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2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander carries 8 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering relay and latch. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Door latch failure and recall parts delay.” Mitsubishi publishes short, conservative intervals: oil every 7,500 miles normal / 3,750 severe, and — unlike many rivals — an explicit CVT fluid replacement schedule rather than a 'lifetime fill' claim. Read the severe-service column honestly: stop-and-go city trips, short hops, and hot climates all qualify, and they describe how most Mirages actually live. The 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty stays intact only with documented on-schedule service.

8 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY

Campaign #17V609000 · Sep 29, 2017

Issue: 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.

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

Campaign #17V233000 · Jun 4, 2017

Issue: 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.

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

Fix: 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.

PARKING BRAKE

Campaign #18V070000 · Jan 26, 2018

Issue: 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.

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

Campaign #16V563000 · Jul 28, 2016

Issue: 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.

SEAT BELTS: REAR/OTHER:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

Campaign #20V403000 · Jul 13, 2020

Issue: 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.

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

Fix: 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.

PARKING BRAKE

Campaign #20V741000 · Nov 30, 2020

Issue: 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.

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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.

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT

Campaign #25V507000 · Jul 8, 2025

Issue: 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.

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

Fix: 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

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT

Campaign #26V252000 · Apr 20, 2026

Issue: 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.

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

Fix: 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.

Recall data refreshed Sep 6, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander.

Reported to NHTSA

Door latch failure and recall parts delay

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

8 NHTSA complaints · 2017-06 → 2017-11

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE DRIVER'S DOOR OPENED INDEPENDENTLY AND WAS DAMAGED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11031569
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V233000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11021080
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V233000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE REPAIR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11010179

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

CVT transmission hesitation, shudder, and failure

POWER TRAIN

78 NHTSA complaints · 2016-06 → 2026-07

“I HAVE A 2016 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER WITH A 2.4L ENGINE AND THE JATCO CVT TRANSMISSION AND ONLY 75,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING ERRATICALLY AND SHUDDERING WHEN GOING CERTAIN MPH RANGES TYPICALLY BETWEEN 45 AND 60 MPH”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11364710
“I have a CVT system on my SUV and the transmission keeps slipping. A transmission light comes on and the car starts to stall. It happens mostly in stop and go traffic”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11665436
“Vehicle exhibits a shudder/surge condition (engine flare, lack of acceleration, and/or car shake) possibly caused by poor reaction of the hydraulic pressure circuit. The CVT belt slips repeatedly when accelerating, causing a warning light to turn on with DTC P084A”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11429026

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Headlight bulb burnout and repeated failure

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

12 NHTSA complaints · 2017-07 → 2024-01

“HEADLIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT.. NOW HAVING TO REPLACE FOR THE THIRD TIME”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11268116
“I PURCHASED MY CAR IN SEPTEMBER 2015 BRAND NEW. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY HEADLIGHTS 3 TIMES NOW. TO ME THAT ISN'T NORMAL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11096821
“MY HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEM ABOUT 5 TIMES IN 3 YEARS. I EVEN HAD THEM PROFESSIONALLY PUT IN AT THE SHOP, AND NOW LESS THAN A YEAR LATER, I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE MY SON TO SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY ARE BOTH OUT AGAIN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11307633

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Parking brake failure to engage or release

PARKING BRAKE

13 NHTSA complaints · 2018-07 → 2025-11

“The contact owns a 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that upon manually activating the parking brake, the vehicle failed to respond as intended”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11700107
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 20V741000 (PARKING BRAKE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11408431
“The parking brake is sticking when the vehicle is in motion, and it fails to keep the vehicle stationary when engaged. The car cannot operate correctly with the emergency brake engaged”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11617095

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Brake caliper, rotor, and stopping failure

SERVICE BRAKES

8 NHTSA complaints · 2016-03 → 2023-05

“DRIVER SIDE CALIPER FROZE. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IT WAS FROZEN. NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY WHICH THEY ADVISED EXPIRED AT 60K”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11353585
“The contact owns a 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact stated that while driving at low speeds and merging off the highway and entering the cloverleaf, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11521982
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. WHILE MAKING A TURN, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10851203

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Airbag non-deployment in crash

AIR BAGS

6 NHTSA complaints · 2018-02 → 2023-06

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN THE VEHICLE WAS UNEXPECTEDLY HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11316315
“COLLISION GOING 40 MPH HIT A STOPPED VEHICLE. WHOLE FRONT END BUCKLED LEAVING OVER 7G IN DAMAGE. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11066677
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO AN ANIMAL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11190527

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 11, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 11, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 7,500 mi

Replace every 7,500 miles normal / 3,750 severe. Mirage's 1.2L three-cylinder holds barely over 3 quarts — small sumps punish stretched intervals. 0W-20 on most recent models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

CVT Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

Mitsubishi schedules CVT fluid replacement — commonly every 60,000 miles normal / 30,000 severe (check your year's table). Use only the specified CVT fluid (J4/CVTF-J4 family); generic ATF destroys the belt-and-pulley unit.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$360–$500

Shop

~$255–$355

DIY

~$80–$180

CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate with every oil change. Light Mirages are easy on tires but the economy-focused OEM rubber wears fast when neglected.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect pads, rotors/drums, and lines at each service — Mirage G4 retains rear drums, which need periodic adjustment checks.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace every 2-3 years per the schedule. Cheap job, big ABS-unit insurance.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Spark Plugs

Every 60,000 mi

Iridium plugs commonly every 60,000 miles on the Mirage's 3A92 and Lancer's 4B11 — verify your year's table, as some engines list up to 105,000.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Engine Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Mitsubishi's schedule replaces the engine air filter every 15,000 miles — shorter than most brands, and a 5-minute DIY on the Mirage.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Drive Belt

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect from 60,000 miles and replace on cracking. The Mirage's single serpentine belt also drives the A/C — a failure strands the car's accessories at once.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Replace every 15,000 miles, behind the glovebox. Often skipped at quick-lube visits — worth checking if airflow feels weak.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Coolant Replacement

Every 60,000 mi

First change around 60,000 miles, then roughly every 30,000-45,000 per the schedule. Mitsubishi long-life coolant or equivalent OAT for your year.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Battery Test & Service

Every 25,000 mi

Test annually after year 3. Small-battery economy cars have little reserve — the first cold snap finds a weak one.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

40 crashes 2010–2024

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

9

complaints mentioning a crash

1

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander reflects Mitsubishi's published service intervals. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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