2016 Mitsubishi Lancer
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
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | vs. 2016 Compact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,250–4,100 | 2,150–4,100 | 2,100–2,500 | 2,100–2,400 | |
| Combined MPG | 19–28 | 19–29 | 25–30 | 26–30 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 17–25 / 22–33 | 17–26 / 22–33 | 22–27 / 30–34 | 23–27 / 30–34 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 311–470 | 310–470 | 298–351 | 295–343 | |
| Complaints filed | 23 | 26 | 30 | 6 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 8 | 8 | 5 | 3 |
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 Sep 16, 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.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (5)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 24 mpg | 33 mpg | 28 mpg | $2,250 | 322 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (AV-S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 27 mpg (high) | 34 mpg (high) | 30 mpg (high) | $2,100 (low) | 298 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 22 mpg (low) | 30 mpg (low) | 25 mpg (low) | $2,500 (high) | 351 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (AV-S6) | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 24 mpg | 31 mpg | 26 mpg | $2,400 | 332 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (AV-S6) | 4 | 2.4L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 23 mpg | 30 mpg (low) | 26 mpg | $2,400 | 336 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Other | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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 · Oct 2, 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.