2016 Mitsubishi Lancer: Problems & Reliability
SOLID2016 Mitsubishi Lancer: SOLID — 29 owner complaints, a typical complaint rate for ~10 years on the road.
CarWhere's verdict score for the 2016 is 1.17, where 1.00 is a typical Lancer year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road, between the best line (0.75) and caution (1.25). Severity drives it: 83% of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury or involve a safety-critical system (engine, powertrain, steering, brakes or fuel).
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Model years 2006–2017 compared · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
29
NHTSA complaints
1.17
Verdict score (1.00 = typical Lancer year)
66
Service bulletins
2
Recall campaigns
2016 Mitsubishi Lancer recalls
2 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2016; the campaign list is on NHTSA's record for the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer.
2016 Mitsubishi Lancer service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 66 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2016 — close to the 76 of the median Lancer year from 2006 to 2017. Coded bulletins most often cover powertrain / transmission (16), electrical system (13), engine & cooling (11). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2016 vs. the year before and after
From the 2015 to the 2016, owner complaints rose 12% (26 → 29) — a step backward. The 2017 that followed fell by more than half (29 → 0), so the 2017 has the lighter record so far.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Lancer | SOLID | 26 | 71 | 1 | — |
| 2016 (this page) | SOLID | 29 | 66 | 2 | — |
| 2017 Lancer | TOO FEW REPORTS | 0 | 76 | 0 | — |
Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Mitsubishi Lancer years to avoid.
Nearby Lancer years with a better rating: 2014.
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FAQ
Is the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer reliable?
2016 Mitsubishi Lancer: SOLID — 29 owner complaints, a typical complaint rate for ~10 years on the road. CarWhere's verdict score for the 2016 is 1.17, where 1.00 is a typical Lancer year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road, between the best line (0.75) and caution (1.25).
What are the most common 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer problems?
The 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer has 29 NHTSA owner complaints and 66 manufacturer service bulletins on file; the component breakdown is on NHTSA's record for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer have?
2 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer. Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Sources & method
Complaint, recall and service-bulletin counts for the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer come from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; the verdict is CarWhere’s severity-weighted, time-on-road-adjusted score compared with the model’s own median year. The live complaint feed was unavailable at render, so the complaint count is the verdict engine’s stored count. Complaints are owner allegations, not verified defects. Full methodology.