Home · 2016 · Mitsubishi
2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
Buyable, but go in with open eyes: this car has specific known issues to check before money changes hands.
163 owner complaints · 8 recalls · data verified July 14, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why caution?
8 recall campaigns (3 safety-critical). Confirm every one shows "remedy completed" on the seller's VIN.
Transmission & drivetrain problems dominate (40% of complaints, typically reported near 58k miles).
Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.
The math, shown
Full methodology →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 Outlander Sport SUV FWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 19%
No open NHTSA defect investigations on file.
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 Outlander Sport, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Engine (27) · Brakes (19) · Electrical system (16) · Body & structure (14)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Transmission & drivetrain
40%65 complaints · typically near 58k mi · 3 in the last 2 years
“CVT transmission is slipping really bad and TPS not working .”
Engine
17%27 complaints · 3 in the last 2 years
“I bought a Mitsubishi outlander 2016 and just in couple of month the car doesn’t want to engage on the transmission , the SUV doesn’t go forward or backwards, it sound…”
Brakes
12%19 complaints · 3 in the last 2 years
“The parking brake is sticking when the vehicle is in motion, and it may fails to keep the vehicle stationary when engaged. It has been occurring for a few months. Ther…”
Electrical system
10%16 complaints
“I am having a problem with accelerating while driving. Car starts to jerk or stutter while driving.”
Recalls (8)
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.
Parking Brake · 20V741000
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2016 Outlander and Outlander Sport vehicles. The rust prevention coating on the rear brake operating shafts could have been peeled off during the assembly process. As a result, water entering the rear brake caliper boot may cause the parking brake operating shafts to corrode and possibly bind.
Risk: If the parking brake operating shafts bind, the parking brakes may not engage or disengage fully. If the parking brakes do not engage properly, the vehicle could rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear brake caliper assemblies, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 4, 2021. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-20-005.
Structure · 20V279000
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2008-2010 Lancer, 2009-2010 Lancer Sportback, 2008-2013 Outlander, and 2011-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The front lower control arms may detach due to the front cross member corroding from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.
Risk: A detached front control arm can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front cross members. Depending on the level of existing corrosion, either a sealing/anti-corrosion agent will be applied or the front cross member will be replaced with a new one. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-20-003.
Visibility · 18V103000
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2011-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles. Water may enter between the hood and windshield and cause the front wiper link ball joint to corrode, possibly resulting in the wiper link separating and the wipers becoming inoperative.
Risk: Loss of wiper function can reduce visibility and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rod of the wiper link and the wiper motor crank arm, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 10, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-004.
Parking Brake · 18V070000
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Outlander and 2013-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles. Water may enter the rear brake calipers causing the parking brake actuator shafts to corrode and possibly bind.
Risk: If the parking brake actuator shaft binds, the parking brake may not engage or disengage fully. If the parking brake does not engage properly, the vehicle may move unexpectedly if it is parked on a slope, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear brake calipers and replace the parking brake boot and lever or the brake caliper body, as necessary. Dealers will also replace the piston assembly of the rear brake caliper. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 27, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-002.
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.
Latches/locks/linkages · 17V233000
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2016 Outlander and Outlander Sport vehicles. The inside door latch mechanisms may not latch securely in high temperatures, allowing the doors to open while vehicle is in motion.
Risk: If a door opens while the vehicle is being driven, it can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door latches, free of charge. The recall began August 25, 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-17-002.
Structure · 16V867000
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Outlander Sport vehicles manufactured August 26, 2010, to June 1, 2012, and 2016 Outlander Sport vehicles manufactured January 11, 2016, to July 8, 2016. The lift gate support outer tube on the affected vehicles may have insufficient anti-corrosion treatment that can allow the outer tube to corrode due to salt and water penetration.
Risk: If the outer tube corrodes, there may be a rapid loss of the gas used to provide lift assistance, causing the lift gate to fall suddenly, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the lift gate supports, free of charge. The recall began on January 20, 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-16-011.
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.
Before you hand over money
Verify the recall work was done
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 OUTLANDER SPORT beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2016? See how every Outlander Sport model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 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.