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2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev

Buyable, but go in with open eyes: this car has specific known issues to check before money changes hands.

Recalls, complaint breakdown & inspection checklist — a shareable PDF

233 owner complaints · 5 recalls · data verified July 10, 2026 · source: NHTSA

Cautionwillitcar.com

Why caution?

5 recall campaigns (4 safety-critical) — confirm every one shows "remedy completed" on the seller's VIN.

Transmission & drivetrain problems dominate (61% of complaints, typically reported near 40k miles).

The math, shown

Full methodology →
Complaint volume (40%)69
Severity (30%)73
Recall load (20%)58
Trend (10%)83

Complaints filed per year

Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.

20142026

The road ahead

What breaks on a 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev, plotted where owners report it happening.

030k mi60k mi90k mi120k miTransmission & drivetrain~40k mi · 142 reportsEngine~25k mi · 47 reportsSpeed control~76k mi · 31 reportsElectrical system~60k mi · 25 reportsFuel system~3k mi · 18 reports

Also reported (mileage varies): Brakes (16)

Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint — a rough guide, not a schedule.

Transmission & drivetrain

61%

142 complaints · typically near 40k mi · 12 in the last 2 years

Hesitation when accelerating. Has stalled while driving. Has come to a complete stop when put in reverse.

Engine

20%

47 complaints · typically near 25k mi · 3 in the last 2 years

Car jerks like it’s losing power when pulling off, not sure if it’s transmission issue or engine issue

Speed control

13%

31 complaints · typically near 76k mi · 3 in the last 2 years

Hesitation when accelerating. Has stalled while driving. Has come to a complete stop when put in reverse.

Electrical system

11%

25 complaints · typically near 60k mi

The front passenger door will not open from the inside NOR from the outside. This could be a severe safety issue in case of emergency! I tried unplugging the battery f…

Recalls (5)

Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.

Structure · 26V252000

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.

Fix: 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.

Structure · 25V507000

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.

Fix: 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

Seat Belts · 20V403000

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.

Fix: 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.

Parking Brake · 18V070000

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.

Fix: 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.

Electrical System · 17V609000

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.

Fix: 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.

Before you hand over money

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What owners say

Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score — if they disagree, that’s worth knowing.

The fine print: this verdict is computed from public NHTSA complaint and recall records for the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev as a model, not for any individual car. A well-maintained example of an “Avoid” can outlast a neglected “Buy”. Informational only — always get a professional pre-purchase inspection.