Outlander PHEV: Engine Trouble & Black Smoke Issues

Hey there! I've had some experience working on hybrids and had a similar issue with my 2019 Eclipse Cross PHEV (pretty close to your Outlander!). The symptoms you're describing sound exactly like what I dealt with last month. My car was doing the same thing, rough running, black smoke, and terrible fuel economy. Turned out to be incorrect software values in the fuel pump control module. Got it fixed at my local Mitsubishi dealer, they basically had to reprogram the fuel pump settings. Cost me about 45 Euro and took just a couple hours. Before I can be more specific, Have you scanned for error codes? When did these symptoms first start? Does it happen more when the engine is cold or warm? I might be able to give you more targeted advice with that info.

Thanks for the detailed response! My last service was just 2 months ago at 117363 KM, and yeah, I've got those error codes scanned. Started noticing these issues about a week ago, mainly when the engine's cold, especially during morning starts. It gets a bit better once warmed up, but still not great. It's weird because everything was running smoothly until recently. I'm relieved to hear it might just be a software issue like yours, definitely sounds less scary than what I was thinking! Guess I should book it in with the dealer then?

Hey again! Yeah, after hearing those details, I'm even more convinced it's similar to what I experienced with my Eclipse Cross. The cold-start symptoms are a dead giveaway, mine was exactly the same way! Those first few minutes in the morning were just awful, right? I actually waited about two weeks before taking mine to the dealer (big mistake, by the way), thinking it might sort itself out. Don't do what I did, the poor fuel economy alone cost me more than the fix would have! Plus, the black smoke got worse over time. Since you're at 117K KM, that's pretty close to where mine started acting up too (I was at about 125K). The dealer told me these software glitches can sometimes pop up after regular maintenance updates, which might explain why it started right after your service. Definitely book it with the dealer, and specifically mention the cold-start issues and the error codes. If it's the same problem I had, it's a pretty quick fix. My mechanic said they're seeing this more often in the newer PHEVs. Let me know how it goes! I'm curious if it turns out to be the same issue. By the way, have you noticed any improvement at all when you're running in EV mode, or is it acting up regardless?

Thanks so much for all this helpful info! You've honestly made me feel a lot better about the whole situation. Actually, it's acting up in both modes, even in EV, there's some weird jerking, though not as bad as when the engine's running. I'll definitely call the dealer first thing tomorrow morning and mention everything you've said about the software issue. Really hoping it'll be as straightforward as your fix was! Can't believe I was stressing so much about possible major engine problems when it might just be a software update. And you're right, I should get it sorted ASAP before I waste more money on fuel. I'll update you once I get it checked out. Thanks again for sharing your experience, it's been super helpful!