Battery Concerns in the Outlander PHEV

[Biorider_A]

I've been hearing a lot about the battery issues with the previous generation Outlander PHEV. It seems like many owners have experienced rapid battery degradation, leading to the need for dealer "maintenance" to regain lost range. Personally, I suspect the BMS might not be rebalancing the battery pack properly, which could be why we're seeing reduced energy storage as cell voltages drift. I'm curious if anyone has insights on the new generation PHEV, did they upgrade the BMS or just increase the battery capacity? I wonder if the new models face the same degradation problems.

 

[PHEV07]

I've been hearing a lot about the battery issues with the previous generation Outlander PHEV. It seems like many owners have experienced rapid battery degradation, leading to the need for dealer "maintenance" to regain lost range. Personally, I suspect the BMS might not be rebalancing the battery pack properly, which could be why we're seeing reduced energy storage as cell voltages drift. I'm curious if anyone has insights on the new generation PHEV, did they upgrade the BMS or just increase the battery capacity? I wonder if the new models face the same degradation problems.

Very good question. I too am wondering the same thing.

When I first picked up my vehicle in April 2024, I could drive in city (similar route) and average 95/100 kms per Charge, during the summer I actually averaged 100/105 kms a few times

Now that the weather is cooling and with using the heater, about 10% of the time, I have been averaging 85/90 kms per charge.

Since the Watchdog no longer works on 2023 or new Models it is difficult to determine the Battery State of Charge.

I am scheduled for Servicing at the end of the month and hope to find out what the current SOC is now.

 

[Biorider_A]

Very good question. I too am wondering the same thing.

When I first picked up my vehicle in April 2024, I could drive in city (similar route) and average 95/100 kms per Charge, during the summer I actually averaged 100/105 kms a few times

Now that the weather is cooling and with using the heater, about 10% of the time, I have been averaging 85/90 kms per charge.

Since the Watchdog no longer works on 2023 or new Models it is difficult to determine the Battery State of Charge.

I am scheduled for Servicing at the end of the month and hope to find out what the current SOC is now.

That’s a solid range, even with the seasonal drop. It’s too bad Watchdog doesn’t work on newer models, I’d love to know if SOC shifts could be part of it. Let us know what you hear at service.

 

[bmorourke]

That’s a solid range, even with the seasonal drop. It’s too bad Watchdog doesn’t work on newer models, I’d love to know if SOC shifts could be part of it. Let us know what you hear at service.

Hello,
Last year my 2014 Outlander PHEV Aspire had a similar catastrophic failure with the lithium battery. It would lose power/stall randomly, including at high speeds and when trying to cut across intersections... very scary and dangerous, luckily no accident happened.

When I got it to the dealership they ran diagnostics and eventually told me that cells in the battery had failed and the battery would need to be replaced, at a cost of $15k, equivalent to the full market value of the vehicle. In the end I had to scrap the vehicle as the Mitsubishi dealership told me there was nothing they could do.

Before the battery failed, I was only getting about 15k out of the battery in full charge.

Worst car I've owned.

 

[AndyInOz]

Hi bmorourke,

It would be helpful if you could provide more information.

Do you know the charging history of the vehicle or was it purchased second hand?

Particularly, do you know how often it was fast charged?

How did you purchase? Auction/Dealer?

Did you seek information anywhere else about getting the damaged cells replaced?

Have any of the various methods to trick the battery management software been used?

Had the car been altered to stop the engine from starting?