Transmission complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 7% | — |
| 2024 | 4 | 15% | — |
| 2023 | 5 | 10% | 46,000 miles |
| 2022 | 8 | 4% | 70,000 miles |
| 2020 | 1 | 3% | 6,000 miles |
| 2019 | 3 | 10% | 7,000 miles |
| 2018 | 3 | 5% | 34,000 miles |
| 2017 | 7 | 14% | 77,000 miles |
| 2016 | 64 | 44% | 80,000 miles |
| 2015 | 25 | 47% | 34,000 miles |
| 2014 | 7 | 16% | 130,000 miles |
| 2013 | 4 | 15% | 71,000 miles |
| 2012 | 6 | 27% | 134,000 miles |
| 2011 | 6 | 10% | 69,000 miles |
| 2010 | 6 | 10% | 150,000 miles |
| 2009 | 5 | 11% | 171,000 miles |
| 2008 | 9 | 16% | 49,000 miles |
| 2007 | 8 | 6% | 115,000 miles |
| 2005 | 3 | 16% | 80,000 miles |
| 2004 | 3 | 6% | 34,000 miles |
| 2003 | 6 | 5% | 97,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The shifter assembly was replaced by the manufacturer and I do not know if the item is available for inspection as the dealership handled the replacement. Mine and my daughters safety was put in danger on April 10, 2024 when I was turning into a parking space at my doctors office and went to put the car into park the car accelerated on its on over an embankment and into a busy 5 lane highway. When trying to stop the brakes failed several times and the only thing I could do to stop it was push the on off button to kill power to the engine. Upon stopping we looked at the car and saw quite a bit of damage to the car after going over the embankment and through several bushes and small trees. The problem has been confirmed by the dealer and manufacturer. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership at which I bought the vehicle and by my insurance company. …
In the morning where I live for the last few days it has been below 0. The Outlander PHEV even when plugged in over night will start the gas engine and drive for about one minute until the gas engine shuts off and comes up with a message saying power reduced with a turtle symbol. When it does this you have no heat (HVAC) the heated seats and heated steering wheel does not work as well as the front and rear defrost. The car speed seems to be limited to about 40MPH. This issue is not news as many PHEV owners are dealing with the same issue, From my understanding Mitsubishi didn't install a battery warmer on the new generation Outlander PHEV however the prior generation Outlander PHEV did have a battery warmer and there were no issues with that model in cold climates. …
The contact owns a 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rear of the vehicle would move independently. The contact stated that it felt as if the vehicle were going to slide and eventually would lose control. No warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that an unknown rear chip had failed. The shock absorbers had water, the rear brake pads were worn down to zero, and the rear differential needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure persisted and was worsening. In addition, the contact stated an abnormal grinding sound could be heard coming from the rear differential. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the differential gauge had failed to function as intended. …
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 contact owned a 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle wobbled and failed to respond. The contact stated that upon forcefully depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle responded as intended. There was no warning light illuminated. The failure mostly occurred while driving at highway speeds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed, and determined that the braking system needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the repair was not covered under the two-year warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to respond intermittently while attempting to drive from a complete stop on the roadway. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, however the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The RPM's increased. In addition, the vehicle hesitated and jerked. o warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact has an upcoming diagnostic testing appointment scheduled. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
Transmission not working properly. It said overheating and then stopped driving suddenly whil driving. Very unsafe. Also issue with parking break that just stopped working. This car seems to be a lemon. Not sure why this is happening.
Tl* the contact rented a 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander. While driving approximately 20 MPH with the shifter in drive, the vehicle started to go backwards. The contact attempted to brake on a small incline, but the brakes did not work. The vehicle continued to roll backwards towards a truck. When the contact depressed the start button, the vehicle stopped and the brakes engaged. The contact took the vehicle back to enterprise rent-a-car and received another vehicle. The contact did not know if the vehicle was diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 6,500.
Related recalls (2)
Power train › Automatic transmission › Control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles and 2016 Outlander and Lancer vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a constant velocity transmission (CVT) that, in certain driving conditions, may cause a delay in the vehicle accelerating.
Remedy: MMNA has notified owners, and dealers will reprogram the CVT control unit with modified software, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2016. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820.
Power train › Transfer case (4-wheel drive)
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2007 and 2009 Outlander vehicles. During servicing, the affected vehicles were repaired with replacement transfer case assemblies whose oil seal may come out of position.
Remedy: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transfer assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on July 30, 2014. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820.
Frequently asked questions
Which Mitsubishi Outlander years have transmission problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2016 (64), 2015 (25), 2008 (9), 2007 (8) and 2022 (8) model years. Transmission complaints make up 44% of all complaints for the 2016.
Is there a recall for Mitsubishi Outlander transmission problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 16V-563 (control module (tcm/pcm/tecm), Jul 28, 2016); 14V-365 (transfer case (4-wheel drive), Jun 25, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Mitsubishi Outlander transmission problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 78,000 miles; 35% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the automatic transmission (8 mentions), followed by the automatic transmission › torque converter (2).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.