The front subframe crossmember on my vehicle is severely rusted out. There is currently a hole measuring about 2"x1". I previously had two other holes on the bottom welded as a temporary fix, but the rust just kept eating through the metal and it's now beyond saving. Because of this structural damage, the car is unsafe to drive and cannot pass a NYS safety inspection. I know Mitsubishi recalled earlier Outlanders for this exact crossmember rust issue, but later model years like mine seem to share the same defect and are currently excluded. There were no warning lights on the dash—I only found out how bad the failure was during an underbody inspection. It also looks like the AC condensate drains directly onto this area, which seems to be accelerating the rust. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.
The worst 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Transmission25
- Engine12
- Acceleration6
- Electrical6
- Brakes5
- Fuel system4
- Airbags3
- Body3
- Wheels3
- Driver assistance1
- Lights1
- Seat belts1
- Steering1
- Suspension1
- Tires1
- Visibility1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander
Recalls 5
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: support device/strut
- 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/strut
- 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 assembly
- 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
Parking brake
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 18V070000 · Recall details
Electrical system: starter assembly: relay
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 17V609000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander 116
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This revised Technical Service Bulletin provides instructions on how to remedy noise from the HVAC system...
- Tech Talk is a service newsletter that was sent out to dealers
- This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that MMNA is investigating the field performance of...
- This Technical Service Bulletin instructs the dealer to update the Hands Free Module software to improve...
- This Technical Service Bulletin provides instructions for a software update to correct an issue of the...
- Service Manual Revision
- This Revised Technical Information Notice provides dealers with the requirements needed to be entered into...
- This is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has launched the 3rd...
- This Technical Service Bulletin reviews the regulations that require a label showing the reduction in load...
- This Technical Service Bulletin provides instructions and material safety data sheets for removal of...
2015 Mitsubishi Outlander fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | FWD | 23-25 | 29-32 | 26-28 |
| 2.4L 4‑cyl | FWD | 23-25 | 28-30 | 25-27 |
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | 4WD | 24 | 30 | 27 |
| 2.4L 4‑cyl | 4WD | 22-24 | 26-29 | 24-26 |
| 3.0L 6‑cyl | 4WD | 20 | 27 | 23 |
What 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I have Goodyear tires Eagle LS P225 55R18, three of them that the tread is separating on all of them. The TIN for all three of them is 4921, the second week of December, 2021. All three of the tires have cracks on the inside of the tread and the car is lurching side to side while driving down the road. This is a severe condition and all the tires need to be replaced. Most likely the tires were either bought in New York or Washington state. My name is [XXX] , my phone number is [XXX] and I live in Santa Rosa California. This condition has been confirmed by my mechanic and two tire stores. If you would like further evidence of cracking between the treads or possibly separation evidence when the tires are off the car, please let me know. I must have them replaced ASAP. This is not a failure or a recall for the car, only for the tires. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine and yes available for inspection. I had been driving then all of a sudden the Service Engine Immediately light started rapidly flashing and the car would hardly go. Turned around parked at home, towed to dealership where they said the engine compressor was not working and I would need a rebuilt engine for over $5000. Towed it back home and now looking for a new car. There were no warning lights or any other symptoms prior to this happening. It was an all of a sudden warning. If I had been on the freeway, my safety would have been at risk as it just died without warning.
The cvt transmissions are terrible and fail
The backup camera view is not shown on the infotainment system. The screen goes blank. Checking the hidden menu, the backup camera view is available. This impacts reverse packing and hence safety of the pedestrians and passengers.
The contact owned a 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, a warning message displayed reading "Transmission Failure Reduced Power', prompting the contact to pull to the shoulder of the roadway. After which the contact observed smoke emanating from the engine compartment. By the time the contact and her family were able to exit the vehicle and move to a safe distance, the vehicle had become engulfed in flames that were originating from the engine compartment. Local emergency services arrived and were able to extinguish the fire. All warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard but had yet to be deemed a total loss by the contact's insurance provider. A fire report was filed. A police report was filed with no injuries reported. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 200,000.
While driving in the city limits around 35 miles an hour I had to stop abruptly to avoid a collision with a driver who didn’t stop at the intersection. I had to come to a complete stop for this driver. When I took my foot off of the brake and tried to drive on my car would not move. I had to shift gears put it in park and try again. I could hear the engine responding but the car wouldn’t move. When it did start to move forward slowly it was shaking very hard and I was only able to get 10 miles an hour. I had to be towed. And I kept thinking what if I was on the highway that day where the speed limit is 75mph.
The contact owns a 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated while driving at approximately 75 MPH, the vehicle started to independently decelerate. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was veered to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced due to a cylinder with low compression. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
It has hesitation when accelerating and stuttering while driving. its throwing a code PO868 for the transmission. It's a cvt transmission, and it feels like a transmission slip at times, or it takes off then hesitates then goes again. Other times it stutters. Its a risk because now our chances of being in a accident increases. Until it threw the code there were no issues then all the sudden there was the issue.
I went to get my emissions check. I was informed that the rpms were not registering. After getting the car diagnosed I was informed that P1590 Mitsubishi Code - TCM To ECM Communication Error In Torque Reduction Request is the problem.
Compare the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander
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Other model years
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Questions about the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander
Is the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander reliable?
Owners have filed 53 complaints about the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander, close to a typical Outlander model year.
What is the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander year score?
The 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander scores 71 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Mitsubishi Outlander: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander?
Transmission and drivetrain, with 25 complaints, typically around 34,000 miles. Next is engine (12).
How many recalls does the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander have?
5 recalls, covering structure, seat belts and parking brake.
What year does the Mitsubishi Outlander have bad transmission?
The Mitsubishi Outlander model years with the most transmission complaints are 2016 (64 complaints) and 2015 (25 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander get?
Official estimates for the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander range from 23 to 28 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.0L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 23-25 city and 29-32 highway.
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