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2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV problems

The most common problem on the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is transmission and drivetrain, typically around 10,328 miles. It has 15.0 times the complaints of a typical Outlander PHEV model year.

Typical year15.0x the typical complaints
Owner complaints
15
Recalls
5
Service bulletins
99
Worst area
Transmission

The worst 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

  • Transmission
    5
  • Acceleration
    4
  • Brakes
    4
  • Electrical
    4
  • Fuel system
    3

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Transmission
    5
  • Acceleration
    4
  • Brakes
    4
  • Electrical
    4
  • Fuel system
    3
  • Visibility
    2
  • Body
    1
  • Driver assistance
    1
  • Engine
    1
  • Lights
    1
  • Seats
    1

Recalls 5

Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: support device/strutReported April 20, 2026 · 108,046 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
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 June 3, 2026. This recall expands previous the federal safety agency recall number 25V507.

Recall number 26V252000 · Recall details

Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: support device/strutReported August 7, 2025 · 121,529 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
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

Recall number 25V507000 · Recall details

Seat belts: rear/other: buckle assemblyReported July 13, 2020 · 177,000 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
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.

Recall number 20V403000 · Recall details

Forward collision avoidance: software: pedestrian/cyclist/object/obstacle/ recognitionReported September 14, 2018 · 9,166 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
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.

Recall number 18V620000 · Recall details

Forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise controlReported September 14, 2018 · 58,916 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
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.

Recall number 18V621000 · Recall details

See all 5 recalls for the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

Defect investigations

Pedestrian alert soundsOpened January 27, 2023, closed August 7, 2023

the federal safety agency 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 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, the federal safety agency 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 the federal safety agency 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 the federal safety agency regarding the subject matter of the petition.

DP22005

Technical service bulletins for the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 99

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 99 bulletins for the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

What 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Sep 3, 2020 · Fuel system · 32,000 miles · CA

While driving my vehicle, the propulsion reduced warning light came on and the car went from 70 MPH to 10 MPH. I was driving up a grade in the late evening. I had a full tank of gas but no miles left on the electric charge indicator. After I pulled over and waited a few minutes the light went off and I was able to drive the vehicle home. I took it to the dealership the next day. The dealership was not able to find the problem and insisted I come get the car. It is not safe to drive a car if it reduces its speed/ power for no reason.

Filed Aug 8, 2020 · 8,500 miles · AZ

Call volume is set for 11 and can't be heard over common road noise. This causes distracted driving as the driver attempts to turn off bluetooth or worse to transfer the call to the phone - which is illegal in most states requiring hands free calls. This is a long known problem and was supposed to be fixed in earlier models. It still isn't. Dealers can't do anything. Yet I can't crank the music up volume without issue. This typically occurs when the vehicle is in motion on either streets or highway.

Filed Jun 30, 2020 · Acceleration · 10,000 miles · CA

The vehicle slowed down to 20 MPH when the outside air temperature was near 95 deg f and the road slightly uphill. A message came on the dashboard that read limited propulsion. It happened on I-15 on the way to vegas last september. I filed a complaint with bbb and the answer I got from mitsubishi was that it is designed that way. I have a copy of the mitsubishi manual stating that. I wrote letters with no action. This already happened twice. I am afraid to drive the car in hot weather. See the attached 5 detailed files for info.

Filed Feb 25, 2020 · Acceleration · 26,535 miles · WA

Tl* the contact owns a 2018 mitsubishi outlander. The contact stated that while attempting to park the vehicle, the vehicle failed to shift into park. The contact was able to shift the vehicle into other gears however, the vehicle failure to shift into park persisted. The contact turned the vehicle off and restarted the vehicle however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 26,535.

Filed Dec 6, 2019 · Electrical, Transmission · 10,330 miles · NY

I picked up the car from the body shop code on dashboard EV system service required no gas or battery so went to gas station and vehicle wouldn't go into park went home called my wife and had her come outside she had to put gas in. Then drove to the dealership I had my wife get out and go get help she came out with a salesman. He saw what was going on so he called the manager and asked him what to do. He told him to take the car and give me a loaner. The only way to switch was emergency brake. Wouldn't go into park/neutral. Went inside asked manager come outside and see the car and he said that doesn't matter to me, what the f*** do I care about that it has nothing to do with me! So I went back outside the salesman drove into service give loaner. The next day the salesman told me nothing's wrong with the car pick it up. I have videos of this event happening and corporate closed my claim and told the dealership there is nothing for them to do because its fine and the video footage was not enough proof and not to drive the car. I reopened the claim, I wanted to talk to a higher up member of management, I asked corporate if I could keep the loaner until resolution and they said yes. So service said I have to have that loaner back that night I told him what the lady at corporate told me. He said no they didn't I told him to call and ask to pull the recorded call. The next morning I had a va appointment at 10am and was sitting in the waiting room and got called by service I need the car by 12pm I told him I was at a dr. Appt. An hour away ed him no way possible I can get it to him by noon ed him when I got back we can get it squared away he said nope tell me the address you're at and I'll come get it I said absolutely not I will bring it to you when I'm done with my appointment. They called the police and told them I stole the car returned loaner waiting on resolution.

Filed Dec 6, 2019 · Body, Lights · 1,843 miles · NY

I bought my car in march of 2019 and after my first car wash I realized there was a paint defects little divots down to the primer all over on the hood and other places on the vehicle the dealership attempted to repaint vehicle paint due to factory defect three times to a non-mitsubishi body shop and dealership did not inform mitsubishi corporate about this matter informed the dealership in may I was not going to except this car back and would like a new car because I shouldn't have to have my brand new car painted by someone after a month or two of owning the vehicle and especially three times and still nothing they said they would trade it out and they will find something comparable for me I checked in if not every day it was every other day from april/may to october and no word back very disappointed about this matter also looking over the paperwork with another mitsubishi dealership yesterday and looking at the way they did the paperwork at the dealership I bought the vehicle from charged me 20,000 dollars more for the car then what I was supposed to pay for it total amount they charged me for it was 52,299.00 from what we understand from the paperwork and it says I put down 3816.75 and never put anything down. The other dealership I went to told me that I'm 17,000 dollars in negative equity on the vehicle so it's going to be hard to trade it in and nobody with help me with this issue. The dealership I bought it from told me in this sale that I would have positive equity in the vehicle because of all of the rebates because it was a 18 rollover and military discounts and etc. And also the equity in the two vehicles I traded in were positive equity. On the invoices the only two they would give me say 2 hoods and body work nothing at all about paint see attached invoices & documents

Filed Dec 6, 2019 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 10,328 miles · NY · crash

Started up the car and started backing up out of my garage. When I put my car into reverse I saw my charging port door open on the passenger side of the car at this point my cars back end was partially sticking out of the garage I put the car into park by pushing the park button, I opened the door got out of the car and left the door open and started to walk down the driver side towards the back end of the car I got outside the garage right next to the rear driver side tail light, and the car went into reverse and drove out of the garage it took the door and bent it back to the driver side front fender and kept going almost ran me over I had to run and jump in the car and slam on the brakes. I called my insurance company and they had a tow truck pick it up the next day and bring it up to the dealership my friend picked me up and brought me to the dealership so I could tell them what happened and they told me that's not possible and to call mitsubishi corporate so I did. The dealership had my vehicle for a total of 46 days between the diagnostic test and having the body repaired which my insurance paid for and I had to pay the deductible mitsubishi would not pay to have the car fixed and blamed the entire event on me. I even went to the dealership and had the service guy get into the car and gave him a full demonstration on what had happened and he agreed that it's not possible to get out of this car if it was in reverse. I have a documented bad back and can't get out of a car all that well it takes me a min and I was at the back of the car outside the garage before the car started moving and proved on multiple occasions of this event and they still said call ghost busters after I picked up car it did it again this time I have video proof and they still won't do anything and even called the police on me because I had their loaner while they had my car see next post.

Filed Sep 16, 2019 · Electrical, Seats · 13,000 miles · MA

Tl* the contact owns a 2018 mitsubishi outlander phev. While driving at low speeds, the front parking sensors erroneously activated and a beeping sound was heard although no objects were present in front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to corner stone mitsubishi (580 main st, wilmington, ma) where the front parking sensor was replaced, but the failure continued. Also, while driving, the front driver and passenger seats were very loose and moved when braking and accelerating. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 13,000.

Filed Jun 6, 2019 · Acceleration, Brakes · 8,600 miles · CA

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.

Filed Apr 24, 2019 · Acceleration, Brakes · 1,600 miles · OH

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

Compare the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

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Questions about the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

Is the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV reliable?

Owners have filed 15 complaints about the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, 15.0 times a typical Outlander PHEV model year.

What is the most common problem with the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV?

Transmission and drivetrain, with 5 complaints, typically around 10,328 miles. Next is acceleration (4).

How many recalls does the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV have?

5 recalls, covering structure, seat belts and forward collision avoidance.

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