2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Outlander years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 23 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 8 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 4–5 out of 5 stars (varies by version)
Owners have filed 145 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander. That ranks 2nd out of 23 Outlander model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (64 complaints, 44%), typically at around 79,800 miles. Complaints mention 8 crashes, 1 fire, 6 injuries. There are 8 safety recalls covering this model year.
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- 145owner complaints
- 8safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 8complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train problems | 64 | 44% | 79,800 | “transmission service” (11%) | — |
| Engine | 20 | 14% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 15 | 10% | 21,200 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 14 | 10% | 26,907 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 12 | 8% | 15,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 12 | 8% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 12 | 8% | 36,499 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 | 8% | 61,036 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 8 | 6% | 54,900 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 6 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 6 | 4% | 49,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 5 | 3% | 16,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 5 | 3% | 12,867 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 3 | 2% | 110,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 2% | 62,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 3 | 2% | 63,196 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 1% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 1% | 1,640 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1% | 54,900 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 1% | 64,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2016 Mitsubishi Outlander recalls (8)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support device/strut
Problem: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Outlander PHEV and 2014-2020 Outlander vehicles. The liftgate gas spring cylinders may corrode and lose pressure, which can result in a gas spring cylinder rupture or the liftgate falling unexpectedly.
Risk: A gas spring cylinder rupture or a liftgate falling unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: MMNA will replace the left and right liftgate gas springs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 17, 2026. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-26-001. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov June 3, 2026. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V507.
Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support device/strut
Problem: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Outlander PHEV and 2014-2020 Outlander vehicles sold and/or currently registered in Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The liftgate gas spring cylinders may corrode and lose pressure, which can result in a gas spring cylinder rupture or the liftgate falling unexpectedly.
Risk: A gas spring cylinder rupture or a liftgate falling unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: MMNA will replace the left and right liftgate gas springs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 6, 2025. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-25-002
Parking brake
Problem: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2016 Outlander and Outlander Sport vehicles. The rust prevention coating on the rear brake operating shafts could have been peeled off during the assembly process. As a result, water entering the rear brake caliper boot may cause the parking brake operating shafts to corrode and possibly bind.
Risk: If the parking brake operating shafts bind, the parking brakes may not engage or disengage fully. If the parking brakes do not engage properly, the vehicle could rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear brake caliper assemblies, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 4, 2021. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-20-005.
Seat belts: rear/other:buckle assembly
Problem: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Outlander and 2018-2019 Outlander PHEV vehicles. The second-row center seat belt buckle may interfere with the right-side seat belt buckle when the seat backs are folded down. The interference may cause the right-side seat belt buckle cover to come off, making the buckle latch inoperable and unable to restrain an occupant.
Risk: An unrestrained occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will modify the second-row center seat belt buckle cover, install a new warning label to the second-row seat support base, and provide a new warning label insert for the owner's manual, free of charge. The recall began September 1, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-20-004.
Parking brake
Problem: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Outlander and 2013-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles. Water may enter the rear brake calipers causing the parking brake actuator shafts to corrode and possibly bind.
Risk: If the parking brake actuator shaft binds, the parking brake may not engage or disengage fully. If the parking brake does not engage properly, the vehicle may move unexpectedly if it is parked on a slope, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear brake calipers and replace the parking brake boot and lever or the brake caliper body, as necessary. Dealers will also replace the piston assembly of the rear brake caliper. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 27, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-002.
Electrical system:starter assembly:relay
Problem: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Outlander, 2015-2016 Lancer and Outlander Sport, and 2015 Lancer Evolution vehicles. These vehicles may have defective relays that can result in an engine stall, reduced engine power or the engine overheating.
Risk: If the engine stalls, there is an increased the risk of a crash.
Fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected relays, free of charge. The recall began October 24, 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-17-005.
Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Problem: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2016 Outlander and Outlander Sport vehicles. The inside door latch mechanisms may not latch securely in high temperatures, allowing the doors to open while vehicle is in motion.
Risk: If a door opens while the vehicle is being driven, it can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door latches, free of charge. The recall began August 25, 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-17-002.
Power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Problem: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles and 2016 Outlander and Lancer vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a constant velocity transmission (CVT) that, in certain driving conditions, may cause a delay in the vehicle accelerating.
Risk: A hesitation during acceleration can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: MMNA has notified owners, and dealers will reprogram the CVT control unit with modified software, free of charge. The recall began on August 15, 2016. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-16-006.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
This vehicle exhibits a severe and dangerous acceleration hesitation, accompanied by a sudden, momentary loss of engine torque when pulling out from stops or trying to merge onto highways. This unexpected loss of power leaves the vehicle stranded briefly in oncoming traffic, creating an immediate…
The annual state safety inspection failed due to a severely rust corroded front Cross-Member. A corrosion hole developed right where the air conditioner condensate drain port is located right above it. Earlier manufacturing years of this same vehicle had a major recall for this exact same cause…
The contact owns a 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle unintendedly decreased speed. No warning lights illuminated. A dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed or…
The car itself should not be sold considering the number of complaints about the transmission issues. Iâve only had the car a month and Its started to stall and jerks when in acceleration. The gears started to not shift properly and the car would not go over 20 miles without jerking. I took the…
transmission went out
Other Mitsubishi Outlander years
← 2015 Outlander · 2017 Outlander →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Outlander | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 Outlander | 15 | 1 |
| 2024 Outlander | 26 | 1 |
| 2023 Outlander | 49 | 2 |
| 2022 Outlander | 216 | 7 |
| 2020 Outlander | 31 | 3 |
| 2019 Outlander | 29 | 5 |
| 2018 Outlander | 57 | 6 |
| 2017 Outlander | 51 | 6 |
| 2016 | 145 | 8 |
| 2015 Outlander | 53 | 5 |
| 2014 Outlander | 45 | 4 |
| 2013 Outlander | 26 | 5 |
| 2012 Outlander | 22 | 6 |
| 2011 Outlander | 58 | 8 |
| 2010 Outlander | 60 | 10 |
| 2009 Outlander | 46 | 13 |
| 2008 Outlander | 58 | 12 |
| 2007 Outlander | 125 | 9 |
| 2006 Outlander | 21 | 1 |
| 2005 Outlander | 19 | 1 |
| 2004 Outlander | 52 | 4 |
| 2003 Outlander | 116 | 6 |
See all Mitsubishi Outlander problems by year, every Mitsubishi model, or the Mitsubishi VIN decoder.
Similar Mitsubishi models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander?
Owners most often report power train, engine, unknown or other problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 64 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander?
Yes, 8 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Outlander model years, the 2016 has far more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 4–5 out of 5 stars (varies by version) overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.