Outlander PHEV batteries by version
| Drive battery | Worth knowing | |
|---|---|---|
| Original PHEV (sales from January 2013) | 12 kWh lithium-ion | Two charging sockets: a regular one and a CHAdeMO quick-charge port |
| 2019 model | 13.8 kWh | A longer electric range than the original |
| Fourth generation | 20 kWh | The biggest pack of the three |
Before an Outlander PHEV battery replacement
Test the 12-volt first
Hybrid and electric cars still have a 12-volt battery for things like the lights, radio and door locks. A flat one can make a PHEV look dead when the drive battery is fine.
Get a written health reading
A mechanic who works on high-voltage systems reads the drive battery's condition with a scan tool and writes the result down, next to the car's age and kilometres.
Check the warranty
Mitsubishi Motors NZ covers the drive battery in its new hybrids and PHEVs for 8 years or 160,000 km from first registration, for the original purchaser, with repairs at an authorised Mitsubishi dealer in New Zealand. It covers parts inside the battery case only.
Weigh what you actually need
Less electric range isn't a fault. If the petrol engine still does the long runs, a car with a smaller battery than new may suit your week fine.
Mitsubishi Outlander problems worth checking
Range dropping over the years. Expected on any lithium-ion battery. The question is how far it's dropped, and a test answers that better than the dash estimate.
Battery cooling. AA New Zealand says many owners don't know their EV may have a battery cooling fan and filter, and that dirty filters on hybrids are a common cause of battery failure. Ask for them to be checked at each service.
Brakes that still need attention. A PHEV uses its motor to slow down and recharge, so the pads last longer, but the friction brakes still need inspecting. AA New Zealand adds that brake fluid soaks up moisture over time.
Non-plug-in Outlanders. These need the ordinary list: oil, brakes, tyres and the automatic's fluid when the schedule calls for it. Mitsubishi's 4B11 and 4B12 petrol engines, the 4B12 included in later PHEVs, drive their camshafts with chains rather than a cambelt. Ask the mechanic to confirm the engine code in yours.
Japanese-import and used PHEVs
If your PHEV came in second-hand, from Japan or anywhere else, note that Mitsubishi's battery cover is written for the original purchaser of a new car, so on a used or imported Outlander, ask Mitsubishi Motors NZ with the VIN what, if anything, still applies. If you bought it from a dealer, the Consumer Guarantees Act applies to the dealer; a private seller doesn't have those obligations.
If it were our Outlander
We'd clear the 12-volt first and hold off any decision until the drive battery's health is on paper. If the warranty might still apply, start with Mitsubishi. If it doesn't, compare a used or reconditioned pack against living with the range you've got. Send the job with the year and whether it plugs in. A local mechanic who specialises in your car.