NHTSA vehicle safety data

2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 15 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Mitsubishi dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev owner complaints

Owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev, describing incidents dated September 28, 2018 to August 30, 2020.

Most-cited components

  • Power Train 5 complaints
  • Electrical System 4 complaints
  • Service Brakes 4 complaints
  • Vehicle Speed Control 4 complaints
  • Fuel/Propulsion System 3 complaints
  • Unknown or Other 3 complaints

Of the 15 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash and 1 a fire (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11352950 · Filed

    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…

  • ODI #11344067 · Filed

    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…

  • ODI #11331865 · Filed

    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…

Read all 15 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Liftgate Gas Springs May Rupture

NHTSA #26V252000 · Structure — Body — Hatchback/Liftgate — Support Device/Strut · NHTSA notice

Reported April 20, 2026 · Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 108,046 vehicles

Repair completion: 11.49% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Mitsubishi campaign SR-26-001 · Owners notified June 17, 2026 · Vehicles built starting November 13, 2017 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Liftgate Gas Springs May Rupture

NHTSA #25V507000 · Structure — Body — Hatchback/Liftgate — Support Device/Strut · NHTSA notice

Reported August 7, 2025 · Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 121,529 vehicles

Repair completion: 23.02% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Mitsubishi campaign SR-25-002 · Owners notified October 6, 2025 · Vehicles built starting November 13, 2017 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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

Inoperative Right Rear Seat Belt Buckle

NHTSA #20V403000 · Seat Belts — Rear/Other — Buckle Assembly · NHTSA notice

Reported July 13, 2020 · Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 177,000 vehicles

Repair completion: 55.47% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Mitsubishi campaign SR-20-004 · Owners notified September 1, 2020

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Prolonged Braking by Collision Avoidance System

NHTSA #18V620000 · Electrical System — Software · NHTSA notice

Reported September 14, 2018 · Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 9,166 vehicles

Repair completion: 90.19% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Mitsubishi campaign SR-18-007 · Owners notified October 16, 2018 · Vehicles built November 13, 2017 – June 25, 2018 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Safety Systems may be Disabled When in Use

NHTSA #18V621000 · Forward Collision Avoidance — Adaptive Cruise Control · NHTSA notice

Reported September 14, 2018 · Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

Potentially affected: 58,916 vehicles

Repair completion: 86.45% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Mitsubishi campaign SR-18-008 · Owners notified October 16, 2018 · Vehicles built November 13, 2017 – April 9, 2018 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Other Mitsubishi Outlander Phev model years

Check your 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Mitsubishi Outlander Phev at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Mitsubishi VIN