2025 Mitsubishi Outlander Recalled Over Back Over Prevention

Here’s the short version: your backup camera might go dark right when you need it. Mitsubishi is recalling certain 2025 and 2026 Outlanders because a software glitch can keep the rearview image from showing up on the screen when you shift into reverse. If you own one of these, that’s not a paperwork problem. That’s a real blind spot behind you.

What actually fails here

The problem lives in the software, not the camera itself. These Outlanders use what Mitsubishi calls the Alliance In-Vehicle Infotainment system, or A-IVI. That’s the screen in your dash that’s supposed to flip over to the rear camera view the moment you drop the shifter into reverse.

Because of improper software programming, that handoff can fail. You put it in reverse, and the camera image may not display. No picture. Just whatever else is on the screen, or nothing useful for backing up.

That’s not a minor annoyance. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 111, “Rear Visibility,” exists specifically because people back over things they can’t see — kids, bikes, poles, the corner of the garage. The rear camera is a required safety feature, and a vehicle that doesn’t reliably show that image doesn’t meet the standard. Mitsubishi’s own filing says these vehicles fail to comply with FMVSS 111.

The practical risk is simple. A rearview image that doesn’t come up reduces your view behind the vehicle, and that raises the odds of a crash. If you’re relying on that screen and it stays blank, you’re backing up on mirrors and gut instinct — and on a lot of these SUVs the rear sightlines aren’t great to begin with.

What the filing says

Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) reported this recall to NHTSA, which received it on August 25, 2026. It carries NHTSA campaign number 26V549000. Mitsubishi’s internal number for it is SR-26-002.

The recall covers certain 2025-2026 Outlander and 2026 Outlander PHEV vehicles. In total, 67,146 vehicles are affected — that’s over 67,000 SUVs with a camera that may not do its one job when you back up.

The fix is a software update. Dealers will reprogram the A-IVI system, and it’s free. Owner notification letters are expected to go out September 24, 2026. If you want to check your specific vehicle, the VINs tied to this recall become searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 9, 2026.

What this means if you own one

1. Run your VIN. Starting September 9, 2026, you’ll be able to plug your VIN into NHTSA.gov and see whether your vehicle is included in 26V549000. Don’t rely on the year and model alone — this covers certain 2025 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander and 2026 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander vehicles, including the PHEV, so check the VIN to be sure.

2. Don’t ignore a blank screen. If you shift into reverse and the camera image doesn’t come up, treat that as the defect showing itself. Until the update is done, back up slowly, use your mirrors, and physically check behind the vehicle before you move — especially in driveways, parking lots, and anywhere kids or pedestrians might be.

3. Watch for the letter. Notification letters are expected to be mailed September 24, 2026. When yours arrives, call your dealer and schedule the software update. It’s a reprogram, not a parts job, so it should be quick.

4. The repair is free — full stop. Under federal recall rules, a safety recall remedy comes at no charge to you. Dealers will update the A-IVI software free of charge. Nobody should be charging you for this.

5. Have questions before the letter shows up? You can contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820 and reference recall number SR-26-002, or check the NHTSA campaign page directly for 26V549000.

6. Document everything. Keep the recall letter and any dealer paperwork showing the update was performed. If you had a backing incident tied to the camera not displaying, write down the date and what happened. Records matter if it ever becomes an issue.

The honest take

This is a software problem with a software fix, which is about the best case you can hope for in a recall. There are no failing parts to hunt down and no long backorder — a dealer plugs in and reflashes the system, and you’re on your way.

But don’t file it under “no big deal.” A backup camera that doesn’t display is exactly the kind of quiet failure that catches people off guard, because you only find out it’s broken the moment you actually need it. And on a family SUV like the Outlander, the thing you can’t see behind you is often the thing that matters most.

If your Outlander is on this list, get the update done when your dealer can take you, and in the meantime, treat that screen like it might let you down. Check behind the vehicle with your own eyes. That habit costs you nothing and it’s the whole point of the standard this recall is meant to restore.

Source: NHTSA recall campaign 26V549000.