- Safety
- 5
- of 5 stars
- Recalls
- 5
- on record
- MPG
- 45
- combined
Open recalls on record
5 safety recalls. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer — check the VIN before you buy.
Vehicle Summary
2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev
Before You Buy
Safety record at a glance
- Recall campaigns
- 5
- Owner complaints
- 15
- Complaints citing a crash
- 1
These are raw counts from NHTSA records. They are not normalized by how many of these vehicles are on the road, so a model that sold in large numbers will tend to show more of everything. We do not publish a composite safety or reliability score.
5 Recalls on Record
These recalls have been issued by the manufacturer. Contact any authorized dealer to verify they have been completed — repairs are free.
Safety recalls
5 NHTSA campaigns affecting this model year.
- 18V620000high
Electrical issue
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
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.
Full campaign recordRemedy
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.
- 18V621000high
Forward collision avoidance · adaptive cruise control
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
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.
Full campaign recordRemedy
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.
- 20V403000high
Safety restraint issue
SEAT BELTS: REAR/OTHER:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
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.
Full campaign recordRemedy
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.
- 25V507000high
Body/structure issue
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
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.
Full campaign recordRemedy
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
- 26V252000high
Body/structure issue
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
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.
Full campaign recordRemedy
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.
NHTSA crash-test ratings
NCAP star ratings and the underlying test breakdown for the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev.
Frontal crash
- Driver
- 4 / 5
- Passenger
- 4 / 5
Side crash
- Driver
- 5 / 5
- Passenger
- 5 / 5
- Side pole
- 4 / 5
Rollover
- Rollover risk
- 13.7%
- Dynamic tip
- No Tip
Driver-assistance technologies
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- Optional
- Lane departure warning
- Optional
What the ratings mean
NHTSA gives the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev 5 out of 5 stars overall. NHTSA does not publish enough comparable results for this class and year to rank it against peers.
NHTSA published results for every NCAP test in this program, so the overall star rating rests on a complete set of crash and rollover results.
NHTSA's dynamic test put this vehicle's rollover probability at 13.7% in a single-vehicle crash — the figure behind the rollover star rating, published here because the star alone hides how wide each band is.
Fuel economy & emissions
EPA figures for the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev, with tailpipe CO₂ and class context.
45
City
47
Hwy
45
Comb
- Annual fuel cost
- $2,450
- Tailpipe CO₂
- 174 g/mi
- Electric range
- 22 miles
- Charge time
- 3.5 hours (240V)
How this compares
At 45 MPG combined, the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev ranks 1st of 6 small SUVs (4WD) EPA rated for 2018 — 21.5 MPG better than the 23.5 MPG median for that group.
That places it in the upper third of its class. Fuel cost is unlikely to be the deciding factor against its direct rivals.
EPA puts annual fuel spend at about $2,450, $800 less than the $3,250 typical for the class. Over five years at 15,000 miles a year that is roughly $12,250, a $4,000 difference against a class-median vehicle.
Tailpipe CO₂ is 174 grams per mile — about 2.6 metric tons over 15,000 miles of driving.
Consumer complaints
15 owner reports filed with NHTSA.
- 15
- Total
- 1
- Crashes
- 1
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
Most reported components
- ENGINE4
- BRAKES4
- OTHER3
- FUEL SYSTEM1
- LIGHTING1
Normal Range
15 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA. 1 report involves a crash.
Most reported problems
Safety timeline
Every dated recall and NHTSA investigation for the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev, newest first.
- Recall
A gas spring cylinder rupture or a liftgate falling unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.
- Recall
A gas spring cylinder rupture or a liftgate falling unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.
- Investigation closed
NHTSA closed investigation DP22005
Pedestrian alert sounds
- Investigation opened
NHTSA opened investigation DP22005
Pedestrian alert sounds
- Recall
An unrestrained occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
- Recall
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.
- Recall
If the safety systems do not function as intended, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Dates are the NHTSA report-received date for recalls and the ODI open/close date for investigations. Crash-test ratings are not shown here because the source does not provide a reliable publication date for them.
Specifications & ratings
Specifications
- Body class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
- Drive type
- All-Wheel Drive
- Engine
- 2L 4-cyl
- Fuel type
- Unknown
- Transmission
- Automatic (A1)
- Seats
- 0
Fuel economy
45
City
47
Hwy
45
Comb
- Annual cost
- $2,450
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
NHTSA crash ratings
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
Explore related
Safety timeline
Full timeline- Recall
A gas spring cylinder rupture or a liftgate falling unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.
- Recall
A gas spring cylinder rupture or a liftgate falling unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.
- Investigation closed
NHTSA closed investigation DP22005
Pedestrian alert sounds
- Investigation opened
NHTSA opened investigation DP22005
Pedestrian alert sounds
- Recall
An unrestrained occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.