VehicleVerdict

2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 30 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 30.0 times the median Outlander Phev year — the 2018 model ranks #1 of 8 Outlander Phev years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across electrical system (5), transmission (5), and brakes (4), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect. In government crash testing it earned 5 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

30

NHTSA complaints

5

Recalls

1

Investigations

3

Crash-involved

2

Fires reported

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

5

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2018 compare to other Outlander Phev years?

Outlander Phev NHTSA complaints by model year, 2018 highlighted30 complaints2018: 30 complaints2019: 1 complaints2020: 0 complaints2021: 0 complaints2022: 1 complaints2023: 1 complaints2024: 0 complaints2025: 3 complaints
Outlander Phev NHTSA complaints by model year, 2018 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Outlander Phev years to avoid →

What are the most common 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Transmission517%
Electrical System517%
Speed Control413%
Brakes413%
Other310%
Fuel System310%
Visibility & Wipers27%
Seats13%
Lighting13%
Body & Structure13%
Engine13%

Does the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev have recalls?

5 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

26V252000Body & StructureApril 20, 2026 · 108,046 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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 NHTSA.gov June 3, 2026. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V507.

25V507000Body & StructureAugust 7, 2025 · 121,529 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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

20V403000Seat BeltsJuly 13, 2020 · 177,000 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

18V620000Driver AssistanceSeptember 14, 2018 · 9,166 units

Defect

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.

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.

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.

18V621000Driver AssistanceSeptember 14, 2018 · 58,916 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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

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.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“STARTED UP THE CAR AND STARTED BACKING UP OUT OF MY GARAGE. WHEN I PUT MY CAR INTO REVERSE I SAW MY CHARGING PORT DOOR OPEN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR AT THIS POINT MY CARS BACK END WAS PARTIALLY STICKING OUT OF THE GARAGE I PUT THE CAR INTO PARK BY PUSHING THE PARK BUTTON, I OPENED THE DOOR…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · October 16, 2019 · crash

“THE CHARGER SUPPLIED BY MITSUBISHI MELTED DURING NORMAL CHARGING. MITSUBISHI HAS STATED THAT THE CORD IS NOT DEFECTIVE AND WILL NOT COVER THE COST OF REPLACEMENT NOR ARE THEY INTERESTED ON THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE CAUSED BY THE LOOSE PLUG TERMINAL AND HOT SPOT.”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · January 2, 2019 · fire

“ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS I HAVE RECEIVED A BRAKE ALERT WHEN NOTHING WAS IN MY WAY. TODAY, WHEN DRIVING DOWN A SIDE STREET AT ABOUT 20 MILES PER HOUR, I WAS GIVEN A BRAKE WARNING AND THEN THE AUTOMATIC BRAKES TURNED ON AND MY CAR SKIDDED TO A STOP. I WAS FORTUNATE NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME OR WE WOULD HAVE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · October 16, 2018

“THE FORWARD COLLISION MITIGATION SYSTEM ACTIVATED BRAKING WHEN A MOTORCYCLIST PASSED BETWEEN LANES ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH IN MEDIUM TRAFFIC. THE MOTORCYCLIST PASSED ON MY LEFT AND BRAKES WERE APPLIED BY THE CAR WHEN THE MOTORCYCLIST WAS APPROXIMATELY 20-25FT IN FRONT OF ME.”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Speed Control · June 5, 2019

“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…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · August 6, 2020

2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev — common questions

Is the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 30 complaints put the 2018 model at #1 of 8 Outlander Phev years. It is one of the Outlander Phev years to avoid.

What are the most common 2018 Outlander Phev problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are electrical system (5 complaints), transmission (5 complaints), brakes (4 complaints).

Does the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns affecting the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened one investigation into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Mitsubishi Outlander Phev years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Outlander Phev years to avoid are 2018. The cleanest record among Outlander Phev years belongs to 2024.

How safe is the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev earned an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.