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Owner report · 2016 model year

2016 Mitsubishi Lancer

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2016 Mitsubishi Lancer
Crash-test image: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), U.S. Department of Transportation.

The Verdict

Worst problem area

Transmission & Drivetrain

Transmission & Drivetrain leads by volume: 21 of 30 complaints (70%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more crash reports (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.

Complaints filed rose from 26 in 2015 to 30 in 2016.

Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology

At a glance

NHTSA complaints
30
Recall campaigns
2
EPA fuel cost per year
$2,100–$2,500
Combined MPG
25–30

Complaints by model year

  1. 232014
  2. 262015
  3. 302016
  4. 62017

Where owners report problems

  1. Transmission & Drivetrain21 (70%)
  2. Driver Assistance & Speed Control4 (13%)
  3. Electrical4 (13%)
  4. Engine3 (10%)
  5. Other3 (10%)
  6. Body, Seats & Latches2 (7%)
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History

Fuel cost, fuel economy, and complaint history by model-yearScroll sideways to see all 4 years. Fuel figures show the range across trims for years with more than one EPA-rated configuration.
Category2014201520162017vs. 2016 Compact Cars
Annual fuel cost ($)2,200–4,0502,150–4,0502,100–2,5002,100–2,400
Combined MPG19–2819–2925–3026–30
City / Highway MPG17–25 / 22–3317–26 / 22–3322–27 / 30–3423–27 / 30–34
CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi)311–470310–470298–351295–343
Complaints filed2326306Not compared
Recalls issued2220Not compared
Crash-involved complaints4511Not compared
Fire-involved complaints3000Not compared
Injuries reported2320Not compared
Deaths reported0000Not compared
Configurations compared8853

Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.

Common questions

How many recalls does the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer have?

2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.

What is the most common complaint about the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer?

Transmission & Drivetrain: 21 of 30 NHTSA complaints (70%) mention it.

What gas mileage does the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer get?

EPA rates it 25–30 MPG combined across 5 configurations.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer?

EPA estimates $2,100–$2,500 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.

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EPA-Rated Configurations (5)

Every EPA-rated configuration on this page, one row each.A number tagged (low) or (high) is this page’s own cost-table figure of that name, above.
ConfigurationTransmissionCylindersDisplacementDrivetrainFuel TypeVehicle ClassCityHighwayCombinedAnnual Fuel CostCO₂
Configuration 1Manual 5-spd42.0LFront-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars24 mpg33 mpg28 mpg$2,200322 g/mi
Configuration 2Automatic (AV-S6)42.0LFront-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars27 mpg (high)34 mpg (high)30 mpg (high)$2,100 (low)298 g/mi (low)
Configuration 3Manual 5-spd42.4LFront-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars22 mpg (low)30 mpg (low)25 mpg (low)$2,500 (high)351 g/mi (high)
Configuration 4Automatic (AV-S6)42.4LFront-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars24 mpg31 mpg26 mpg$2,400332 g/mi
Configuration 5Automatic (AV-S6)42.4LAll-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars23 mpg30 mpg (low)26 mpg$2,400336 g/mi

Complaints by Category

Complaints by category, in the same fixed order on every page
CategoryComplaintsCrash-InvolvedFire-InvolvedInjuriesDeaths
Engine30000
Transmission & Drivetrain210000
Fuel System10000
Electrical40000
Brakes00000
Steering00000
Suspension, Wheels & Tires00000
Airbags & Restraints11010
Driver Assistance & Speed Control40000
Body, Seats & Latches20000
Visibility & Lighting10010
Other30000

A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.

Recalls (2)

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY

    Campaign 17V609000 · Sep 29, 2017

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

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

    Campaign 16V563000 · Jul 28, 2016

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