The cvt transmissions are terrible and fail
2015 Mitsubishi Outlander
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 47.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Outlander years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
33 reports with mileage · 19 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
25 reportsThe contact owned a 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, a warning message displayed reading "Transmission Failure Reduced Power', prompting the contact to pull to the shoulder of the roadway. After which the contact observed smoke emanating from the engine compartment. By the time the cont…
Read full complaint
The contact owned a 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, a warning message displayed reading "Transmission Failure Reduced Power', prompting the contact to pull to the shoulder of the roadway. After which the contact observed smoke emanating from the engine compartment. By the time the contact and her family were able to exit the vehicle and move to a safe distance, the vehicle had become engulfed in flames that were originating from the engine compartment. Local emergency services arrived and were able to extinguish the fire. All warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard but had yet to be deemed a total loss by the contact's insurance provider. A fire report was filed. A police report was filed with no injuries reported. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 200,000.
While driving in the city limits around 35 miles an hour I had to stop abruptly to avoid a collision with a driver who didn’t stop at the intersection. I had to come to a complete stop for this driver. When I took my foot off of the brake and tried to drive on my car would not move. I had to shift gears put it in park and try …
Read full complaint
While driving in the city limits around 35 miles an hour I had to stop abruptly to avoid a collision with a driver who didn’t stop at the intersection. I had to come to a complete stop for this driver. When I took my foot off of the brake and tried to drive on my car would not move. I had to shift gears put it in park and try again. I could hear the engine responding but the car wouldn’t move. When it did start to move forward slowly it was shaking very hard and I was only able to get 10 miles an hour. I had to be towed. And I kept thinking what if I was on the highway that day where the speed limit is 75mph.
It has hesitation when accelerating and stuttering while driving. its throwing a code PO868 for the transmission. It's a cvt transmission, and it feels like a transmission slip at times, or it takes off then hesitates then goes again. Other times it stutters. Its a risk because now our chances of being in a accident increas…
Read full complaint
It has hesitation when accelerating and stuttering while driving. its throwing a code PO868 for the transmission. It's a cvt transmission, and it feels like a transmission slip at times, or it takes off then hesitates then goes again. Other times it stutters. Its a risk because now our chances of being in a accident increases. Until it threw the code there were no issues then all the sudden there was the issue.
I went to get my emissions check. I was informed that the rpms were not registering. After getting the car diagnosed I was informed that P1590 Mitsubishi Code - TCM To ECM Communication Error In Torque Reduction Request is the problem.
The contact owns a 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle decelerated and accelerated unintendedly. Additionally, the steering wheel seized. The contact pulled over to the side of the roadway and restarted the vehicle after several activation and deactivation of the sta…
Read full complaint
The contact owns a 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle decelerated and accelerated unintendedly. Additionally, the steering wheel seized. The contact pulled over to the side of the roadway and restarted the vehicle after several activation and deactivation of the starter. The contact stated that after restarting the vehicle and driving, the vehicle was jerking. The vehicle was taken to three different independent mechanics and diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact attempted to inform the manufacturer of the failure but was unable to speak with a representative. The approximate failure mileage was 140,040.
My 2015 Mitsubishi outlander transmission, cvt has gone out at 11700 thousand miles,, I was told there's no warranty nor recall , I was driving up hill it started jerking really hard , there was a car coming up behind me almost hitting me because of it lagging , please put a recall on these vehicles , be for someone dies because…
Read full complaint
My 2015 Mitsubishi outlander transmission, cvt has gone out at 11700 thousand miles,, I was told there's no warranty nor recall , I was driving up hill it started jerking really hard , there was a car coming up behind me almost hitting me because of it lagging , please put a recall on these vehicles , be for someone dies because of the cvt failer.
I WENT TO GO TURN ON MY CAR WHEN I GOT OUT OF WORK AND WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE ON DRIVE AND PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED! SO I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND PUT THE CAR ON DRIVE AND PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR REVVED UP AND MOVED A LITTLE WITH HESITATION. SO…
Read full complaint
I WENT TO GO TURN ON MY CAR WHEN I GOT OUT OF WORK AND WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE ON DRIVE AND PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED! SO I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND PUT THE CAR ON DRIVE AND PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR REVVED UP AND MOVED A LITTLE WITH HESITATION. SO I PUT THE CAR ON REVERSE AND PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL AND CAR WOULD REV UP BUT NOT MOVE! SO I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND TURNED IT BACK ON AGAIN AND PUT IT IN REVERSE AGAIN AND PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL AGAIN AND THE CAR MOVED BUT WITH HESITATION AND WITH NOT A LOT OF FORCE! SO I LEAVE THE CAR AT MY WORKPLACE AND GET THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOUSE THE NEXT DAY! I CALL THE DEALER BECAUSE MY MECHANIC SEEN THERE WAS A RECALL WITH THE VEHICLE HESITATING TO MOVE AND I GAVE THEM MY VIN NUMBER AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THERE'S NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE MY VEHICLE WASN'T ON THE RECALL LIST ! THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IT WAS GOING TO COST ABOUT $8000. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 114000 MILES I SHOULDN'T BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM! SO NOW I'M STUCK WITH A CAR THAT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION/POWER TRAIN !
MY WIFE AND I WENT TO WALKER AUTOMOTIVE, 1616 S. MACARTHUR DR ALEXANDRIA, LA 71301, (318)445-6421 TO FINANCE A LOW OR NO MILEAGE, MPG) EFFICIENT VEHICLE FOR MY WIFE. THE SALESPERSON, STEVE FARRELL ASKED, 'WHAT TYPE OF VEHICLE DID WE WANT?' I TOLD HIM MY FIRST CHOICE WAS A 4 CYL WITH A THIRD-ROW SEATING, WITH AN MPG RATING IN THE…
Read full complaint
MY WIFE AND I WENT TO WALKER AUTOMOTIVE, 1616 S. MACARTHUR DR ALEXANDRIA, LA 71301, (318)445-6421 TO FINANCE A LOW OR NO MILEAGE, MPG) EFFICIENT VEHICLE FOR MY WIFE. THE SALESPERSON, STEVE FARRELL ASKED, 'WHAT TYPE OF VEHICLE DID WE WANT?' I TOLD HIM MY FIRST CHOICE WAS A 4 CYL WITH A THIRD-ROW SEATING, WITH AN MPG RATING IN THE MID TO UPPER 20'S AND NOT A BIG BODY THAT MY WIFE WOULD BE DRIVING MOST OF THE TIME. HE SHOWED A GRAY 2016 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SE (THE VEHICLE WE FINANCED). MY WIFE GOT IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND DROVE THE VEHICLE AROUND ON A FEW CITY STREETS SURROUNDING THE DEALERSHIP. I ASKED MR. FARRELL ABOUT THE MILEAGE (34,421) THIS VEHICLE ALREADY HAD. HE STATED, 'THESE WERE HWY MILES.' I INFORMED HIM THAT THE MILEAGE WAS AGREEABLE SINCE I KNEW MY WIFE NEEDED A VEHICLE THAT WAS GOOD FOR HWY DRIVING. AFTER FINANCING THIS VEHICLE, I RETURNED TO WALKER FOR OIL CHANGES, MULTI-POINT INSPECTIONS AND A COUPLE OF MITSUBISHI RECALLS. ONE OF THE RECALLS WAS FOR THE DOOR LOCKS NOT AUTOMATICALLY LOCKING ONCE THE VEHICLE REACHED 5MILES PER HOUR. THE OTHER RECALL WAS FOR A FAILURE IN THE PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM THAT WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO MOVE EVEN WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED. I DISCOVERED THESE RECALLS BY GOING TO THE AUTOZONE WEBSITE. MITSUBISHI DID NOT SEND ME A LETTER. I SCHEDULED AN APPT TO HAVE THE RECALLS CORRECTED. I WAS ASKED TO SPEAK TO 2 DIFFERENT SVC ADVISORS. THE FIRST ADVISOR, MICHAEL MEDINA, WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE ORDERED THE PARTS, BUT DIDN'T, SO MY APPT WAS PUSHED BACK ANOTHER MONTH. THE NEXT SERVICE ADVISOR, SAM MORRISON ORDERED THE PARTS AND SET THE APPT FOR ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN. MR. MEDINA COMMITTED SUICIDE AND MR. MORRISON STOPPED WORKING FOR WALKER AFTER REPAIRING THE RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. MY CONVERSATIONS WITH BOTH OF THESE ADVISORS WAS TO ASK THEM IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER RECALLS. THEY BOTH REPLIED, 'NOT TO THEIR KNOWLEDGE.' *JS
THIS HAPPENS ALMOST ALL THE TIME - WHEN DRIVING AT CITY STREET SPEED OF 25 MPH AND UNDER MY CAR SHAKES SO MUCH AND DOES NOT ACCELERATE AND FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO SHUT DOWN. ON 3 OCCASIONS I WAS REAR ENDED BECAUSE OF THIS AND ONE TIME WAS WITH A HUGE SANITATION TRUCK WITH MY CHILDREN INSIDE THE CAR. I HAVE TAKEN THIS CAR TO …
Read full complaint
THIS HAPPENS ALMOST ALL THE TIME - WHEN DRIVING AT CITY STREET SPEED OF 25 MPH AND UNDER MY CAR SHAKES SO MUCH AND DOES NOT ACCELERATE AND FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO SHUT DOWN. ON 3 OCCASIONS I WAS REAR ENDED BECAUSE OF THIS AND ONE TIME WAS WITH A HUGE SANITATION TRUCK WITH MY CHILDREN INSIDE THE CAR. I HAVE TAKEN THIS CAR TO THE DEALER AND THE MITSUBISHI DEALER TO BE LOOKED AT AND HELP TO NO AVAIL IT STILL DOES IT. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO MITSUBISHI MOTORS AND WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER BUT TO DATE NO ONE HAS CONTACTED ME NOR HELPED ME. I AM SCARED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND MYSELF - IT IS A VERY SCARY SITUATION AND I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR ABOUT A YEAR AGO. HELP ME BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE DOES.
Official recalls
526V252000 · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support Device/strut
Apr 20, 2026
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 & remedy
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.
25V507000 · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support Device/strut
Aug 7, 2025
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 & remedy
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
20V403000 · Seat Belts: Rear/other:buckle Assembly
Jul 13, 2020
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 & remedy
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.
18V070000 · Parking Brake
Jan 26, 2018
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
17V609000 · Electrical System:starter Assembly:relay
Sep 29, 2017
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the engine stalls, there is an increased the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
Illustration