Mitsubishi has found the Lithium-ion battery issue that stopped production of the Outlander plug-in hybrid model for several weeks.
The Japanese carmaker said that the problem was caused by microscopic contaminants that got in the battery cells during a screening process. The contaminants caused overheating of the battery pack that caught fire in at least two Outlander plug-in cars.
Mitsubishi and its battery supplier are conducting tests to create a new screen process. When done, the company will make a recall for the approximately 4,000 possible affected Outlanders sold in Japan.
Until then, Mitsubishi advises owners to deactivate the hybrid system and to drive the car in normal combustion-powered mode as it is completely safe. Also, the automaker offered to compensate owners for added fuel costs until the recall process is over.
Mitsubishi and its battery supplier are conducting tests to create a new screen process. When done, the company will make a recall for the approximately 4,000 possible affected Outlanders sold in Japan.
Until then, Mitsubishi advises owners to deactivate the hybrid system and to drive the car in normal combustion-powered mode as it is completely safe. Also, the automaker offered to compensate owners for added fuel costs until the recall process is over.