VehicleVerdict

2016 Mitsubishi Outlander problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 202 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 3.2 times the median Outlander year — the 2016 model ranks #2 of 23 Outlander years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Complainants reported 13 injuries in total across these filings.

Transmission leads the complaint categories with 61 reports (30% of the total). In government crash testing it earned 4 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

202

NHTSA complaints

8

Recalls

0

Investigations

19

Crash-involved

3

Fires reported

13

Injuries

0

Deaths

4

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2016 compare to other Outlander years?

See all Outlander years to avoid →

What are the most common 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Transmission6130%
Brakes2311%
Engine199%
Other157%
Body & Structure126%
Electrical System126%
Lighting126%
Speed Control115%
Airbags84%
Latches & Locks63%
Steering52%
Visibility & Wipers42%
Fuel System42%
Driver Assistance31%
Seats21%
Tires & Wheels21%
Seat Belts21%
Suspension10%

Does the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander have recalls?

8 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

26V252000Body & StructureApril 20, 2026 · 108,046 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

A gas spring cylinder rupture or a liftgate falling unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.

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. 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.

25V507000Body & StructureAugust 7, 2025 · 121,529 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

A gas spring cylinder rupture or a liftgate falling unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.

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. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-25-002

20V741000BrakesNovember 30, 2020 · 21,758 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

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. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-20-005.

20V403000Seat BeltsJuly 13, 2020 · 177,000 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

An unrestrained occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

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 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.

18V070000BrakesJanuary 26, 2018 · 170,354 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

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. 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.

17V609000Electrical SystemSeptember 29, 2017 · 132,552 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

If the engine stalls, there is an increased the risk of a crash.

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. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-17-005.

17V233000Latches & LocksApril 6, 2017 · 35,674 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

If a door opens while the vehicle is being driven, it can increase the risk of injury.

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. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-17-002.

16V563000TransmissionJuly 28, 2016 · 82,436 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

A hesitation during acceleration can increase the risk of a crash.

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. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-16-006.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. ON TWO OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARNING. THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL AND DAMAGED THE BUMPER. THE AIR BAGS…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · July 18, 2017 · crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE, ABS, AND TEMPERATURE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW THE DOWN, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND CRASHED INTO A CEMENT BARRIER. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK AND NECK…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · November 9, 2018 · crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE, ABS, AND TEMPERATURE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW THE DOWN, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND CRASHED INTO A CEMENT BARRIER. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK AND NECK…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · November 9, 2018 · crash

ON SEPTEMBER 2019 AROUND 10:45 PM, MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT 2016 WAS THE CAUSE OF GARAGE FIRE AT MY HOUSE. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE /BATTERY AREA AFTER I HAD TRIED TO GIVE A JUMP START A DAY BEFORE BUT THE CAR DID NOT START. FIRE WAS MOSTLY CONTAINED UNDER THE HOOD. SINCE 2016, THE CAR WAS…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · September 15, 2019 · fire

ON RANDOM WHEN DRIVING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS MY HEADLIGHT WILL GO OUT. BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. THIS MORNING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TO WORK, THE LIGHTS BOTH JUST WENT COMPLETELY OUT LEAVING ME IN THE DARK. I HAD TO DRIVE WITH MY BRIGHTS ON FOR SAFETY. THE SECOND PROBLEM IN THE ACCELERATION, YOU…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Lighting · March 15, 2020

2016 Mitsubishi Outlander — common questions

Is the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 202 complaints put the 2016 model at #2 of 23 Outlander years. It is one of the Outlander years to avoid.

What are the most common 2016 Outlander problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are transmission (61 complaints), brakes (23 complaints), engine (19 complaints).

Does the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns affecting the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Mitsubishi Outlander years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Outlander years to avoid are 2022, 2016, 2007, 2003. The cleanest record among Outlander years belongs to 2026.

How safe is the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander earned an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.