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2016 Mitsubishi Outlander: engine and transmission complaints

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
59%
88 of 149 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

59% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 79% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 21 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 52%).

NHTSA data checked September 13, 2026
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Drivetrain complaints
88
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
170
this model year
Fires reported
1
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
11
9 crashes · 7 injuries

Complaints by component

POWER TRAIN70 · 41%
ENGINE28 · 16%
SERVICE BRAKES20 · 12%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER19 · 11%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM17 · 10%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL14 · 8%

The years either side

2010
43%
23 of 60
2011
55%
41 of 88
2012
41%
11 of 36
2013
37%
19 of 68
2014
37%
23 of 86
2015
75%
166 of 234
2016
59%
88 of 170
2017
35%
21 of 78
2018
33%
17 of 77
2019
46%
18 of 55
2020
29%
14 of 57
2021
too few complaints
2022
20%
43 of 224
2023
29%
14 of 54

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

Cleaner alternatives

Same car, a better year

Other compact SUVs with no elevated signal in 2016

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERV11/26/2018CRASH1 INJURED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE, ABS, AND TEMPERATURE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW THE DOWN, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND CRASHED INTO A CEMENT BARRIER. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK AND NECK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MED…
STRUCTURE,SERVICE BRAKES,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM09/06/2016CRASH1 INJURED
RESPECTFULLY, WE BOUGHT OUR BRAND NEW 2016 OUTLANDER FROM THE DEALERSHIP THIS MAY. MY WIFE REAR ENDED A CAR LESS THAN A MONTH LATER ON THE HIGHWAY. SHE SAID THE CAR DIDN'T STOP WHEN SHE HIT THE BRAKES AND THAT THE BRAKES DON'T WORK. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED BY GEICO FOR $20K DAMAGE PAID AND SHE SAID SHE WASN'T DRIVING …
POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL08/27/2026
The contact owns a 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle unintendedly decreased speed. No warning lights illuminated. A dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer w…

Three of 88 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on this model year (11)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Outlander, 2015-2016 Lancer and Outlander Sport, and 2015 Lancer Evolution vehicles. These ve…
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
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…
PARKING BRAKE
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 cau…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander

Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.