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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 →

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.

8 crash reports1 fire reports5 injury reports

What owners actually said

145 reports
92,000 miles · Mar 8, 2021
Power Train

VEHICLE HAS BEGUN TO SHOW ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION. BLINKING D LIGHT AS WELL AS TRANSMISSION LIGHT

NHTSA ODI #11399748

62,000 miles · Mar 4, 2021
StructureUnknown Or Other

KEY 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.

NHTSA ODI #11399083

111,130 miles · Mar 2, 2021
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

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.

NHTSA ODI #11398752

110,500 miles · Feb 19, 2021
EngineForward Collision Avoidance

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.

NHTSA ODI #11397037

84,500 miles · Feb 12, 2021
Visibility/wiper

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.

NHTSA ODI #11395911

44,000 miles · Feb 3, 2021
Parking Brake

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.

NHTSA ODI #11394488

90,000 miles · Feb 1, 2021
Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT IT JUST ON DASH DOESNT GO OFF HAVENT BEEN IN A ACCIDENT RECENTLY EITHER

NHTSA ODI #11390935

75,000 miles · Dec 29, 2020
Exterior Lighting

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.

NHTSA ODI #11385543

102,000 miles · Nov 7, 2020
Power Train

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.

NHTSA ODI #11373554

75,000 miles · Oct 16, 2020
Power Train

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

NHTSA ODI #11364710

Official recalls

8

26V252000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.