Mitsubishi is facing a class-action lawsuit that alleges the absence of a battery heating component in the 2023 Outlander PHEV model, making it impossible to start the vehicles in low temperatures.
Internal materials from Mitsubishi confirm this issue, and the company has received customer complaints regarding Mitsubishi battery problems. However, according to the lawsuit, the company has taken no actions to rectify these defects.
The lawsuit claims that the battery defect can leave vehicle owners in winter conditions, depriving them of the ability to use their cars and leaving them stranded. The absence of a heating component in the battery renders these vehicles unsuitable for their intended purpose of transportation. Additionally, the lack of heating in cold conditions also affects charging speed, battery capacity, and degradation.
Mitsubishi reportedly had awareness of the battery problems in the Outlander PHEV model, which resulted in owners having to bear the costs of diagnosing and repairing the issues themselves, according to the plaintiff. Despite being aware of these problems, the company did not take any actions to assist its customers, the plaintiff adds.
“Owners of vehicles in this group have reported instances of their vehicles turning off and being unable to drive in extreme winter conditions, largely due to the absence of a heating system for the battery,” the lawsuit states. “Since the vehicle cannot be started or driven if the main battery is too cold, the lack of a heating system for the main battery leaves owners with no choice but to wait for a change in weather, allowing the battery to warm up and become usable.”
In a separate case in March 2023, Mitsubishi argued that there were no grounds for reopening a complaint regarding a faulty hood latch class.
Have you experienced any issues with the battery of your 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV in winter conditions? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiff is represented by Marc Edelson and Liberato P. Verderame from Edelson Lechtzin LLP, as well as Jonathan Shuba, Benjamin F. Johnson, and Samantha E. Holbrook from Shub and Johnson LLC.
The class-action lawsuit against Mitsubishi is titled Schecter v. Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc., case number 2:24-cv-00246, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
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The source of the article is from the blog japan-pc.jp