YearToAvoid

2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Transmission & Powertrain Problems

The 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander has 64 Transmission & Powertrain complaints, 44% of its 145 total complaints for the year. Median failure mileage is 79,800, and NHTSA recall 16V563000 covers the CVT control unit software on this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
64
44% of 145
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
79,800 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners report sudden hesitation or delay of one to two seconds when shifting into drive or reverse before the transmission engages.
  • Some describe the RPM needle jumping erratically, sometimes climbing to 4 or 6 before the transmission shifts, accompanied by a loss of power while driving.
  • Several report a roaring or abnormal noise from the transmission when the accelerator is released, with dealers reportedly replacing the entire transmission unit.
  • Others report a torque converter failure that left the vehicle unable to move after it surged forward unexpectedly at a stop.
  • A group of owners saw a "transmission service required" warning appear along with stuttering or jerking while accelerating, sometimes right after routine service.
  • Some owners connected their symptoms to NHTSA recall 16V563000 for the CVT control unit but said the dealer told them their VIN was not listed as affected.

When 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 10, 2016, latest Sep 15, 2026.

2016 Mitsubishi Outlander transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month4Jun 2016Nov 2018Feb 2020Mar 2021Feb 2022Jan 2023Aug 2023Sep 2025
64 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2016 to Sep 2026; peak Jan 2020 (4).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander

  1. 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.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Outlander model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20106 (10%)
  2. 20116 (10%)
  3. 20126 (27%)
  4. 20134 (15%)
  5. 20147 (16%)
  6. 201525 (48%)
  7. 201664 (44%)
  8. 20177 (14%)
  9. 20183 (5%)
  10. 20193 (10%)
  11. 20201 (3%)
  12. 20228 (4%)
  13. 20234 (9%)
  14. 20244 (15%)
  15. 20251 (7%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander have?
NHTSA lists 64 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2016 Outlander, which is 44% of the 145 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a transmission recall on the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander?
Yes. Recall 16V563000, reported July 28, 2016, covers the CVT control unit; dealers reprogram it with modified software free of charge.
At what mileage do 2016 Outlander transmission problems usually occur?
The median mileage at failure for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2016 Outlander is 79,800 miles.
Did the 2016 Outlander transmission issue cause any crashes?
NHTSA records show 1 crash linked to Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2016 Outlander, with no fires or injuries reported.

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.