Eclipse Cross Smoking & Stalling: Lambda Sensor Issue?

Had the same issue with my 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV last winter. The symptoms matched yours exactly, black smoke, jerky acceleration, and terrible fuel economy. The check engine light led me to my trusted mechanic at the Mitsubishi dealership. Turned out my lambda sensor heater was completely shot. These sensors monitor oxygen levels in the exhaust and help control the fuel mixture. When they fail, your engine runs rich (too much fuel), hence the black smoke and poor efficiency. Had it fixed at the dealership, took about 3 hours total. They had to replace the entire sensor unit as the heater component isn't sold separately. It's a pretty serious issue since it affects both engine performance and emissions. If left unfixed, it could damage your catalytic converter, which would be much worse. The repair solved all the problems, no more smoke, smooth acceleration, and fuel economy back to normal. I'd definitely recommend getting it checked ASAP at a certified Mitsubishi dealer.

Hey, thanks for sharing your experience! This is exactly what I've been dealing with. I ended up taking your advice and went to a Mitsubishi dealer, they confirmed it was indeed the lambda sensor. Just curious, do you remember roughly how much you paid for the repair? And has everything been running smoothly since then? I'm a bit worried about potential related issues popping up down the road.

Hey there! Yeah, I remember clearly, it cost me 375€ to fix the lambda sensor heater at the dealership. And honestly, it was worth every penny! Since getting it fixed, my Outlander PHEV has been running like a dream, no more black smoke, jerking, or any of those annoying issues we discussed. It's been over a year now since I had it repaired, and I haven't had a single problem related to it. The fuel economy went back to normal straight away, and the engine's performance is spot on. Trust me, once they fix that lambda sensor heater, you'll notice the difference immediately. Don't worry too much about future issues, these sensors are pretty reliable once replaced. Just make sure you're getting regular maintenance done, and you should be fine. My mechanic at the dealership did a fantastic job with the repair. Best decision I made was getting it sorted as soon as I noticed the problems!

Thanks for the detailed info! Just got back from the dealership actually. You were spot on, it was the lambda sensor heater, and I paid around 390€. A bit more than what you paid, but I guess prices have gone up. The whole experience was pretty smooth. Dropped it off in the morning, and they had it ready by afternoon. The mechanic was super helpful and even showed me the old sensor, it was completely burnt out! He explained everything clearly and gave me some tips for preventive maintenance. I've driven it for a few days now, and wow, what a difference! No more black smoke, the jerking is gone, and it's running so much smoother. Fuel consumption has dropped back to normal too. Really glad I took your advice and went to the dealership instead of my usual mechanic. Thanks again for sharing your experience, it helped me make the right decision. Now I can finally enjoy driving my Eclipse Cross again without worrying about every little noise or problem!