2016 Mitsubishi Lancer recalls and problems

The 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer has 2 recalls and 30 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is power train.

2016 Mitsubishi Lancer
Photo: 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer by EurovisionNim, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How the 2016 compares
Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Average complaint count among 17 Lancer model years — 9th most.

2recalls
30complaints
1crashes
0fires
2injuries
67,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.
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2 recalls

Electrical System

Sep 29, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V609000 · 132,552 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Remedy & notes

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.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Power Train

Jul 28, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V563000 · 82,436 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Remedy & notes

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.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

2017: 2 complaints20172018: 1 complaints20182019: 2 complaints20192020: 2 complaints20202021: 6 complaints202162022: 6 complaints20222023: 4 complaints20232024: 3 complaints20242025: 3 complaints20252026: 1 complaints20261

NHTSA investigations

Electrical overstress

EA19001 · opened Apr 19, 2019 · closed Sep 19, 2024 · led to recall 20V024
Summary

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.  During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications.  The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU.  In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment.  FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle.  Other FCA vehicles…

2016 vs. other Mitsubishi Lancer years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2016. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns covering the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer, the latest from Sep 29, 2017 (electrical system). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention power train (21), electrical system (4), vehicle speed control (4). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.