2016 Mitsubishi LANCER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
30 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
63,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 21 of 30 complaints (70.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 19 | 63.3% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 16.7% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 6.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 6.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 21 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Structure:Body | 1 |
Power Train: 21; Electrical System: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Engine: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Air Bags: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Structure:Body: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 18 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2019: 2; 2020: 2; 2021: 6; 2022: 6; 2023: 4; 2024: 3; 2025: 3; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 19 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10979053 · 2017-04-18 (April 18, 2017)
I HAVE NOTICED AN ISSUE WITH MY CARS ACCELERATION FROM A 0 MILE PER HOUR STARTING POINT TO A 30 MPH. IT IS VERY SUDDEN AND RANDOM. IT HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES FROM A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN. THERE IS A SECOND TO AS LONG AS 4 SECOND HESITATION IN ACCELERATION. ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS PRESSED AND THE CAR TAKES OFF FOR A BRIEF SECOND OR 2 BEFORE THE FEW SECOND HESITATION OCCURS. IT CAN BE DANGEROUS IF THIS OCCURS WHEN PULLING OUT ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WITH TRAFFIC COMING. FOR THOSE FEW SECONDS THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO BUT PRESS THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10979053 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11265637 · 2019-10-02 (October 2, 2019)
THE LIGHT STATING TO SERVICE MY TRANSMISSION CAME ON. THE MAINTENANCE MILEAGE WAS WITHIN STATED PARAMETERS.SERVICE WAS COMPLETED, TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED. DROVE AWAY AND THE LIGHT TURNED ON. MY TRANSMISSION FAILED IN APRIL OF 2019.
Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11265637 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11399625 · 2021-03-07 (March 7, 2021)
AS I WAS DRIVING IT IT SEEMS TO HESITATE ON ACCELERATING AFTER A FEW STOPS THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT WOULD COME ON FOR A LITTLE BIT THEN GO OFF. SAME WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. AS I WAS DRIVING IT TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY.. IT SUDDENLY STARTED LOSING POWER AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND PARK IT AT A GAS STATION WHERE IT WENT COMPLETELY DEAD.. I HAD AAA TOW IT.. IT STARTED UP BUT THE SHIFTING IS NOT ENGAGING RIGHT AWAY. HAD THE SOFTWARE UPDATED IN 2019.. THE CVT TRANSMISSION ARE FULL OF PROBLEMS. IT SEEMS TO HAVE THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECA…
Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11399625 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11441857 · 2021-11-28 (November 28, 2021)
Car has 76,470 miles. Took to dealership due to loss of power and jerking hard during takeoffs and said that it needed new transmission. Dealership looked at it said it had internal failure codes for transmission. When doing research there was a recall in 2016 for this specific car for issues that this car is having and the specific transmission. Spoke with woman on hotline and was told to file a report since some cars could have been overlooked in the recall possibly. Recall was for 2016 Mitsubishi lancers with CVT transmission and was made du…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11441857 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11482208 · 2022-08-31 (August 31, 2022)
The contact owns a 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 50 MPH, the RPM increased from 2,000 to 5,000. Additionally, speedometer became inoperable, he brake was not working as designed, and the Service Transmission message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who referred the contact to the dealer. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The …
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11482208 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11483994 · 2022-09-12 (September 12, 2022)
The contact owns a 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated while driving down his driveway at an undisclosed speed, he heard an abnormal popping sound coming from underneath the front end of the vehicle. The contact engaged the parking brake. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and raised up on a lift. The vehicle was diagnosed with a severely corroded front subframe. Additionally, there were large holes in the subframe. The independent mechanic informed the contact that the vehicle was not drivable. The dealer and other unknown…
Owner-reported narrative. 57,130 miles reported. Look up ODI 11483994 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11457333 · 2022-03-18 (March 18, 2022)
The contact owns a 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated he was not sure if any warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to safely pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to his residence. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched the failure and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V609000 (Electrical System). The manufacturer ha…
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11457333 at NHTSA ↗