CSR

Mitsubishi · NHTSA safety record

2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

26

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport have filed 26 safety complaints with NHTSA between October 2016 and June 2025. The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 8 of them (31%). The typical failure was reported at 27,850 miles, the median across the 16 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 8 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (8)

PARKING BRAKE

20V741000 · November 30, 2020

The defect
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.
The 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.
The remedy
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.

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. · up to 21,758 vehicles across all model years covered

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

20V279000 · May 18, 2020

The defect
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.
The risk
A detached front control arm can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
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.

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. · up to 141,200 vehicles across all model years covered

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES

18V103000 · February 9, 2018

The defect
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.
The risk
Loss of wiper function can reduce visibility and increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
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.

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. · up to 158,651 vehicles across all model years covered

PARKING BRAKE

18V070000 · January 26, 2018

The defect
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.
The 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.
The remedy
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.

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. · up to 170,354 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY

17V609000 · September 29, 2017

The defect
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.
The risk
If the engine stalls, there is an increased the risk of a crash.
The 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.

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. · up to 132,552 vehicles across all model years covered

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

17V233000 · April 6, 2017

The defect
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.
The risk
If a door opens while the vehicle is being driven, it can increase the risk of injury.
The remedy
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.

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. · up to 35,674 vehicles across all model years covered

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

16V867000 · December 2, 2016

The defect
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.
The 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.
The remedy
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.

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. · up to 50,228 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

16V563000 · July 28, 2016

The defect
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.
The risk
A hesitation during acceleration can increase the risk of a crash.
The 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.

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. · up to 82,436 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 26.

ENGINE 8 31%
POWER TRAIN 7 27%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 5 19%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 4 15%
SERVICE BRAKES 3 12%
STEERING 3 12%
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 2 8%
STRUCTURE 2 8%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2 8%
AIR BAGS 1 4%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 4%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 1 4%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2019 at 5.

2016 2019 2025
2016 to 2025

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

STEERING

1 injured · crash · towed · 16,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FACE AND RIBS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS PROVIDED AT THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER (ARNIE BAUER BUICK GMC CADILLAC, 5525 MILLER CIRCLE DRIVE, MATTESON, IL 60433), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTO BODY REPAIR SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint 11112196. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

towed · 36,700 miles

VEHICLE STALLED ON CITY ROAD, WAS ABLE TO RESTART. AND PULL INTO PARKING LOT WHEN IT STALLED AGAIN, ALL WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED IN VEHICLE. WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART THIS TIME, VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DEAD.COULD NOT MOVE SHIFTER TO ANY POSITION, STUCK IN PARK VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP. VEHICLE WAS AT DEALERSHIP FOR 7 DAYS, DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A BAD RELAY THAT PREVENTED COMMUNICATION WITH COMPUTER.

NHTSA complaint 11219579. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I have a CVT system on my SUV and the transmission keeps slipping. A transmission light comes on and the car starts to stall. It happens mostly in stop and go traffic.

NHTSA complaint 11665436. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION
In less than one year with this car, 2016 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT, is hesitating when accelerating then jerking forward into 4th gear, while driving at various speeds, the steering column vibrates makes loud sound, I’ve replaced the headlights at least 6x, water is getting in the vehicle somehow even a car wish will leave the floorboards soaking wet, the steering sways. This car had given me more issues in a year than all my cars throughout my lifetime combined and vehicle's vin number was NOT INCLUDED IN MANY SAFETY RECALLS. CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF THE CRASH.

NHTSA complaint 11640158. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Transmission light frequently comes on, car stalls/sluggish to respond. Has occurred while driving or at rest. No change despite several transmission servicing/towing expenses. Per online research, others experiencing same issues. Often resolves temporarily by turning off engine and restarting car. Recalls issued for other Mitsubishi models, but not for this car. Needs to be addressed to prevent injury or loss of life.

NHTSA complaint 11637509. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Unknown. The transmission service light comes on and the vehicle drags until you turn the car off and restart it. I noticed online there's a CVT transmission recall and was wondering if this is what is happening to my vehicle.

NHTSA complaint 11617093. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
The parking brake is sticking when the vehicle is in motion, and it fails to keep the vehicle stationary when engaged. The car cannot operate correctly with the emergency brake engaged. Also it’s not safe since the car cannot be secured. There is an open recall for this issue however my VIN isn’t included but the issue is the same. This has been occurring for a few months, we just were able to figure out the issue last night and then I found the recall.

NHTSA complaint 11617095. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
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. There is a current recall for this issue but my VIN is not included even though it’s the same issue.

NHTSA complaint 11617097. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2022 11 1
2021 17 1
2020 26 1
2019 26 1
2018 21 2
2015 182 9
2014 40 6
2013 42 10
2012 14 6 1
2011 30 10

Other 2016 Mitsubishi models

Every Mitsubishi on this site — 45 vehicles, 119 recall campaigns and 0 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst