You’re running late. You jump into your 2024 Outlander PHEV, hit the start button, and immediately shift into reverse to back out of the driveway. You glance at the infotainment screen, expecting to see the pavement behind you. Instead? Nothing. Just a black, void-like screen or a frozen image of your garage door from five seconds ago.
It’s frustrating. It’s also dangerous.
Honestly, this is the exact scenario that triggered the massive Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV backup camera recall that has dominated owner forums and dealership service bays lately. We aren't just talking about a few dozen cars here. Mitsubishi had to pull back nearly 200,000 vehicles because the software in their "Alliance In-Vehicle Infotainment" (A-IVI) system simply wasn't playing nice with the camera hardware.
If you've been seeing a blank screen when you shift into R, you aren't alone. It turns out the software had a nasty habit of crashing or freezing if you moved too fast or if the system just felt like taking a nap.
The 198,940 Vehicle Problem
This isn't just one isolated incident. It’s actually an expansion. Back in 2023, Mitsubishi tried to fix a similar issue with recall 23V-345. That one covered about 90,000 cars. They thought they had it licked with a software patch.
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They didn't.
By early 2025, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Mitsubishi realized the problem was much bigger. The new campaign, known as NHTSA Campaign Number 25V-369, basically admitted that the first fix wasn't enough. It expanded the net to include 198,940 vehicles.
Which Models are Actually Affected?
The list is specific, but it covers a lot of ground. If you drive one of these, listen up:
- 2023-2025 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV: Specifically those built between September 27, 2022, and April 21, 2025.
- 2022-2024 Mitsubishi Outlander (Gas Models): Built between February 8, 2021, and December 20, 2024.
The date of April 22, 2025, is the magic cutoff. Anything built after that supposedly has the updated "countermeasure" software right from the factory. If yours was built before then? You likely need a trip to the dealer.
Why the Screen Goes Dark
Computers in cars are sort of like smartphones on wheels, and just like your phone, they can get "confused." In the case of the Outlander PHEV, the A-IVI system would sometimes fail to initialize the camera feed correctly.
Data shows the failure often happens if you shift into reverse within 40 seconds of starting the car. It’s like the brain of the car is still "waking up" and the camera request gets lost in the shuffle. Other times, the screen would just freeze if you stayed in reverse for more than six seconds.
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 111 is very clear: you must have a working rearview image. If the screen is black, the car is technically illegal to sell and unsafe to drive in reverse. Mitsubishi found over 350 warranty claims related to this before finally pulling the trigger on the expanded recall.
The "Fix" is a Bit of a Pain
Here is the kicker: you can't fix this in your driveway.
Unlike a Tesla or some newer Fords that can update over the air (OTA) while you sleep, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV requires a physical connection. You have to take it to a certified dealer. They plug in a specialized USB drive—specifically one labeled "SW Update 5185" or newer—and reflash the infotainment unit.
The process takes about 30 to 40 minutes.
It’s free, obviously. Federal law mandates that. But it’s still an hour or two of your life gone because of a line of bad code. Some owners have reported that after the update, the clock on the dash might look wonky for a few minutes until the GPS resyncs, but that’s a small price to pay for actually seeing the kid on a bike behind you.
What You Should Do Right Now
If you haven't received a letter yet, don't just sit there.
- Find your VIN: It’s on your insurance card or at the base of your windshield on the driver's side.
- Check the NHTSA portal: Go to the NHTSA recall site and plug that VIN in.
- Call your local dealer: Even if they didn't sell you the car, any Mitsubishi dealer is required to perform the update.
- Document everything: If you already paid a shop to try and fix your camera before this recall was official, keep those receipts. Mitsubishi has a reimbursement plan for people who shelled out cash for this specific software bug before the recall was announced.
Don't ignore this. While a black screen seems like a "tech glitch," the risk of backing over something—or someone—is real. It's a quick software patch that brings your SUV back into compliance and, more importantly, keeps your bumpers (and neighbors) safe.
If you’re noticing other weirdness, like the volume knob not responding or the screen rebooting while you’re driving down the highway, mention that to the service advisor. These are often related to the same buggy A-IVI software. The new update version 283C38872E (or the latest equivalent for your specific trim) is designed to stabilize the whole unit, not just the camera.
Check your VIN today. It takes two minutes and saves a lot of headaches later.