2016 Mitsubishi Lancer problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (17) · Vehicle Speed Control (4) · Electrical System (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mitsubishi Lancer model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (2)
Electrical System:starter Assembly:relay 2017-09-29 · campaign 17V609000 · 132,552 vehicles
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.
Risk: If the engine stalls, there is an increased the risk of a crash.
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 for this recall is SR-17-005.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) 2016-07-28 · campaign 16V563000 · 82,436 vehicles
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.
Risk: A hesitation during acceleration can increase the risk of a crash.
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 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-16-006.
Service bulletins (66)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Seat Belts 2025-11-21 · TECH TALK 289 · Other
tech talk is a service newsletter that was sent out to dealers. it covers various topics and reviews the previous months publications.
Power Train 2024-06-03 · TSB-24-23-004 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service manual revision - this technical service bulletin provides corrections to the description of special tools used to install the oil seal within the automatic transaxle sections of the applicable service manuals.
Power Train 2024-03-25 · TSB-20-23-001RV4 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service manual revision - this technical service bulletin instructs dealers to diagnose and test drive vehicles exhibiting a shudder or surge condition possibly caused by poor reaction of the hydraulic pressure circuit.
Power Train 2024-03-04 · TSB-20-23-001REV · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service manual revision - this technical service bulletin instructs dealers to diagnose and test drive vehicles exhibiting a shudder or surge condition possibly caused by poor reaction of the hydraulic pressure circuit.
Power Train 2024-02-14 · TSB-24-23-001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service manual revision - this technical service bulletin provides the procedure for diagnostic trouble code and on-vehicle service for belt & pulley assembly on certain cvt models.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-07-21 · DEALER LETTER · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a dealer letter sent to dealers informing that mitsubishi technical training has launched the 3rd quarterly technician quiz for 2023.
Showing the 6 most recent of 66 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-08-06 · Power Train“i bought this vehicle and few weeks later i noticed at a red light. when it turned green i hit the gas. my car took a few seconds, reved and then shot out into the lane. since then it has had issues over 20 miles and when i stop its a few seconds for the car to accelerate and move which is scary on the road. my 4 sons were horrified! i looked up …”
2025-07-20 · Power Train“it’s throwing a p084a code and it feels like the transmission is about to let loose. i bought the car with 30,000 on it in 2016 and it has a hair over 136,000 and ever since i’ve had it it’s always had this transmission lag jerk in it. very scuttle but you can feel it. then all of a sudden it just started going into limp mode, hi low hi low rev, je…”
2025-05-03 · Power Train“recently the transmission has started to shudder when first driving from a stop. it only happens under low acceleration. if you push the accelerator pedel firmly it will not shudder. wondering if this is a recall about to happen? it started on or about 4/2/2025 but is continuing to happen.…”
2025-02-21 · Power Train“the car is bucking hi low hi low and then the service transmission light is coming on. we brought the car in a couple of weeks ago and i thought this was suppose to he fixed. it is alot worse now…”
2024-10-07 · Power Train“loss of power on acceleration, rpms going up and down, hesitation in acceleration, going into limp mode won't accelerate over 25-40mph pulled code p084a shop believes it needs a complete replacement based on their computer systems repair procedures guidelines. car has just over 107k miles on it and is a pre-owned. no information was given regardi…”
2024-09-26 · Power Train“purchased the vehicle with only 59k miles in may 2024. transmission immediately started acting up, hesitating, jumping rpms, and delayed acceleration and loss of power. service transmission light came on once but after restarting the light turned off, but still has the issues. have had the fluid and gasket replaced but did not remedy the problem. t…”
2024-08-09 · Unknown Or Other“i've had the vehicle for 7 years and after inspection performed by the dealer, there is so much subframe rot that my car will not pass the next inspection due in april. i've contacted mitsubishi and they said there is nothing they can do as there isn't any recall. this model of mitsubishi has had recalls on many different previous years, such as …”
2023-07-17 · Vehicle Speed Control“i purchased this car in 2016 brand new from the dealer. have kept up with its maintenance but in the past couple of months, the car is not taking off. what i mean by that is that the transmission slips and won't allow the car to gain speed there is a delay in the car accelerating. this is the second time that it has happened this year and its very…”
2023-07-07 · Power Train“cvt transmission will not catch gears as it keeps slipping. leaves it in limp mode. unable to accelerate beyond 25mph. cvt fluid/ filter service intervals have been correct as well as a fresh j4 cvt fluid/filter service at dealership. this had occurred at 103,xxx miles. wildly, i was on my way in to my appointment with the dealership to do a cvt fl…”
2023-05-28 · Unknown Or Other“2016 se 2.4l awc. purchased car in february 2022 at 66k miles. in december of 2022 at 78k miles, car lost majority power while traveling at 40 mph, threw 'tranmission servie required' warning light. drove 3 blocks home, parked for 2 hours. turned car on and drove normally without lights. previous event happened x3 before changing transmission fluid…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.