2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
15 NHTSA owner complaints · 5 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Owner complaints: 15 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 1.88
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
While driving my vehicle, the propulsion reduced warning light came on and the car went from 70 mph to 10 mph. i was driving up a grade in the late evening. i had a full tank of gas but no miles left on the electric charge indicator. after i pulled over and waited a few minutes the light went off and i was able to drive the vehicle home. i took it to the dealership the next day. the dealership was not able to…
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 be fixed in earlier models. it still isn't. dealers can't do anything. yet i can't crank the music up volume without…
The vehicle slowed down to 20 mph when the outside air temperature was near 95 deg f and the road slightly uphill. a message came on the dashboard that read limited propulsion. it happened on i-15 on the way to vegas last september. i filed a complaint with bbb and the answer i got from mitsubishi was that it is designed that way. i have a copy of the mitsubishi manual stating that. i wrote letters with no action…
Recalls: 5 campaigns (2 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 25V507000 | 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,… |
| 20V403000 | Seat Belts: Rear/Other:Buckle Assembly | Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Outlander and 2018-2019 Outlander PHEV vehicles. |
| 18V620000 | 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,… |
| 18V621000 | 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. |
| 26V252000 | 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. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a mid-size SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 25 MPGe · estimated annual energy cost $2,600 · EPA range 22 mi
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Power Train5 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Vehicle Speed Control4 complaints · typical job: Throttle body, pedal sensor or cruise module replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$520–$1,150
- Electrical System4 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Service Brakes4 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
- Fuel/Propulsion System3 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
- Unknown Or Other3 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
Other Mitsubishi Outlander Phev years
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FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Power Train (5 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 81/100, computed from 15 NHTSA complaints and 5 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev's most common problem?
5 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev sit in the Power Train group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is transmission service or clutch-pack repair: about 7.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,290–$4,040 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev cost to run per year?
About $4,425 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $22,125 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for the 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev, 2 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 07/08/2025. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other midsize suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Phev really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Thin evidence — 15 complaints, 5 recalls on record
- 15 NHTSA complaints on record (1.9/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (1.9/yr)
- 5 recall campaigns, 2 touching safety-critical systems
- Thin complaint record — this score is held close to the model's own average rather than read as evidence of quality