YearToAvoid

2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander has a complaint index of 26, ranking 15th worst of 20 model years, and earns a Good verdict. Transmission & powertrain issues make up 48% of its 52 complaints, with 5 recalls on file including seat belts, brakes, and electrical relays.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
26/100
#15 of 20 Outlander years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
52
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
5
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
5
reported in complaints
Fires
1
Injuries
3
Top issue
Transmission & Powertrain
Best nearby year
2012
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
26
24 city / 29 hwy
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0

Top 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain25 (48%)
  2. Engine15 (29%)
  3. Electrical System7 (13%)
  4. Brakes6 (12%)
  5. Other6 (12%)
  6. Fuel System4 (8%)
  7. Airbags3 (6%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (6%)
  9. Structure & Body2 (4%)
  10. Seat Belts1 (2%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Transmission shudders or hesitates at low speed or when slowing down, with the pattern worsening the longer the vehicle is driven.
  • Vehicle loses power and shakes at low city speeds, sometimes accompanied by a warning message reading 'Transmission Failure Reduced Power.'
  • Engine stalls, fails to turn over on first attempt, or drops into a lower gear unexpectedly while driving, sometimes requiring a restart.
  • Owners report smoke from the engine compartment or a strong gas smell shortly after starting the vehicle.
  • Airbags failed to deploy during a crash after the vehicle swerved and struck a guardrail.
  • Steering feels loose or shifts unexpectedly when driving over uneven pavement.
2015 Mitsubishi Outlander complaints: complaints filed per month3Feb 2015Jan 2016Dec 2016May 2018Jul 2019Jan 2021Nov 2023
52 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2015 to Nov 2025; peak Jan 2016 (3).

2015 Mitsubishi Outlander recalls

5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 26V252000Apr 20, 2026Structure & Body108,046 vehicles

    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. The liftgate gas spring cylinders may corrode and lose pressure, which can result in a gas spring cylinder rupture or the liftgate falling unexpectedly.

    Risk: A gas spring cylinder rupture or a liftgate falling unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: MMNA will replace the left and right liftgate gas springs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 17, 2026. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-26-001. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov June 3, 2026. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V507.

  2. NHTSA 25V507000Aug 7, 2025Structure & Body121,529 vehicles

    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, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The liftgate gas spring cylinders may corrode and lose pressure, which can result in a gas spring cylinder rupture or the liftgate falling unexpectedly.

    Risk: A gas spring cylinder rupture or a liftgate falling unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: MMNA will replace the left and right liftgate gas springs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 6, 2025. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-25-002

  3. NHTSA 20V403000Jul 13, 2020Seat Belts177,000 vehicles

    Seat belts: rear/other:buckle assembly

    Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Outlander and 2018-2019 Outlander PHEV vehicles. The second-row center seat belt buckle may interfere with the right-side seat belt buckle when the seat backs are folded down. The interference may cause the right-side seat belt buckle cover to come off, making the buckle latch inoperable and unable to restrain an occupant.

    Risk: An unrestrained occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will modify the second-row center seat belt buckle cover, install a new warning label to the second-row seat support base, and provide a new warning label insert for the owner's manual, free of charge. The recall began September 1, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-20-004.

See all 5 recalls for the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander →

2015 Mitsubishi Outlander fuel economy and fuel cost

City
24 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 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2013Good3226523
2014Caution6345426
2015Good2652526
2016Avoid95145826
2017Caution5351626

All Mitsubishi Outlander years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2015 Outlander a complaint index of 26 and a Good verdict, ranking 15th worst out of 20 model years for this model, so it performs better than most other Outlander years on file.
What is the biggest problem with the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander?
Transmission & Powertrain complaints are the largest category, accounting for 48% of all complaints (25 of 52), with a median failure mileage of 34,000.
Does the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander have recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2015 Outlander, covering the liftgate gas springs, second-row seat belt buckle, rear brake calipers, and a defective electrical relay.
How does the 2015 Outlander compare to the 2016 model?
The 2015 Outlander has a much lower complaint index (26) than the 2016 model (95), which carries an Avoid verdict with 145 complaints.
What is the fuel economy of the 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander?
The EPA rates the 2015 Outlander at 26 mpg combined (24 city / 29 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,500.

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.