NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
What can fail
The liftgate gas spring cylinders can corrode and lose pressure, causing the cylinders to rupture or the liftgate to fall unexpectedly.
What the fix does
This page covers 9 recalls, 141 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander.
22–26 mpg combined
9–10.7 L/100km
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 2 tested variants for this model year.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Powertrain complaints dominate the 2016 Outlander's complaint record, making up roughly a third of all reports filed. Owners most commonly describe issues with the continuously variable transmission (CVT), reporting symptoms like slipping, failure to engage, and hesitation or loss of acceleration after coming to a stop. Several owners describe the transmission warning light illuminating alongside erratic RPM behavior and a vehicle that struggles to move. Acceleration problems appear repeatedly as a related thread, owners report pressing the accelerator and getting little or no response, often without any warning lights present at the time. Exterior lighting is the second most-reported system, though at a much lower volume. The structural category follows, with a handful of owners noting corrosion-related issues, including parking brake operating shafts that corroded to the point where the brake stopped functioning as expected.
141
Total Complaints
8
Crash-Related
1
Fire-Related
5
With Injuries
By System
The 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander has 9 recalls, the most serious involving a defective relay that can cause the engine to stall, lose power, or overheat while driving. Three recalls share a common theme around the rear brake calipers: water can enter the calipers and corrode the parking brake operating shafts, causing the parking brakes to drag, fail to engage or release fully, or leave the vehicle at risk of rolling away if left out of gear. On the door safety side, inside door latch mechanisms can fail to hold securely in high temperatures, allowing doors to swing open while the vehicle is moving. The rear liftgate gas spring cylinders can corrode, lose pressure, and either rupture or drop the liftgate unexpectedly onto someone standing nearby. There is also a second-row seatbelt concern: the center buckle can interfere with the right-side buckle when the seat backs are folded down, leaving an occupant without a functioning restraint in a crash. The transmission control module on some vehicles can cause a noticeable hesitation when accelerating, raising the risk of a collision in traffic.
At a glance
What can fail
The liftgate gas spring cylinders can corrode and lose pressure, causing the cylinders to rupture or the liftgate to fall unexpectedly.
What the fix does
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Both liftgate gas springs will be replaced at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The liftgate gas spring cylinders can corrode and lose pressure, potentially rupturing or causing the liftgate to fall unexpectedly.
What the fix does
The left and right liftgate gas springs will be replaced at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rust-prevention coating on rear brake operating shafts may have peeled off during assembly. Water can then enter the brake caliper, causing the shafts to corrode and stick.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the rear brake caliper assemblies at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The parking brake shaft in the rear brake caliper can rust and get stuck, reducing parking brake performance or causing the brakes to drag. The vehicle may roll away if not left in gear.
What the fix does
Mitsubishi will mail owners instructions to bring their vehicle to a dealer for replacement of the rear brake calipers.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The second-row center seat belt buckle may interfere with the right-side buckle when seat backs fold down, causing the right buckle cover to detach and making that buckle unable to restrain a passenger.
What the fix does
Dealers will modify the center seat belt buckle cover, install warning labels on the seat support base and in the owner's manual.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Water can enter the rear brake calipers, causing the parking brake actuator shafts to corrode and possibly stick or bind.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the rear brake calipers and replace the parking brake boot, lever, caliper body, and piston assembly as needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Defective relays may cause the engine to stall, lose power, or overheat while driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the defective relays at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The inside door latch mechanisms may fail to latch securely in high temperatures, allowing doors to open while the vehicle is moving.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the door latches at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The continuously variable transmission may delay acceleration response in certain driving conditions.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the transmission control unit software at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
