2016 Mitsubishi OUTLANDER: complaints, problems and recalls

THE PAINT ON THE HOOD IS CHIPPING ONLY AFTER 2,000 MILES AND ITS SECOND CAR WASH! I PARK MY NEW CAR IN THE GARAGE AND DON'T EVEN TAKE IT TO WORK, IT'S ONLY MY WEEKEND VEHICLE. MY 12 YEAR OLD SATURN'S PAINT JOB LOOKS BETTER THAN MY 3 MONTH OLD NEW MITSUBISHI. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY NO CLEAR COAT ON TOP, OR PRIMER UNDER THE PAINT. WHEN COMPARED TO "DINGS" ON MY 12 YEAR OLD SATURN, IT IS OBVIOUS THERE ARE A FEW LAYERS OF MATERIAL BEFORE IT GETS DOWN TO THE BODY - WITH THE MITSUBISHI, IT'S JUST PAINT AND THEN METAL. I HAD THE WESTERN REGIONAL MANAGER, …

Owner-reported narrative. 2,014 miles reported. Look up ODI 10822687 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. WHILE MAKING A TURN, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10851203 at NHTSA ↗

PAINT IS CHIPPING AFTER CAR WASH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10854549 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, IT INDEPENDENTLY SURGED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE STOPPED BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10873585 at NHTSA ↗

PURCHASED NEW VEHICLE WITH 9 MILES ON THE CAR. AT 283 MILES (ON A ROAD TRIP DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY) THE "POWER STEERING SERVICE REQUIRED" NOTIFICATION CAME ON AND I COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. ONCE HOME, TOOK THE CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND "NO SYSTEM FAILURE" CAME UP ON THE MACHINE AT THE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD TO CALL BACK IF IS HAPPENS AGAIN. TOOK THE CAR HOME AND AT 788 MILES THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND COMING OUT OF A SHOPPING CENTER (1459 MILES) AND I COULD NOT TURN MY WHEEL. AT 1459 MILES, TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 236 miles reported. Look up ODI 10897581 at NHTSA ↗

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 IT ANYMORE. SHE HAD MULTIPLE INJURIES FROM THE AIRBAGS AND SAW THE DOCTOR. AFTER REPAIRS, WE ENDED UP SWITCHING CARS AND THE OUTLANDER BECAME MY CAR AND I NOTICED THAT IT SEEMED VERY HEAVY LIKE IT WAS SURGING FORWARD AND RESISTE…

Owner-reported narrative. 760 miles reported. Look up ODI 10903707 at NHTSA ↗

ON WED. SEPTEMBER 7, 2016, AVIS RENT A CAR AT HOBBY AIRPORT IN HOUSTON, TX RENTED THIS VEHICLE TO ME WITH AN OPEN SAFETY RECALL. I DIDN'T REALIZE IT UNTIL ~15 MINUTES AFTER I LEFT THE AIRPORT AND THE TIRE BLEW OUT ON THE FREEWAY. ONCE I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET OFF THE FREEWAY, I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AND INSPECTED THE CAR. FINDINGS INCLUDE: 1) LOW TIRE GAUGE LIGHT ON (AFTER LEAVING THE AIRPORT, BEFORE THE TIRE BLEW OUT), 2) WHAT LOOKED LIKE DUCT TAPE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE WINDSHIELD, POSSIBLY INDICATING A NEW WINDSHIELD HAD RECENTLY BEEN I…

Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10905634 at NHTSA ↗

EVER SENSE I HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IT HAS HAD A NOISE IN THE FRONT. IT SOUNDS AS IF IT IS COMING FROM THE CONTROL ARM. WHEN IT STARTED GETTING WORSE I CALLED TO TELL THE GUY I BOUGHT IT FROM AND HE SAID THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE THINKING THIS, BUT IT IS JUST A NOISE FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. THIS ONLY HAPPENS IN REVERSE AND IT SOUNDS LIKE A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE BOTTOM PASSENGER TIRE. I WILL HAVE THIS LOOKED AT HOPEFULLY ON THURSDAY. ALSO, I HAVE A SMELL OF GAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHEN IT EITHER IDLES OR IS DRIVEN FOR A LONG …

Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10905886 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2016-07-28 (July 28, 2016)

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.

Consequence: A hesitation during acceleration can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2017-04-06 (April 6, 2017)

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 high temperatures, allowing the doors to open while vehicle is in motion.

Consequence: If a door opens while the vehicle is being driven, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door latches, free of charge. The recall began August 25, 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-17-002.

Reported: 2017-09-29 (September 29, 2017)

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.

Consequence: If the engine stalls, there is an increased the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2018-01-26 (January 26, 2018)

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 causing the parking brake actuator shafts to corrode and possibly bind.

Consequence: If the parking brake actuator shaft binds, the parking brake may not engage or disengage fully. If the parking brake does not engage properly, the vehicle may move unexpectedly if it is parked on a slope, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear brake calipers and replace the parking brake boot and lever or the brake caliper body, as necessary. Dealers will also replace the piston assembly of the rear brake caliper. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 27, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-002.

Reported: 2020-07-13 (July 13, 2020)

Mitsubishi 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 the right-side seat belt buckle cover to come off, making the buckle latch inoperable and unable to restrain an occupant.

Consequence: An unrestrained occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will modify the second-row center seat belt buckle cover, install a new warning label to the second-row seat support base, and provide a new warning label insert for the owner's manual, free of charge. The recall began September 1, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-20-004.

Reported: 2020-11-30 (November 30, 2020)

Mitsubishi 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 caliper boot may cause the parking brake operating shafts to corrode and possibly bind.

Consequence: If the parking brake operating shafts bind, the parking brakes may not engage or disengage fully. If the parking brakes do not engage properly, the vehicle could rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear brake caliper assemblies, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 4, 2021. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-20-005.

Reported: 2025-08-07 (August 7, 2025)

Mitsubishi 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, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The liftgate gas spring cylinders may corrode and lose pressure, which can result in a gas spring cylinder rupture or the liftgate falling unexpectedly.

Consequence: A gas spring cylinder rupture or a liftgate falling unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: MMNA will replace the left and right liftgate gas springs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 6, 2025. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-25-002

Reported: 2026-04-20 (April 20, 2026)

Mitsubishi 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.

Consequence: A gas spring cylinder rupture or a liftgate falling unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: MMNA will replace the left and right liftgate gas springs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 17, 2026. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-26-001. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov June 3, 2026. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V507.