The 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 214,988 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 38 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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.
POWER TRAIN16V5630002016-07-2882,436 affected
Defect
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.
Complaints by component
POWER TRAIN
20
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
4
ENGINE
3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
3
AIR BAGS
1
1crashes1injuries
STRUCTURE:BODY
1
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
1
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
1
1injuries
Total complaints38
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“It’s throwing a p084a code and it feels like the transmission is about to let loose. I bought the car with 30,000 on it in 2016 and it has a hair over 136,000 and ever since i’ve had it it’s always had this transmission lag jerk in it. Very scuttle but you can feel it. Then all of a sudden…”
“Recently the transmission has started to shudder when first driving from a stop. It only happens under low acceleration. If you push the accelerator pedel firmly it will not shudder. Wondering if this is a recall about to happen? It started on or about 4/2/2025 but is continuing to happen.”
“The car is bucking hi low hi low and then the service transmission light is coming on. We brought the car in a couple of weeks ago and I thought this was suppose to he fixed. It is alot worse now”
“Purchased the vehicle with only 59k miles in may 2024. Transmission immediately started acting up, hesitating, jumping rpms, and delayed acceleration and loss of power. Service transmission light came on once but after restarting the light turned off, but still has the issues. Have had the fluid…”
“I've had the vehicle for 7 years and after inspection performed by the dealer, there is so much subframe rot that my car will not pass the next inspection due in april. I've contacted mitsubishi and they said there is nothing they can do as there isn't any recall. This model of mitsubishi has had…”
“I've had the vehicle for 7 years and after inspection performed by the dealer, there is so much subframe rot that my car will not pass the next inspection due in april. I've contacted mitsubishi and they said there is nothing they can do as there isn't any recall. This model of mitsubishi has had…”
“I purchased this car in 2016 brand new from the dealer. Have kept up with its maintenance but in the past couple of months, the car is not taking off. What I mean by that is that the transmission slips and won't allow the car to gain speed there is a delay in the car accelerating. This is the…”
“I purchased this car in 2016 brand new from the dealer. Have kept up with its maintenance but in the past couple of months, the car is not taking off. What I mean by that is that the transmission slips and won't allow the car to gain speed there is a delay in the car accelerating. This is the…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA19001 Opened 2019-04-19 · closed 2024-09-19
Electrical overstress
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…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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