The Mitsubishi Outlander is a very popular car, with sales in 2021 exceeding 100,000 units.  Mitsubishi’s motto is “Drive Your Ambition” and has the reputation of a fun and safe car.

Anchored by a 10 year/100,000-mile warranty, the Outlander has become Mitsubishi’s flagship car with demand overshadowing supply.

Despite its popularity, the Outlander is not immune from reliability issues.  According to a class action lawsuit filed in December 2021, the Mitsubishi Outlander CVT transmission is causing erratic shifting and hesitation.

The unpredictable shifting of the Outlander’s transmission has exposed drivers to dangerous situations on the road.

We’ll discuss the transmission defects Mitsubishi Outlander owners are experiencing and your rights to compensation under the lemon law.

Mitsubishi Outlander CVT Transmission 

Mitsubishi equipped its very popular car, the Outlander, with the continuously variable transmission, better known as CVT transmission.

Unlike a traditional automatic or manual transmission, the CVT transmission does not have a fixed number of gears.  Instead, the CVT transmission has endless gear ratios. The gear ratios allow the Outlander to change speed without shifting gears.

Since it allows for seamless changes without any hard shift points, the Mitsubishi Outlander CVT transmission is often referred to as “single-speed” or “shiftless.”

Just like the Mitsubishi Outlander, many other automakers, including the Nissan, Subaru, and Hyundai have increased their use of the CVT transmission. The manufacturers choose the CVT because of the following advantages:

  • Reduction of noise from the engine
  • Increased fuel economy
  • Changing speeds without the sensation of effort
  • A higher performance(strength and lightness)
  • Smoother driving experience

Mitsubishi Outlander Transmission Problems

Many Mitsubishi Outlander owners are experiencing transmission problems such as hesitation and shuddering when accelerating, as well as hearing loud banging noises when slowing down.

Mitsubishi Outlander owners are not alone as other models, such as the Lancer, Mirage, and Eclipse are experiencing the same transmission defects.

According to Car Complaints the transmission problems allegedly occur “due to slippage of the CVT belt, contamination of the hydraulic pressure circuit and other internal components, miscalibration of the CVT control unit and an inadequate CVT cooling system”.

Owners of the Mitsubishi Outlander and other models report experiencing CVT transmission failure.

Signs of CVT transmission failure include:

  • Shifting lag. A hesitation, brief pause, or lurching when the vehicle shifts between park, drive, and reverse.
  • Power loss. The vehicle momentarily loses power during an acceleration event that should otherwise be constant, seamless, and increasing in speed.
  • Engine rev fluctuations. Inconsistent changes through the rev band while driving the vehicle at a constant speed.
  • An unusually loud noise. Excessive whirring during acceleration, beyond the typically higher sound level of a CVT.

A reviewer on Vehicle History reported

“Some of the Mitsubishi Outlander cvt transmission problems are hard shifts and jerks. The transmission fluid needs to be replaced every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. Along with fluid changes, terrible sounds will come from the transmission….Hard shifts could arise and that is not good. You could experience shudders. There may be jerking. The gears might become stuck. The transmission could slip. Delayed shifts will cause acceleration problems.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports Mitsubishi issued a technical service bulletin (TSB) 20-23-001REV  for the transmission problems with the Outlander.

The TSB states: “Certain [Mitsubishi Outlander] vehicles with F1CJC/W1CJC (CVT-8) transmissions may exhibit a shudder or surge condition possibly caused by poor reaction of the hydraulic pressure circuit.”

The Outlander TSB further states, “The shudder/surge condition may also be described as engine flare, lack of acceleration, and/or car shake.”

Mitsubishi recalled more than 82,400 cars and SUVs, including the Outlander to fix transmission problems that could cause a delay in the vehicle acceleration.

Mitsubishi Outlander Transmission Class Action Lawsuit

As a result of numerous transmission complaints, a class action was filed in California alleging the CVT found in the Mitsubishi Outlander, and other models is defective and pose a significant safety risk.

The lawsuit alleges Mitsubishi knew about the Outlander transmission defects and failed to make repairs or correct the defect. The 72-page complaint (Hardy et al v. Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. et al ) filed by 5 Plaintiffs states

“For example, turning left across traffic in a vehicle with delayed and unpredictable acceleration is plainly unsafe. In addition, these conditions can make it difficult to safely change lanes, merge into traffic, turn, accelerate from stop light/sign, and accelerate onto highways or freeways.”

The lawsuit claims other models to be affected by the CVT transmission defect include:

  • 2014-2017 Mitsubishi Lancer;
  • 2014-Present Mitsubishi Outlander;
  • 2014-Present Mitsubishi Outlander Sport;
  • 2014-Present Mitsubishi Mirage; and/or
  • 2018-Present Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross.

View a copy of the Mitsubishi Outlander transmission class complaint.

What Is the Next Step?

If you are having issues with the Mitsubishi transmission, it is time to take action. Like some vehicle owners, you may be dealing with frequent failures that are impacting your life. The best course of action is to contact a lemon law lawyer for assistance.

If you are having issues with your Mitsubishi Outlander, contact us today to speak with an experienced attorney in PA Lemon Law and NJ Lemon Law.