YearToAvoid

2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

36/100

#10 most-complained of 15 Outlander Sport years

The 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport ranks 10th out of 15 model years with a complaint index of 36 and a "Good" verdict relative to other years. It has 26 complaints, 8 recalls, and no fires or deaths reported.

Complaints
26
Recalls
8
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
25
23 city / 29 hwy

Top 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport problems

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

  1. Engine11 (42%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain7 (27%)
  3. Electrical System6 (23%)
  4. Brakes4 (15%)
  5. Other4 (15%)
  6. Structure & Body4 (15%)
  7. Steering3 (12%)
  8. Airbags1 (4%)
  9. Fuel System1 (4%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (4%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the vehicle hesitates or fails to accelerate when pressing the gas pedal, sometimes at highway speeds.
  • Some describe a delayed response followed by a sudden surge forward when accelerating from a stop.
  • The steering wheel has jerked unexpectedly during low-speed turns, in one case leading to a crash.
  • The driver's door has opened on its own while driving at low speed.
  • Owners report the engine stalling and losing power without warning at various speeds.
  • Some noted the vehicle pulling to one side under braking or when hitting a bump.
2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport complaints: complaints filed per month4Oct 2016Oct 2017Mar 2018Apr 2019Aug 2021Sep 2023Jan 2025
42 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2016 to Jun 2025; peak Apr 2019 (4).

2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport recalls

8 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V741000Nov 30, 2020Brakes21,758 vehicles

    Parking brake

    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.

    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.

  2. NHTSA 20V279000May 18, 2020Structure & Body141,200 vehicles

    Structure:frame and members

    Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2008-2010 Lancer, 2009-2010 Lancer Sportback, 2008-2013 Outlander, and 2011-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The front lower control arms may detach due to the front cross member corroding from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.

    Risk: A detached front control arm can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front cross members. Depending on the level of existing corrosion, either a sealing/anti-corrosion agent will be applied or the front cross member will be replaced with a new one. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-20-003.

  3. NHTSA 18V103000Feb 9, 2018Visibility & Wipers158,651 vehicles

    Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:linkages

    Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2011-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles. Water may enter between the hood and windshield and cause the front wiper link ball joint to corrode, possibly resulting in the wiper link separating and the wipers becoming inoperative.

    Risk: Loss of wiper function can reduce visibility and increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rod of the wiper link and the wiper motor crank arm, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 10, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-004.

See all 8 recalls for the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport →

2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport fuel economy and fuel cost

City
23 MPG
Highway
29 MPG
Combined
25 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,600
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 Outlander Sport years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2014Avoid8641626
2015Avoid100182926
2016Good3626825
2017Caution5727025
2018Caution6421225

All Mitsubishi Outlander Sport years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport a good year to buy?
Relative to other Outlander Sport model years, 2016 is rated "Good" with a complaint index of 36, ranking 10th worst out of 15 years covered.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport?
NHTSA complaints show Engine issues make up 42% of complaints, followed by Transmission & Powertrain at 27% and Electrical System at 23%.
Does the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 8 recalls for the 2016 Outlander Sport, covering brakes, structure and body issues like door latches and lift gate supports, electrical relays, wipers, and CVT software.
How does the 2016 Outlander Sport compare to the 2015 model?
The 2015 Outlander Sport has a complaint index of 100 and an "Avoid" verdict with 182 complaints, far worse than the 2016 model's index of 36 and 26 complaints.
What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport?
EPA rates it at 25 mpg combined (23 city / 29 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,600.

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.