. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 27, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-002.
NHTSA campaign record ↗20V403000 · Seat Belts: Rear/Other:Buckle Assembly
Reported: 2020-07-13 (July 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗25V507000 · Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Support Device/Strut
Reported: 2025-08-07 (August 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: 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
NHTSA campaign record ↗26V252000 · Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Support Device/Strut
Reported: 2026-04-20 (April 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗