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2016 Mitsubishi Lancer

Gas
Compact Cars
5 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
B
Safety Signal
84 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns2
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA30
Crash ratingNHTSA overall4★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA30 mpg
20172016

The 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact car with 5 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Lancer, is EPA-rated at 30 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 30 complaints, most often about the power train. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
LancerGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl273430$2,100
LancerGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl243328$2,250
LancerGasFWD2.4L 4-cyl243126$2,400
Lancer 4WDGasAWD2.4L 4-cyl233026$2,400
LancerGasFWD2.4L 4-cyl223025$2,500

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 37100, 37099, 37102, 37145, 37101.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (2)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Electrical System

SR-17-005
132,552 vehicles
ProblemMitsubishi 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.RiskIf the engine stalls, there is an increased the risk of a crash.FixMMNA 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.
NHTSA campaign 17V609000reported Sep 29, 2017Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.
▲high

Power Train

SR-16-006
82,436 vehicles
ProblemMitsubishi 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.RiskA hesitation during acceleration can increase the risk of a crash.FixMMNA 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.
NHTSA campaign 16V563000reported Jul 28, 2016Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

NHTSA defect investigations

Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module — Electrical overstress closed

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.  During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with

Opened Apr 19, 2019 · closed Sep 19, 2024 · action EA19001

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
30complaints filed

1 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 2 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2017: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 6 · 2022: 6 · 2023: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2026: 1

Most-cited components

Power Train21
Electrical System4
Vehicle Speed Control4
Unspecified3
Engine3
Structure2

What owners describe

“I bought this vehicle and few weeks later I noticed at a red light. When it turned green i hit the gas. My car took a few seconds, reved and then shot out into the lane. Since then it has had issues over 20 miles and when I stop its a few seconds for the car to accelerate and move which is scary on the road. My 4 sons …”Aug 6, 2026 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report
“It’s throwing a P084A code and it feels like the transmission is about to let loose. I bought the car with 30,000 on it in 2016 and it has a hair over 136,000 and ever since I’ve had it it’s always had this transmission lag jerk in it. Very scuttle but you can feel it. Then all of a sudden it just started going i…”Jul 20, 2025 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report
“Recently the transmission has started to shudder when first driving from a stop. It only happens under low acceleration. If you push the accelerator pedel firmly it will not shudder. Wondering if this is a recall about to happen? It started on or about 4/2/2025 but is continuing to happen.”May 3, 2025 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR AWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★☆12%
4 DR FWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★☆12%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Lancer model years

A

2017 Mitsubishi Lancer

0 recalls · 6 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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