2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
163 NHTSA owner complaints · 8 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
Avoid the 2015 and 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, which have 232 and 163 complaints and scores of 34 and 36, and treat the 2013 and 2014 cars (scores 67 and 65) with caution. Buy a 2017 or later car: the 2017 has 73 complaints and no recalls, the 2018 has 21, and the 2021 to 2025 cars have between 1 and 17 complaints each with scores of 90 to 93. Read the full note on the model page. 2016 specifically: this is one of the years the note above says to approach with care — 163 complaints on record, verdict AVOID.
Read the guide
Used Mitsubishi Outlander and Outlander Sport: the years to avoid, including 2016 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 163 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 16.3
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
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.
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 like the engine tend to try but the car doesn’t move
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 …
Recalls: 8 campaigns (3 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 16V867000 | Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Hinge And Attachments | 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. |
| 17V233000 | Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2016 Outlander and Outlander Sport vehicles. |
| 18V103000 | Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Linkages | Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2011-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles. |
| 20V279000 | Structure:Frame And Members | 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,… |
| 18V070000 | Parking Brake | Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Outlander and 2013-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles. |
| 16V563000 | Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) | Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles and 2016 Outlander and Lancer vehicles. |
| 17V609000 | Electrical System:Starter Assembly:Relay | Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Outlander, 2015-2016 Lancer and Outlander Sport, and 2015 Lancer Evolution vehicles. |
| 20V741000 | Parking Brake | Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2016 Outlander and Outlander Sport vehicles. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 27 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,300
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Power Train65 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Engine27 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Service Brakes20 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
- Unknown Or Other18 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Electrical System16 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Structure14 complaints · typical job: Body, subframe or corrosion repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,070–$2,920
Other Mitsubishi Outlander Sport years
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport years to avoid, and the best years to buy →
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Power Train (65 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is AVOID with a reliability score of 36/100, computed from 163 NHTSA complaints and 8 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport's most common problem?
65 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport sit in the Power Train group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is transmission service or clutch-pack repair: about 7.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,290–$4,040 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport cost to run per year?
About $4,679 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $23,395 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 8 recall campaign(s) for the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, 3 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 02/12/2016. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other compact suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 163 complaints, 8 recalls on record
- 163 NHTSA complaints on record (16.3/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (4.3/yr)
- 8 recall campaigns, 3 touching safety-critical systems