2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
232 NHTSA owner complaints · 9 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
Avoid the 2015 and 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, which have 232 and 163 complaints and scores of 34 and 36, and treat the 2013 and 2014 cars (scores 67 and 65) with caution. Buy a 2017 or later car: the 2017 has 73 complaints and no recalls, the 2018 has 21, and the 2021 to 2025 cars have between 1 and 17 complaints each with scores of 90 to 93. Read the full note on the model page. 2015 specifically: this is one of the years the note above says to approach with care — 232 complaints on record, verdict AVOID.
Read the guide
Used Mitsubishi Outlander and Outlander Sport: the years to avoid, including 2015 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 232 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 21.09
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
While driving on a highway at approximately 55–60 mph, the vehicle suddenly lost its ability to accelerate and maintain power. The engine RPM increased, but the vehicle would not respond normally, creating a significant safety hazard in traffic. The CVT transmission intermittently enters a reduced-power mode (limp mode), making it difficult to safely merge or continue driving. Diagnostic trouble codes P0776 (Pressure…
Purchased used car in July 2024 and was able to drive it maybe 2 months and the transmission would not shift and would come to a complete stop. Not a safe feeling driving in 3 lanes of traffic on a busy highway at rush hour. Transmission light on and took to mechanic and was told this make and model is notorious for transmission failure and it needs replacing. The odometer is 86316 and car has been sitting now for tw…
The contact owns a 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and while driving from a complete stop, the vehicle hesitated upon depressing the accelerator pedal. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle had failed to shift to reverse(R). The warning message "Service Transmission" was displayed. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic, where it w…
Recalls: 9 campaigns (3 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 21V144000 | Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm | Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Outlander Sport vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,… |
| 18V103000 | Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Linkages | Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2011-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles. |
| 20V279000 | Structure:Frame And Members | Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2008-2010 Lancer, 2009-2010 Lancer Sportback, 2008-2013 Outlander, and 2011-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota,… |
| 14V744000 | Seat Belts | Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Outlander Sport vehicles manufactured July 20, 2012, to July 23, 2014. |
| 16V548000 | Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines | Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport vehicles manufactured June 25, 2014, through November 25, 2015 and equipped with a 2.0L engine and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). |
| 18V070000 | Parking Brake | Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Outlander and 2013-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles. |
| 16V563000 | 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. |
| 17V609000 | Electrical System:Starter Assembly:Relay | Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Outlander, 2015-2016 Lancer and Outlander Sport, and 2015 Lancer Evolution vehicles. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact 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 28 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,200
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 Train142 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Engine46 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Vehicle Speed Control31 complaints · typical job: Throttle body, pedal sensor or cruise module replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$520–$1,150
- Unknown Or Other26 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Electrical System25 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Fuel/Propulsion System18 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
Other Mitsubishi Outlander Sport years
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport years to avoid, and the best years to buy →
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Power Train (142 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is AVOID with a reliability score of 34/100, computed from 232 NHTSA complaints and 9 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport's most common problem?
142 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 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 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport cost to run per year?
About $4,810 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $24,052 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 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 9 recall campaign(s) for the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, 3 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 05/03/2021. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other compact suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 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.
Strong evidence — 232 complaints, 9 recalls on record
- 232 NHTSA complaints on record (21.1/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (4.3/yr)
- 9 recall campaigns, 3 touching safety-critical systems