VEHICLE HAS BEGUN TO SHOW ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION. BLINKING D LIGHT AS WELL AS TRANSMISSION LIGHT
2016 Mitsubishi Outlander
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Outlander years
Owner complaints for the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander are substantially higher than the model-year median of 47.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Outlander years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
82 reports with mileage · 63 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 64 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
145 reportsKEY FOR DOORS DOES NOT UNLOCK WITH THE KEY. ORIGINAL OWNER NEVER USED KEY TO UNLOCK. THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALLS. THIS IS A DANGER WHEN YOU CANNOT GET IN CAR WITH OUT REMOTE.
I WAS AT A STOP SIGN TURNING ONTO A HIGHWAY, I ACCELERATED AND MY CAR WAS MOVED INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND MY CAR TURNED OFF AND THEN TURNED BACK ON JUST A SECOND OR SO LATER AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AGAIN. I AM NOT CERTAIN WHAT HAPPENED AS THERE WERE NO CODES THROWN AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO OPERATE AFTER TURNING ITSELF BACK…
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I WAS AT A STOP SIGN TURNING ONTO A HIGHWAY, I ACCELERATED AND MY CAR WAS MOVED INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND MY CAR TURNED OFF AND THEN TURNED BACK ON JUST A SECOND OR SO LATER AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AGAIN. I AM NOT CERTAIN WHAT HAPPENED AS THERE WERE NO CODES THROWN AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO OPERATE AFTER TURNING ITSELF BACK ON. I AM WONDERING IF THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE COMPUTER PROGRAMMING THAT IS FAULTY. WHEN I GOT HOME, I CHECKED ALL THE CONNECTIONS AND DID NOT SEE ANY OBVIOUS FAULTS. I ALSO CHECKED ALL FLUID LEVELS AND CAPS JUST TO BE CERTAIN IT WASN'T SOMETHING RELATED TO ANY OF THAT SOMEHOW. IT IS SCARY THOUGH BECAUSE THERE WERE VEHICLES COMING TOWARD ME FROM BOTH DIRECTIONS.
FCM KEEPS BLINKING AND ALARM SOUNDING WHEN I STARTED THE CAR. MY CAR BEEN SERVICE AT CAR DEALERSHIP SINCE PURCHASED. AFTER 100K MILES THEY NOW DISCOVERED CATALIC CONVERTER NEED TO BE REPLACED PER DEALERSHIP. BUT NOTHING ABOUT FCM PROBLEM.
WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2016 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER FROM BISBEE TO SIERRA VISTA, AZ ON SR 92 WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE HEARD AN EXPLOSION. SHE IMMEDIATELY DUCKED THINKING THAT SOMEONE HAD SHOT AT HER. A NEARBY MOTORIST WAS POINTING TO HER AND HER CAR. SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO MAKE OF IT, SO SHE PULLED OVER AND EXAMINED HER CAR AND NOTI…
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WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2016 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER FROM BISBEE TO SIERRA VISTA, AZ ON SR 92 WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE HEARD AN EXPLOSION. SHE IMMEDIATELY DUCKED THINKING THAT SOMEONE HAD SHOT AT HER. A NEARBY MOTORIST WAS POINTING TO HER AND HER CAR. SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO MAKE OF IT, SO SHE PULLED OVER AND EXAMINED HER CAR AND NOTICED A HUGE HOLE IN HER CAR SUNROOF. SHE HAD CALLED ME (HUSBAND) AND TOLD ME WHAT HAPPENED AND ADVISED HER TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE HOME SLOWLY, SO SHE ACTIVATED HER EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND DROVE SLOW. THEN SHORTLY, SHE WAS PULLED OVER BY A COCHISE COUNTY DEPUTY AND ASKED HER IF SHE WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND TOLD THE DEPUTY SHE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND TOLD HIM WHAT HAPPENED AND WAS TAKEN BACK BY THE SUNROOF DAMAGE. THE DEPUTY ADVISED HER SHE COULDN'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE ALL THE GLASS WAS FALLING ONTO THE ROADWAY. SHE SAID SHE WOULD CALL ME TO GET A TOW TRUCK AND SAID HE WOULD FOLLOW HER INTO TOWN AND SAID TO GO STRAIGHT HOME IN WHICH SHE DID RIGHT AWAY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SOUTH COAST MITSUBISHI (2480 HARBOR BLVD, COSTA MESA, CA 92626) WHERE THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT FIND A DEFECT. UPON RETURN OF THE VEHICLE, …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SOUTH COAST MITSUBISHI (2480 HARBOR BLVD, COSTA MESA, CA 92626) WHERE THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT FIND A DEFECT. UPON RETURN OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE AGAIN WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEAT AND BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT THEN RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER :20V741000 (PARKING BRAKE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD ALSO TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO CERRITOS MITSUBISHI (10944 SOUTH ST, CERRITOS, CA 90703) WHERE THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND THEY ALSO WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 44,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
AIR BAG LIGHT IT JUST ON DASH DOESNT GO OFF HAVENT BEEN IN A ACCIDENT RECENTLY EITHER
THIS IS NOW MY SECOND COMPLAINT TO YOU. AGAIN ON THE HEADLIGHTS THIS TIME THEY WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME WHILE DRIVING ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT.THANK GOD I HAD HIGH BEANS EVEN THOUGH I'M SURE THE PEOPLE I PASSED DIDN'T APPRECIATE IT. SINCE OWNING THIS SUV I HAVE HAD THE BULBS REPLACED 5 TIMES ON THE RIGHT…
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THIS IS NOW MY SECOND COMPLAINT TO YOU. AGAIN ON THE HEADLIGHTS THIS TIME THEY WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME WHILE DRIVING ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT.THANK GOD I HAD HIGH BEANS EVEN THOUGH I'M SURE THE PEOPLE I PASSED DIDN'T APPRECIATE IT. SINCE OWNING THIS SUV I HAVE HAD THE BULBS REPLACED 5 TIMES ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND 7 TIMES ON THE LEFT.WAS TOLD BY AUTOZONE THAT THEY BELIEVE THE SEAL AROUND THE LIGHT IS CAUSING THE MOISTURE TO ENTER AND CARRODE .NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE REAL PROBLEM!. THE PRICE OF THESE REPLACEMENT BULBS ARE NOT CHEAP.I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE LIKE THIS ON ANY OF MY VEHICLES DURING MY LIFETIME.... I SEE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS ISSUE, I FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS BY SEARCHING THE NET..I FEEL THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND IT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BY MITSUBISHI.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, AND SUDDENLY MY CAR BEGAN TO JERK, AS IF IT WAS HICCUPING, AND REFUSED TO ACCELERATE FOR A NUMBER SECONDS. IT LABORED TO MAKE IT HOME. IT WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT WOULD ACCELERATE AND THEN JERK CAUSING TRAFFICS TO ABRUPTLY HALT WITHOUT WARNING, BY THE TIME I GOT HOME IT WAS STUCK ON 1ST GEAR, AND N…
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I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, AND SUDDENLY MY CAR BEGAN TO JERK, AS IF IT WAS HICCUPING, AND REFUSED TO ACCELERATE FOR A NUMBER SECONDS. IT LABORED TO MAKE IT HOME. IT WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT WOULD ACCELERATE AND THEN JERK CAUSING TRAFFICS TO ABRUPTLY HALT WITHOUT WARNING, BY THE TIME I GOT HOME IT WAS STUCK ON 1ST GEAR, AND NOW WON'T EVEN REVERSE. MY CAR IS NOT DRIVE ABLE . SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION IT THRU A TRANSMISSION CODE. I THINK IT MIGHT BE A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THIS. I BELIEVE THE CONSTANT VELOCITY TRANSMISSIONS ARE RECALLED, MY VEHICLE HAS A CVT.
I HAVE A 2016 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER WITH A 2.4L ENGINE AND THE JATCO CVT TRANSMISSION AND ONLY 75,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING ERRATICALLY AND SHUDDERING WHEN GOING CERTAIN MPH RANGES TYPICALLY BETWEEN 45 AND 60 MPH. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE HESITATES TO GO WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED. FROM A STOP, IT TAKES…
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I HAVE A 2016 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER WITH A 2.4L ENGINE AND THE JATCO CVT TRANSMISSION AND ONLY 75,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING ERRATICALLY AND SHUDDERING WHEN GOING CERTAIN MPH RANGES TYPICALLY BETWEEN 45 AND 60 MPH. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE HESITATES TO GO WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED. FROM A STOP, IT TAKES 5 SECONDS FOR THE VEHICLE TO GO ONCE IT IS PUT IN DRIVE. I HAVE A TROUBLE CODE ON MY OBD OF P084A. THIS HAS BEEN DANGEROUS TO MY FAMILY ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PASS A CAR ON THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ACCELERATE IMMEDIATELY. MY WIFE ALSO GOT STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ITERSECTION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HESITATED FOR AROUND 5 SECONDS BEFORE ACCELERATING. MITSUBISHI HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS VEHICLE, NUMBER TSB-17-23-002 THAT COVERS EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING IN MY VEHICLE AND EVEN HAS AN ECU REPROGRAM THAT WILL PREVENT THE PROBLEM FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE. THE PROBLEM IS A SERVICE BULLETIN DOES NOT COVER THE COSTS OF AFFECTED VEHICLES OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS A DANGEROUS AND COMMON DEFECT WITH THIS VEHICLE AND TRANSMISSION AND MITSUBISHI IT NEEDS TO BE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED. HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/TSBS/2017/MC-10109105-9999.PDF
Official recalls
826V252000 · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support Device/strut
Apr 20, 2026
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 & remedy
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.
25V507000 · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support Device/strut
Aug 7, 2025
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 & remedy
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
20V741000 · Parking Brake
Nov 30, 2020
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 & remedy
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.
20V403000 · Seat Belts: Rear/other:buckle Assembly
Jul 13, 2020
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 & remedy
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.
18V070000 · Parking Brake
Jan 26, 2018
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 & remedy
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.
17V609000 · Electrical System:starter Assembly:relay
Sep 29, 2017
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 & remedy
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.
17V233000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Apr 6, 2017
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 & remedy
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.
16V563000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Jul 28, 2016
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 & remedy
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.
Additional source detail variants (2)
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.
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.
Power Train:automatic Transmission
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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