MajorCommonBrakes

Mitsubishi Outlander: Front Brake Caliper Sticking from Low Friction Brake Usage

Front Brake Caliper Sticking from Low Friction Brake Usage is a common brakes fault on the Mitsubishi Outlander on the 2013 onward cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $250 to $900 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 47 documented faults on the Mitsubishi Outlander.

Vehicle: Mitsubishi Outlander
Only on: plug-in
Years: 2013 onward
Fuel: hybrid
System: Brakes

This page covers the Mitsubishi Outlander as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Mitsubishi Outlander faults47 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Brake disc and pads yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The Outlander PHEV recovers energy through regenerative braking, meaning friction brakes are rarely fully applied in normal driving. This leads to caliper pistons and slide pins seizing from lack of use and from surface rust forming on brake rotor contact areas. Sticky calipers cause uneven braking, pad and rotor wear on the sticking side, and in severe cases brake drag causing overheating. This pattern is documented specifically on PHEV models in AU and NZ owner communities.

What you would notice

Vehicle pulls to one side under braking
One front wheel significantly hotter than the other after a drive
Grinding or pulsing when friction brakes are applied
Uneven pad or rotor wear between left and right sides

How to check it

Where to look. Front brake calipers on both sides of front axle

After a test drive, carefully feel each front wheel near the centre without touching the disc. Sticking caliper side will be noticeably warmer. Inspect brake rotors for surface rust grooves — minimal rust indicates low friction brake use and probable sticking. Check caliper slide pins for free movement and grease.

Parts involved: Brake disc and pads.

What it costs to put right

$250 to $900 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“When were the brakes last serviced or inspected?”
“Has the car had any brake pulling or uneven wear issues?”
“Have the caliper slide pins been greased recently?”

Now check the Mitsubishi Outlander you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Mitsubishi Outlander buyer questions

Is front brake caliper sticking from low friction brake usage serious on a Mitsubishi Outlander?

We rate it major and common on the Mitsubishi Outlander. The Outlander PHEV recovers energy through regenerative braking, meaning friction brakes are rarely fully applied in normal driving. This leads to caliper pistons and slide pins seizing from lack of use and from surface rust forming on brake rotor contact areas. Sticky calipers cause uneven braking, pad and rotor wear on the sticking side, and in severe cases brake drag causing overheating. This pattern is documented specifically on PHEV models in AU and NZ owner communities.

How much does it cost to fix on a Mitsubishi Outlander?

$250 to $900 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Mitsubishi Outlander years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2013 onward Mitsubishi Outlander. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.