Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train21
- Vehicle speed control4
- Electrical system4
- Engine3
- Unknown or other3
- Structure2
- Visibility1
- Air bags1
- Fuel/propulsion system1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 2 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 7 2016 Lancer vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 3 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer failed the safety check 3.56% of the time — 81% more often than the average 2016 passenger car (1.97%). Median odometer at inspection: 82,894 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Registered new in Europe in 2016
2,295 new Mitsubishi Lancer cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2016; the largest markets were Germany (810), Poland (430), Hungary (424).
- Average mass
- 1,365 kg
- Average power
- 88 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Petrol 81% · LPG 19%
European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · averages weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value; fuel type as recorded at registration, where many non-plug-in hybrids appear as petrol · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
In the Netherlands
50 first registered in 2016 are on Dutch roads; 12% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €19,079.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde22
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt15
- Band beschadigd11
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)11
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht11
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld11
- Band onvoldoende profiel10
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm8
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In New Zealand
907 2016 cars are on the New Zealand register; 2% arrived as used imports, 97% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-star results for 2 variants; 0 of 2 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer 4 DR AWD | ★★★★☆ | 12.1 % |
| 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer 4 DR FWD | ★★★★☆ | 12.1 % |
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- No
- Lane departure warning
- No
- Best overall rating
- 4 / 5
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 5 variants: combined 7.8–9.2 L/100 km (about 26–30 mpg US), CO₂ 181–217 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lancer · Compact · Regular gasoline | 8.6 | 6.8 | 7.8 |
| Lancer · Compact · Regular gasoline | 9.6 | 7.0 | 8.4 |
| Lancer · Compact · Regular gasoline | 9.8 | 7.6 | 8.8 |
| Lancer 4WD · Compact · Regular gasoline | 10.2 | 7.8 | 9.1 |
| Lancer · Compact · Regular gasoline | 10.5 | 7.7 | 9.2 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer.
| 2018588 26 Oct 2018 | Visual System On certain vehicles, water may drain from the windshield cowl area onto the front wiper link ball joint. Over time, this could result in corrosion and/or wear t… |
| 2017475 29 Sept 2017 | Engine On certain vehicles, defective electrical relays may have been installed in the power distribution center. This could cause various electrical circuits to fail,… |
| 2016379 27 Jul 2016 | Powertrain On certain vehicles equipped with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), the range switch could momentarily experience a loss of signal. If this occurs, th… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mitsubishi told its dealers about the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11003536 | Service Manual Revision - This Technical Service Bulletin provides corrections to the description of special tools used to install the oil seal within the Automatic Transaxle sections of the applicable Service Manuals. |
| 10252691 | Service Manual Revision - This Technical Service Bulletin instructs dealers to diagnose and test drive vehicles exhibiting a shudder or surge condition possibly caused by poor reaction of the hydraulic pressure circuit. |
| 10252683 | Service Manual Revision - This Technical Service Bulletin instructs dealers to diagnose and test drive vehicles exhibiting a shudder or surge condition possibly caused by poor reaction of the hydraulic pressure circuit. |
| 10250860 | Service Manual Revision - This Technical Service Bulletin provides the procedure for diagnostic trouble code and on-vehicle service for belt & pulley assembly on certain CVT models. |
| 10240443 | This is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has launched the 3rd quarterly technician quiz for 2023. |
| 10235611 | This Technical Service Bulletin provides service manual corrections to the CVT maintenance procedure. |
| 10235609 | This Technical Service Bulletin provides instructions and material safety data sheets for removal of rap-film adhesive residue. |
| 10235608 | This Technical Service Bulletin reviews the regulations that require a label showing the reduction in load carrying capacity be affixed to vehicles when the total net weight of accessories is more than 1.5 percent of the vehicle's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or 100 lbs. |
| 10235606 | This is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has launched the 2nd quarterly technician quiz for 2023. |
| 10233997 | This Technical Service Bulletin contains technical information and troubleshooting for the accessory Remote Engine Start system for affected vehicles. |
| 10233994 | This is a Technical Information Notice informing dealers and parts managers about possible causes after a customer complains that the engine will not start while using the remote start system. |
| 10231411 | This TSB provides the addition of Diagnostic Procedure for CVT Belt Check for vehicles equipped with CVT type F1CJC and W1CJC. (Service Manual Revision) |
| 10231410 | This TSB provides revisions to the Removal and Installation procedures for the rocker cover due to changes in the quantity of mounting bolts for vehicles equipped with 4B1 series engine. (Service Manual Revision) |
| 10211530 | This Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers to explain the difference between normal dew condensation, which is a natural phenomenon, and water penetration caused by improper sealing or a defective/broken part. |
| 10208827 | This Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers directing them to diagnose and test drive customer vehicles with F1CJC/W1CJC (CVT-8) transmissions that may exhibit a shudder or surge condition possibly caused by a poor reaction of the hydraulic pressure circuit. |
| 10201201 | This Technical Information Notice was sent to dealers informing them Owner Manuals (OM) are now available electronically beginning with Model Year 2015. |
| 10191961 | This Technical Information Notice provides additional instructions to dealers when replacing the Valve Cover Gasket due to a customer concern of oil leaking. |
| 10179678 | This TSB instructs dealers a condition where the coolant temperature warning light illuminates and a coolant leak is found at the hose connection and to replace the old hose clamp with a countermeasure clamp and to replace the old water hose with a new water hose. |
| 10179519 | Tech Talk is a service newsletter that was sent out to dealers. It covers various topics and reviews the previous months publications. |
| 10179518 | This TSB instructs dealers a condition where the coolant temperature warning light illuminates and a coolant leak is found at the hose connection and to replace the old hose clamp with a countermeasure clamp and to replace the old water hose with a new water hose. |
| 10177379 | This Technical Service Bulletin supersedes TSB-20-23-001, issued April, 2020, to update the Control Valve part number and MY 2020-2018 Outlander Sports with 2.4L engines. |
| 10176674 | This Technical Information Notice revises TIN-20-00-007 informing dealers TK Services has confirmed that pickup service has resumed for dealerships and customer facilities. |
| 10175780 | This TSB updates the Interior and Supplemental Restraint System sections of the affected Service Manuals to update the Side Airbag Replacement Procedure. These changes are being made because the Side Airbag Module is now available as a single unit. |
| 10175777 | Certain vehicles with F1CJC/W1CJC (CVT-8) transmissions may exhibit a shudder or surge condition possibly caused by poor reaction of the hydraulic pressure circuit. With continued driving under these conditions, the CVT belt may slip repeatedly when accelerating, and abrasion powder may enter the hydraulic pressure circuit, causing a warning light to turn on. This TSB instructs dealers to diagnose and test drive vehicles exhibiting this co |
| 10172710 | This bulletin advises that tire chains are NOT approved for use on any 2016 - 2020 Mitsubishi vehicle. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Electrical overstress
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation