2016 Mitsubishi Outlander problems and recalls

Owners have filed 169 complaints on the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander, and NHTSA has issued 8 recalls. The most cited component is the Power Train (70 complaints).

169
Complaints
8
Recalls
9
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
7
Injuries
59.1
Severity index

Severity index 59.1 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 59.1p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 81 of 141 by severity index among 2016 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 43% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2016 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Power TrainPower Train: 70 complaints (41.4%)70 41%EngineEngine: 28 complaints (16.6%)28 17%Service BrakesService Brakes: 20 complaints (11.8%)20 12%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 19 complaints (11.2%)19 11%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 17 complaints (10.1%)17 10%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 14 complaints (8.3%)14 8%StructureStructure: 14 complaints (8.3%)14 8%Exterior LightingExterior Lighting: 13 complaints (7.7%)13 8%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
POWER TRAIN7041.4%
ENGINE2816.6%
SERVICE BRAKES2011.8%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1911.2%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1710.1%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL148.3%
STRUCTURE148.3%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING137.7%

Complaints filed per year

012252016: 102017: 212018: 162019: 232020: 222021: 252022: 142023: 172024: 112025: 72026: 3 (partial year)161718192021252223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
201610
201721
201816
201923
202022
202125
202214
202317
202411
20257
2026 (year to date)3
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.6x those in 2020 to 2022 (35 against 61).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
17V60900029/09/2017ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAYMitsubishi 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 overhe
17V23300006/04/2017LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCHMitsubishi 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.
18V07000026/01/2018PARKING BRAKEMitsubishi 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.
16V56300028/07/2016POWER 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
20V40300013/07/2020SEAT BELTS: REAR/OTHER:BUCKLE ASSEMBLYMitsubishi 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
20V74100030/11/2020PARKING BRAKEMitsubishi 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 calip
25V50700007/08/2025STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUTMitsubishi 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, Massac
26V25200020/04/2026STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUTMitsubishi 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.

Other Mitsubishi Outlander model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 13 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-09-04. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.