Reliable Auto DB

2016 Mitsubishi Lancer reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 30 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer over 11 years — 1 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Lancer years here — under the median of the other years, which is 1. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Relay and Transmission control module.

2012 Mitsubishi Lancer
Photo by Ermell, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

30

Per year

1

Recalls

2

Years on the road

11

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (21 of 30), then Electrical system (4) and Speed control (4). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash and 2 that report an injury.

Next to 2015 and 2017

The 2015 Lancer has 26 complaints, 5 per year, and the 2017 has 6 complaints, 0 per year. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2015. The 2016 has more complaints per year than the 2017.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (2)

Recall electrical system, starter, relay 2017-09-29 · NHTSA campaign 17V609000
Summary 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.
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.
Recall powertrain, automatic transmission, transmission control module 2016-07-28 · NHTSA campaign 16V563000
Summary 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.
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.

Complaints by component (30 total)

Powertrain
21
Electrical system
4
Speed control
4
Engine
3
Structure
2
Air bags
1
Fuel and propulsion system
1
Visibility
1
Crash-flagged

1

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

2

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

22017120182201922020620216202242023320243202512026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "I bought this vehicle and few weeks later I noticed at a red light. When it turned green i hit the gas. My car took a few seconds, reved and then shot out into the lane. Since then it has had issues over 20 miles and…"
    Powertrain, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-08-06
  • "It’s throwing a P084A code and it feels like the transmission is about to let loose. I bought the car with 30,000 on it in 2016 and it has a hair over 136,000 and ever since I’ve had it it’s always had this transmission…"
    Powertrain · filed 2025-07-20
  • "Recently the transmission has started to shudder when first driving from a stop. It only happens under low acceleration. If you push the accelerator pedel firmly it will not shudder. Wondering if this is a recall about…"
    Powertrain · filed 2025-05-03
  • "The car is bucking hi low hi low and then the service transmission light is coming on. We brought the car in a couple of weeks ago and I thought this was suppose to he fixed. It is alot worse now"
    Powertrain · filed 2025-02-21
  • "Loss of power on acceleration, rpms going up and down, hesitation in acceleration, going into limp mode won't accelerate over 25-40mph pulled code P084A shop believes it needs a complete replacement based on their…"
    Powertrain · filed 2024-10-07

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2016 Mitsubishi Lancer 4 DR AWD 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars
2016 Mitsubishi Lancer 4 DR FWD 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Lancer 2L, 4-cyl Manual 5-speed Front-wheel drive 24 33 28 MPG $2300
Lancer 2.4L, 4-cyl Manual 5-speed Front-wheel drive 22 30 25 MPG $2600
Lancer 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S6) Front-wheel drive 27 34 30 MPG $2150
Lancer 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S6) Front-wheel drive 24 31 26 MPG $2500
Lancer four-wheel drive 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S6) All-wheel drive 23 30 26 MPG $2500

Specs and fitment

9th generation (CY/CZ), 2012–2017
Body styles Sedan, Hatchback
Oil 0W-20 (2.0L/2.4L NA; turbo/Ralliart viscosities differ) , 4.5 qt capacity
Tire size 205/60R16, 215/45R18, 245/40R18 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 18V-069 covers certain 2009-2012 Mitsubishi Lancer vehicles among other Mitsubishi models with 4B11 or 4B12 engines: the drive-belt automatic tensioner flange may crack, allowing the accessory drive belt to detach. Dealers replace the belt tensioner with an improved design. The campaign's published unit count is shared across Lancer, Outlander, Lancer Sportback, and Outlander Sport. Recall 17V-609 covers certain 2015-2016 Lancer vehicles among other Mitsubishi models: defective relays can cause an engine stall, reduced power, or overheating; dealers replace the affected relays.

Compare

Previous year 2015 Mitsubishi Lancer Next year 2017 Mitsubishi Lancer See every Mitsubishi Lancer model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer reliable?

Owners have filed 30 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer over 11 years — 1 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Lancer years here — under the median of the other years, which is 1. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Relay and Transmission control module.

What are common problems with a 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer?

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (21 of 30), then Electrical system (4) and Speed control (4). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash and 2 that report an injury.

Is the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2015 Lancer has 26 complaints, 5 per year, and the 2017 has 6 complaints, 0 per year. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2015. The 2016 has more complaints per year than the 2017.

Has the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer been recalled?

The 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer has 2 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer?

Owners have filed 30 complaints about the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer is 27 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Mitsubishi Lancer use?

Many 2.0L/2.4L NA engines use 0W-20 with about 4.5 qt; turbo and Ralliart trims may specify different viscosities—check the manual.

What tire sizes fit the Lancer?

OE sizes range from 205/60R16 on base trims to 245/40R18 on sport packages; confirm on the placard.

What recalls affect the Mitsubishi Lancer?

Recall 18V-069 covers certain 2009-2012 Lancer models for accessory drive belt tensioner flange cracks (shared with Outlander family), and 17V-609 covers certain 2015-2016 Lancer vehicles for relay failures that can stall the engine.