Most common 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander problems
Share of the 145 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mitsubishi Outlander complaints by model year
Best Outlander years: 2012, 2013, 2019. Years to avoid: 2022, 2016, 2023, 2024, 2025. Compare all years →
2016 Mitsubishi Outlander recalls (8)
Structure › Body › Hatchback/liftgate › Support device/strut
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.
Remedy: 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.
Structure › Body › Hatchback/liftgate › Support device/strut
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…
Remedy: 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.
Parking brake
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.
Remedy: 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.
Seat belts › Rear/other › Buckle assembly
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.
Remedy: 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…
Parking brake
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.
Remedy: 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.
Electrical system › Starter assembly › Relay
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.
Remedy: 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.
Show 2 more recalls
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
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.
Remedy: 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.
Power train › Automatic transmission › Control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)
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.
Remedy: 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.
What 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 64 →
The contact owns a 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure occurred repeatedly after coming to a complete stop. The contact stated that because of the failure, the contact was nearly involved in several crashes. In addition, the contact stated that the failure had not occurred until after the vehicle had been driven for a while or the engine had warmed up. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under the recall. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and determined that a software update for the CVT transmission was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated after parking the vehicle, the vehicle would not turn off and several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact disconnected the battery, and the vehicle was turned off. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the battery was replaced, but the failure reoccurred. On another occasion when the contact shifted the vehicle into drive, the computer failed to recognize that the vehicle had shift. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but the contact was unsure what was repaired, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the transmission had a leak. The mechanic sealed the leak, but the failure persisted. The mechanic stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. …
Brakes all 22 →
The contact owns a 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the brakes made a loud sound whenever the brake pedal was depressed. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with the rear rotors needing to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that two years later, the failure recurred. The vehicle was then taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with the rotors and the brakes needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and referred the contact to a local dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 26,907.
The contact owns a 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that after he disengaged the parking brake, a burning odor was detected while driving. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the wheels were hot. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the rear calipers were corroded and rubbing against the brakes. The mechanic informed the contact that the rear calipers needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.
Engine & cooling all 20 →
The contact's son owns a 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle hesitated while attempting to accelerate. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the transmission module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the failure was like NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V563000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
The Secret To Easily Protecting Your Gutters Here's The Secret To Automatically Protect Your Gutters Without Hassle: Innovative Gutter Guards! Let us protect your Stacey Dodier 1 message In 2019 I purchased a 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander from Mitsubishi dealership in Lagrange, Ga. I was assured that the vehicle was safe and reliable. As a precaution I purchased an extended power train warranty for $2,325. After my purchase the dealership sent emails reminding me to complete basic services such as oil change and tire rotation without any mention of transmission fluid exchange. Fast forward to January 2022 I was riding on the interstate and the transmission light flashed quickly. The vehicle stalled on the highway and I barely had time pull over and avoid being hit by other drivers. At that moment I knew something was terribly wrong with my vehicle. …
2016 Mitsubishi Outlander engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | 25 / 30 / 27 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | 24 / 30 / 27 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | CVT | 4WD | 24 / 29 / 26 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | CVT | 4WD | 23 / 29 / 26 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 23 / 29 / 25 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 20 / 27 / 22 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander a good car?
Based on 145 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Outlander rates avoid: 3.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the Outlander at the same age. It is one of the Outlander years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander?
The transmission & drivetrain — 64 complaints, 44% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission › torque converter. Next are the brakes (22) and engine & cooling (20).
How many recalls does the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander have?
There are 8 recalls for the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander, the most recent from April 20, 2026 (support device/strut). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mitsubishi Outlander?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012, 2013 and 2019. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2022, 2016, 2023, 2024 and 2025. See the full Mitsubishi Outlander years comparison.
At what mileage do 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 61,000 miles; 39% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.