YearToAvoid

2016 Mitsubishi Lancer Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

58/100

#6 most-complained of 13 Lancer years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer has 30 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 58 out of 100 — #6 highest of 13 Lancer model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is transmission & powertrain (21 complaints, 70% of the total). Complaints report 1 crash and 2 injuries.

Complaints
30
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
26
24 city / 31 hwy

Top 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain21 (70%)
  2. Engine6 (20%)
  3. Electrical System4 (13%)
  4. Other3 (10%)
  5. Structure & Body2 (7%)
  6. Airbags1 (3%)
  7. Fuel System1 (3%)
  8. Visibility & Wipers1 (3%)
2016 Mitsubishi Lancer complaints: complaints filed per month4Mar 2017Oct 2019Mar 2021Jan 2022Sep 2022May 2023Sep 2024May 2025
39 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2017 to Aug 2026; peak Mar 2021 (4).

2016 Mitsubishi Lancer recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 17V609000Sep 29, 2017Electrical System132,552 vehicles

    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 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.

    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.

  2. NHTSA 16V563000Jul 28, 2016Transmission & Powertrain82,436 vehicles

    Power train:automatic transmission:control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)

    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.

    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.

2016 Mitsubishi Lancer fuel economy and fuel cost

City
24 MPG
Highway
31 MPG
Combined
26 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,500
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2016 compared with other Lancer years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2014Good4216025.5
2015Avoid7523125.5
2016Caution5830226
2017Best176028

All Mitsubishi Lancer years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer ranks #6 of 13 among Lancer model years (Complaint Index 58/100, verdict: Caution). It has 30 complaints and 2 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer?
The most reported problem areas are transmission & powertrain (21 complaints), engine (6 complaints), and electrical system (4 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 63,500 miles.
Does the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer, most recently reported 2017, covering electrical system and transmission & powertrain.
What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer?
EPA rates the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer at 26 MPG combined (24 city / 31 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,500. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.