2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Problems, Recalls & Reliability
205 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander, alongside 8 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 74/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Transmission & drivetrain leads the reports, typically around 79,800 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2009, 2012–2013, 2020.
Avoid
Where 2016 sits among all Outlander years
What owners report
“My vehicle does not accelerate at times and its an issue while driving. I want to avoid getting into an accident and i do not know if its an engine or transmission issue.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Outlander
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 115 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 54,900 miles. Half of those reports fall between 26,580 and 84,500 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (8)
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.
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…
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…
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…
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.
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…
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…
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…
Technical service bulletins
142 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2016 Outlander TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander reliable?
The 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander drew 205 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 74/100, scored against the model's worst year (2022).
What are the most common 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander problems?
The top reported problems for the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander are transmission & drivetrain (62 complaints), electrical (24), and brakes & stability (23).
At what mileage do 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander problems show up?
Owners most often report 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander problems around 54,900 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 26,580 and 84,500 miles.
Does the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander have recalls?
8 recall campaigns apply to the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.