Skip to content
Mitsubishi LancerModel year report

2016 Mitsubishi Lancer Problems

Compared with other Mitsubishi Lancer years

Fewer complaints than typical for this model

0/100 0.2× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
30filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
63,500miles, 12 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
4 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
EPA fuel economy
28 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl FWD · 24 city / 33 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 30 consumer complaints for the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer. The part named most often is transmission and drivetrain, with 21 complaints (70% of the total), followed by electrical system (4) and vehicle speed control (4). 12 of the complaints include a mileage, and 33% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 63,500 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 66 technical service bulletins for this model year. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) and 16 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the relay and 13 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 4 Mitsubishi Lancer model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 0 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Transmission and drivetrain: “The light stating to service my transmission came on. The maintenance mileage was within stated parameters.service was completed, transmission fluid changed. Drove away and the light turned on. My transmission failed in april of 2019.”

NHTSA complaint #11265637, filed 2019-10, 69,000 miles

Electrical system: “I have been driving this car for a couple of months now and every once in a while very randomly I experienced a loss of acceleration completely. It happens after a long period of driving and when I'm coming up to a stop sign and going to accelerate again after doing research online and taking it to my dealership they will not do anything because they cannot figure out the problem I found a recall on the NHTSA website for my vehicle with my VIN number included in the range of in numbers experiencing this exact problem. …”

NHTSA complaint #10968384, filed 2017-03, 2,400 miles

Vehicle speed control: “As I was driving it it seems to hesitate on accelerating after a few stops the transmission light would come on for a little bit then go off. Same with the check engine light. As I was driving it to work on the highway.. It suddenly started losing power and I was able to pull over and park it at a gas station where it went completely dead.. I had aaa tow it.. It started up but the shifting is not engaging right away. Had the software updated in 2019.. The CVT transmission are full of problems. …”

NHTSA complaint #11399625, filed 2021-03, 83,000 miles

Engine: “The contact owns a 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 50 MPH, the RPM increased from 2,000 to 5,000. Additionally, speedometer became inoperable, he brake was not working as designed, and the Service Transmission message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who referred the contact to the dealer. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. …”

NHTSA complaint #11482208, filed 2022-08, 60,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

33% of the 12 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 40,000 and 83,000 miles.

17%0–100%10–2517%25–5033%50–7525%75–1008%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (12 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 63,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

2018202062022620242026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Lancer · sedan AWD★★★★☆5 / 4454 · 12.1% risk
Lancer · sedan FWD★★★★☆5 / 4454 · 12.1% risk

Neighbouring years: 2015: same overall rating; 2017: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Lancer FWD2.0L 4-cylCVT273430$2,250
Lancer FWD2.0L 4-cyl5-speed manual243328$2,400
Lancer FWD2.4L 4-cylCVT243126$2,600
Lancer FWD2.4L 4-cyl5-speed manual223025$2,700
Lancer 4WD2.4L 4-cylCVT233026$2,600

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 66 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 66 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mitsubishi Lancer

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20176—0430—Not enough data
20163063,50024280 · FewerFalling
20152321,0001428—Stable
20141675,0000427—Stable
2013583,0000428—Not enough data
20121955,0001428—Falling
20113450,6063—2720 · FewerFalling
20105170,0006—2550 · TypicalFalling
20099875,0008—2486 · MoreFalling
20089133,0005—2487 · MoreFalling
200637100,0004—23Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20052470,0003—23—Stable
20048060,0004—24Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200319949,0002—26Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200214868,0002—25Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Mitsubishi Lancer model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer have?

NHTSA recorded 30 consumer complaints for the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer is reported most often?

Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 21 complaints (70% of the total), followed by electrical system with 4.

Has the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer 4 out of 5 stars overall, across 2 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer get?

The EPA rates the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer (Lancer, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 28 mpg combined, 24 city and 33 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,400 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer reported?

Among the 12 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 63,500 miles and the middle half falls between 40,000 and 83,000 miles; 33% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.