2018 Mitsubishi OUTLANDER: complaints, problems and recalls

ON 27MAY2018, I STARTED MY 2018 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV AND PUT IT IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE GARAGE. FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, THE ALARM DINGED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT REVERSE. MY CONSOLE INDICATED THE CHARGE CORD WAS STILL PLUGGED IN. SO I JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR TO UNPLUG THE CORD, NOT REALIZING THAT I NEVER PRESSED THE 'P' BUTTON TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK. I DIDN'T EVEN THINK TO PRESS THE 'P' BUTTON TO INITIATE PARK BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD NO MOTION. ANYWAY, I QUICKLY UNPLUGGED THE CHARGER, AND IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER, THE CAR STARTED MOVING I…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,010 miles reported. Look up ODI 11098228 at NHTSA ↗

TAKATA RECALL.. I WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 2,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11113921 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING IF KEY IS HIT, THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF.

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11115337 at NHTSA ↗

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH WHEN I ACCELERATE AND BRAKE. THIS BECAME EVIDENT DAYS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER TRIED TO FIX THE ISSUE BUT THEY DAMAGED THE VEHICLE EVEN MORE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11144247 at NHTSA ↗

THE SECOND ROW MIDDLE SEAT BELT HAS A PROBLEM. IT ALWAYS SEIZES ONCE THE MIDDLE PASSENGER FASTENS IT AND THEN STARTS BEING MORE TIGHTER ON THE PASSENGER, THUS PRESSING ON THE CHEST CAUSING HIGH LEVEL OF DISCOMFORT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11152282 at NHTSA ↗

'TAKATA RECALL' I GOT INTO A THREE COLLISION ACCIDENT ON A CITY HIGHWAY. WHEN I WAS BRAKING TO AVOID THE ACCIDENT IT KEPT ON MOVING LIKE IT WAYS DELAYED. I BELIEVE THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD OF BEEN PREVENTABLE IF MY BRAKES WAS AWARE THAT MY FEET WAS ON IT. IT'S LIKE THE CAR WAS DOING IT'S OWN THING. THERE COULD BE MORE THINGS UNKNOWN GOING ON WITH THE CAR. I JUST BROUGHT THIS CAR 2 MONTHS AGO.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11162079 at NHTSA ↗

CITY STREET DRIVING AND A NOTIFICATION OF AIRBAG SYSTEM SERVICE REQUIRED APPEARED ON THE SCREEN.

Owner-reported narrative. 20,085 miles reported. Look up ODI 11163712 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN IN SNOW OR ICE. WHILE DRIVING IN THESE CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE SPEED REACHED 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUNNYSIDE MITSUBISHI (7630 PEARL RD, MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, OH 44130, [phone removed]) WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE RIMS NEEDED TO BE WASHED OUT. THE DEALER ALSO SPRAYED THE RIMS WITH SILICON. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11172109 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2018-09-05 (September 5, 2018)

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Mitsubishi Outlander vehicles equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels. The Certification Label lists an incorrect rear wheel rim size. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Consequence: The incorrect rim size information on the label can cause the operator to replace the rim with an incorrect rim size, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MMNA will notify owners and send them a corrected certification label, free of charge. Owners can also choose to have the label replaced by a dealer, free of charge. The recall began September 26, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-006.

Reported: 2018-09-14 (September 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: 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.

Reported: 2018-09-14 (September 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: 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.

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.

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

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.