2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Safety Report

The 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport presents a mixed safety picture. While its NHTSA crash test ratings are generally good, with an overall 4-star rating, 4 stars for frontal, 5 stars for side, and 4 stars for rollover, the vehicle has a significant number of owner complaints and a high recall count. With 229 total complaints, 5 crashes, 2 fires, and 4 injuries reported, there are clear areas of concern. The most prominent issue, by a large margin, is related to the POWER TRAIN, accounting for 89 complaints, often specifically mentioning the CVT transmission. This is corroborated by multiple recalls related to the power train, including one for 'POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)' which addresses hesitation during acceleration, and another for 'POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES' which could lead to transmission failure and vehicle inoperability. Common complaint patterns revolve around the CVT transmission, with owners frequently reporting hesitation during acceleration, loss of power, jerking, stalling, and complete transmission failure. Several complaints describe the vehicle losing motive power while driving at various speeds, including highway speeds, which significantly increases the risk of a crash. For example, one complaint details the car doing a 'skip' and then the 'CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT' coming on, leading to the car not being able to drive. Another describes the car completely shutting down and restarting itself at 60 MPH, putting it back into first gear and revving the RPMs. Beyond the power train, other notable recalls include issues with the front suspension control arm, which could lead to a loss of vehicle control, and multiple recalls concerning the windshield wiper system, where water intrusion could cause loss of wiper function and reduced visibility. The parking brake also has a recall for potential binding, which could prevent proper engagement or disengagement. The high number of recalls (9 in total) indicates several design or manufacturing defects that required corrective action. Despite decent crash test scores, the prevalence of power train issues and other critical component recalls suggests potential reliability and safety risks, particularly concerning unexpected loss of motive power or control.

Our recommendation: Given the high number of recalls and prevalent power train complaints, particularly concerning the CVT transmission, potential buyers should proceed with caution and ensure all recalls have been addressed. A thorough pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic, with a specific focus on the transmission and suspension components, is highly recommended.