What 36 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Mhev

The contact owns a 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. The contact stated upon looking under the vehicle, the contact noticed that the whole frame and upper panel were completely rusted. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 16V867000 (Structure). The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was confirmed that the recall already had been performed prior to the contact owning the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

NHTSA ODI 11424791

MY MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT HAS A KEYLESS START. THERE IS NO MECHANISM THAT PREVENTS THE VEHICLE ACCIDENTALLY BEING TURNED OFF WHILE STILL IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. ON 5/30/19 AT APPROXIMATELY 9:20 PM, I MADE A RUN TO MY LOCAL RITE-AID. I TURNED OF THE IGNITION, BUT FORGOT TO PUT IT IN PARK. I EXITED THE STORE AFTER APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES TO FIND MY CAR MISSING FROM THE PARKING LOT. I INITIALLY THOUGHT IT HAD BEEN STOLEN. THE POLICE FOUND MY VEHICLE AFTER IT HAD ROLLED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT, INTO TRAFFIC AND ENDED UP CRASHING IN A DITCH. IT HAD TO BE HAULED OUT AND SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AND MAY BE A TOTAL LOSS. I CAN ONLY BE GRATEFUL THAT IT DID NOT COLLIDE INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE,L OR HIT A PEDESTRIAN. THIS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE EASILY KILLED SOMEONE. THERE IS NO LOGICAL REASON THAT A SAFETY MECHANISM SHOULD NOT BE A STANDARD REQUIREMENT IN ALL PUSH BUTTON START VEHICLES TO PREVENT SUCH A TRAGEDY. THE CAR RENTAL I AM CURRENTLY USING IS A 2019 ESCALADE. I TESTED THE REMOTE START IN THE ESCALADE AND NO MATTER WHAT GEAR I AM IN WHEN I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, IT AUTOMATICALLY DEFAULTS TO PARK. IT CAN BE DONE AND SHOULD BE REQUIRED!

NHTSA ODI 11217888