What 40 owners told NHTSA about the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander Mhev

The rear braking system failed due to a sticking/seizing brake caliper. An independent inspection confirmed a severe thickness discrepancy: the outer pad was worn down to 3mm, while the inner pad remained at 7mm. This occurred at only 7,343 miles. I have the physical brake pads provided by the dealer; however, I have photographic proof that the dealer provided fraudulent, evenly worn pads upon vehicle pickup to tamper with evidence. Both the fraudulent pads and the original photos of the defective pads are available for inspection. The sticking caliper causes uneven braking force, increased stopping distances, and premature brake failure. This is a severe safety risk that could lead to a loss of vehicle control or a collision, especially under emergency braking conditions. Furthermore, the dealership's attempt to conceal this defect by swapping parts prevents proper safety documentation and potential recall actions. An independent service center (certified technician) confirmed the 3mm/7mm wear delta on March 19, 2026. The dealer (Northstar Mitsubishi) also initially confirmed the defect and processed it as a $0.00 warranty repair (Invoice #6048308) before rescinding the coverage and demanding payment. The vehicle was inspected by the authorized dealer (Northstar Mitsubishi) and an independent repair facility. I am currently requesting a formal inspection by Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) corporate. There were no dashboard warning lamps. The primary symptom was an excessive amount of brake dust accumulating on the rear wheels compared to the front, and a noticeable physical thickness difference between the inner and outer brake pads. These symptoms were first observed around 7,000 miles during a routine inspection. The defect was confirmed by an independent technician's measurement of 3mm (outer) vs 7mm (inner).

NHTSA ODI 11726382

“Since April, I’ve had an issue with the caliper in my car, and as of today, October 16, Victory Mitsubishi still hasn’t resolved it. I went back on July 4, and they told me they ordered the parts, but they’ve been on backorder since then. I’m still waiting, and my car’s brakes feel rough, plus the noise is really annoying.”

NHTSA ODI 11620074

The AEB and FCW turns on suddenly then seems like the car is shutting off while driving

NHTSA ODI 11585300

After using the outlander for little over 500 miles a warning sign of Parking brake sensor failure occurs every time i stop at a red light. Error occurs for a flash second and is hard to capture when driving

NHTSA ODI 11559662

We (driver and passenger) were pulling into a parking lot and going very slowly about to stop and get out of car. Suddenly and unexpectedly the car accelerated out of control and at an abnormal speed. the air bags deployed, smoke filled the cabin. After the police arrived and the car was towed, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company took title to the car. We were lucky to survive because the car ran into a cement wall from the sudden acceleration and went up into the trees and then backed down and hit the ground. There was a police report and the car was inspected by a manufacturer's representative. Earlier in the day there was a warning on the dashboard that said the vehicle needed maintenance. The "black box" of the car was analyzed by Bosche Co. But, we would like an independent agency to review the black box of the car and get an explanation as to why this possibly happened to us. The car has many safety features but nothing aided us in this particular instance.

NHTSA ODI 11545653