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2016 Mitsubishi Lancer
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
29 owner complaints · 2 recalls · data verified July 25, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Transmission & drivetrain problems dominate (69% of complaints, typically reported near 68k miles).
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Complaints are overwhelmingly minor: almost none involve crashes, fires, or injuries.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#93 of 586Among the 2016 models with a matured record, the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer ranks #93, scoring higher than 82% of them. See the 2016 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
4/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer 4 DR AWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 12%
1 open NHTSA defect investigation on file, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer, plotted where owners report it happening.
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint. Treat them as a rough guide.
Transmission & drivetrain
69%20 complaints · typically near 68k mi · 5 in the last 2 years
“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…”
Speed control
14%4 complaints
“WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR STARTS OUT REALLY SLOW. THERE IS A LOT OF JERKING AND ACCELERATION ISSUES. WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE, IT ACTS LIKE IT IS SHIFTED TO L,…”
Electrical system
14%4 complaints
“THE CAR DOESNT CRANK AND WE HAVE TO WAIT LIKE 2 OR 3 MIN AND THEN WILL CRANK BUT STRUGGLING.”
Engine
10%3 complaints
“2016 SE 2.4L AWC. Purchased car in February 2022 at 66k miles. In December of 2022 at 78k miles, car lost majority power while traveling at 40 MPH, threw 'Tranmission …”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 1 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 29 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 2 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (2)
Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.
Electrical System · 17V609000
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.
Risk: If the engine stalls, there is an increased the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Power Train · 16V563000
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.
Fix: 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.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Mitsubishi before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer. Can you run this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and confirm each one shows "Remedy Completed"?
- Owners of this model report transmission & drivetrain problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 68k miles). Has this car shown any transmission & drivetrain symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2016 Mitsubishi LANCER beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2016? See how every Lancer model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.