YearToAvoid

2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 15 Outlander Sport years

The 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport ranks worst of 15 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 100, 182 complaints, and 9 recalls. Transmission & powertrain issues make up 64% of complaints, giving it an Avoid verdict relative to other Outlander Sport years.

Complaints
182
Recalls
9
Crashes / fires
2 / 1
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
26
23 city / 29 hwy

Top 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain117 (64%)
  2. Engine51 (28%)
  3. Electrical System21 (12%)
  4. Other20 (11%)
  5. Brakes16 (9%)
  6. Fuel System14 (8%)
  7. Visibility & Wipers8 (4%)
  8. Airbags7 (4%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (3%)
  10. Steering4 (2%)

What owners report

  • Vehicles hesitate or fail to accelerate from a stop, then jerk or lurch forward once power engages.
  • Owners describe the CVT stuttering or sticking during acceleration, sometimes at highway on-ramps or intersections.
  • One owner reported engine smoke and stalling that recurred multiple times before dealer diagnosis.
  • A driver reported an airbag that did not deploy during a head-on collision.
  • An owner reported gas pedal hesitation and stutter when accelerating from a stopped position, calling it an ongoing issue.
  • Another owner reported headlights that only illuminate a short distance ahead, making it hard to see hazards at night.
2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport complaints: complaints filed per quarter172014 Q42016 Q32018 Q12019 Q32021 Q12022 Q32024 Q12025 Q3
267 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2014 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2021 Q2 (17).

2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport recalls

9 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V144000Mar 5, 2021Structure & Body15,347 vehicles

    Structure:frame and members

    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, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The front lower control arms may detach due to the front cross member corroding from salt water exposure, such as from road salt use.

    Risk: A detached front control arm can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front cross members. Depending on the level of existing corrosion, either a sealing/anti-corrosion agent will be applied, or the front cross member will be replaced with a new one, free of charge. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-21-001. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 20V-279. Owners not previously notified under 20V-279 were notified on March 22, 2021.

  2. NHTSA 20V279000May 18, 2020Structure & Body141,200 vehicles

    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, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The front lower control arms may detach due to the front cross member corroding from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.

    Risk: A detached front control arm can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front cross members. Depending on the level of existing corrosion, either a sealing/anti-corrosion agent will be applied or the front cross member will be replaced with a new one. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-20-003.

  3. NHTSA 18V103000Feb 9, 2018Visibility & Wipers158,651 vehicles

    Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:linkages

    Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2011-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles. Water may enter between the hood and windshield and cause the front wiper link ball joint to corrode, possibly resulting in the wiper link separating and the wipers becoming inoperative.

    Risk: Loss of wiper function can reduce visibility and increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rod of the wiper link and the wiper motor crank arm, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 10, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-004.

See all 9 recalls for the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport →

2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport fuel economy and fuel cost

City
23 MPG
Highway
29 MPG
Combined
26 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,500
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2015 compared with other Outlander Sport years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2013Avoid79421026
2014Avoid8641626
2015Avoid100182926
2016Good3626825
2017Caution5727025

All Mitsubishi Outlander Sport years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2015 Outlander Sport has the highest complaint index (100) and ranks worst among all 15 model years tracked, making it the Avoid pick relative to other years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2015 Outlander Sport?
Transmission & Powertrain issues dominate, accounting for 117 of 182 complaints (64%), with a median failure mileage of 50,510.5 miles.
Does the 2015 Outlander Sport have a CVT recall?
Yes. NHTSA recall 16V563000 covers 2015-2016 Outlander Sport and related models for CVT control unit software, and recall 16V548000 covers 2015 Outlander Sport hose clamp issues on the CVT-equipped 2.0L engine.
How many recalls does the 2015 Outlander Sport have?
NHTSA lists 9 recalls for the 2015 Outlander Sport, covering areas including transmission, structure & body, brakes, visibility & wipers, and electrical system, with none marked do-not-drive.
How does the 2015 model compare to other Outlander Sport years?
The 2015 model's complaint index of 100 is the highest of any year; by comparison 2022 and 2023 score 21 and 7, both rated Best.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.