The 2016 Outlander is plagued by catastrophic CVT transmission failures and premature engine bearing/piston failures, particularly on the 2.4L I4. These aren't minor issues—we're talking complete drivetrain replacements that often exceed the vehicle's remaining value.
CVT Transmission Failure with Oil Cooler Contamination
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Shuddering or juddering during acceleration, especially 30-50 mph, Whining or grinding noise from transmission, Delayed engagement when shifting from park to drive, Metal shavings found in transmission fluid during service, Check engine light with P0868 (transmission fluid pressure) or P0845 (hydraulic pump) codes
Fix: CVT replacement is usually the only option once internal damage occurs. Includes replacing the external oil cooler which often becomes contaminated with debris. 12-16 hours labor for complete CVT replacement including fluid lines and cooler.
Estimated cost: $4,500-7,500
Catastrophic Engine Bearing and Piston Failure (2.4L I4)
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Knocking or ticking noise from lower engine block, Metal flakes in oil during changes, Sudden loss of oil pressure, Blue or white smoke from exhaust, Engine seizure in severe cases
Fix: Rod and main bearings fail prematurely, scoring crankshaft journals. Short block replacement or full engine rebuild required. Often find damaged pistons and rings as well. 18-24 hours labor for short block swap, more for complete rebuild.
Estimated cost: $5,000-8,500
Rear Hatch Strut Failure and Latch Issues
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Rear hatch falls or won't stay open, Hatch won't latch properly or pops open while driving, Warning light for open hatch stays on, Physical damage to hatch from falling unexpectedly
Fix: Struts lose gas pressure and fail prematurely. Latch mechanism also prone to binding. Replace both struts as a pair (never just one). Latch replacement involves removing trim panels. 1.5-2 hours total for struts and latch inspection.
Estimated cost: $300-600
Starter Relay and No-Start Issues
Occasional · medium severity
Symptoms: Intermittent no-crank condition, often when hot, Clicking from under hood but starter doesn't engage, Dash lights illuminate but engine won't turn over, Works fine after sitting and cooling down
Fix: Starter relay in fuse box fails due to poor solder joints and heat cycling. Sometimes the whole ETACS (electronic control unit) needs replacement. Simple relay replacement is 0.5 hours, but diagnosis can take longer if intermittent. ETACS replacement is 2-3 hours.
Estimated cost: $150-400
Transmission Mount Failure
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking when shifting from reverse to drive or vice versa, Excessive vibration at idle in gear, Engine/transmission feels like it shifts position during acceleration, Visible sagging or torn rubber on mount inspection
Fix: Rear transmission mount deteriorates quickly, especially with CVT weight and heat. Front mount also prone to failure but less common. Replace both for best results. 2-3 hours labor for both mounts.
Estimated cost: $400-700
Premature Fuel Filter Clogging
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Hard starting or extended cranking, Loss of power under acceleration, Engine stumbling or hesitation, Check engine light with lean codes (P0171/P0174)
Fix: In-tank fuel filter clogs earlier than expected, likely due to tank corrosion or poor fuel quality. Requires dropping fuel tank to access. Sometimes find debris from tank liner deteriorating. 2.5-3.5 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $350-600
Owner tips
Change CVT fluid every 30,000 miles regardless of 'lifetime fluid' claims—use only Mitsubishi DiaQueen CVT fluid J4
Monitor oil consumption closely on 2.4L engines; burning more than 1 quart per 3,000 miles is early warning of bearing issues
Inspect transmission oil cooler lines for seepage during every oil change—early contamination detection can save the CVT
Have starter relay tested at every service if you live in hot climates—preventive replacement at $50 beats a tow
Lubricate rear hatch latch mechanism annually with white lithium grease to prevent binding
Hard pass unless it's exceptionally cheap with full service records showing religious CVT maintenance—even then, budget $5K-8K for inevitable transmission or engine replacement within 20K miles of purchase.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Outlander PHEV and 2014-2020 Outlander vehicles. The liftgate gas spring cylinders may corrode and lose pressure, which can result in a gas spring cylinder rupture or the liftgate falling unexpectedly.
Consequence: A gas spring cylinder rupture or a liftgate falling unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: MMNA will replace the left and right liftgate gas springs, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 17, 2026. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-26-001. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov June 3, 2026. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 25V507.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Outlander PHEV and 2014-2020 Outlander vehicles sold and/or currently registered in Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
The liftgate gas spring cylinders may corrode and lose pressure, which can result in a gas spring cylinder rupture or the liftgate falling unexpectedly.
Consequence: A gas spring cylinder rupture or a liftgate falling unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: MMNA will replace the left and right liftgate gas springs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 6, 2025. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-25-002
PARKING BRAKE · 20V741000
2020-11-30
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2016 Outlander and Outlander Sport vehicles. The rust prevention coating on the rear brake operating shafts could have been peeled off during the assembly process. As a result, water entering the rear brake caliper boot may cause the parking brake operating shafts to corrode and possibly bind.
Consequence: If the parking brake operating shafts bind, the parking brakes may not engage or disengage fully. If the parking brakes do not engage properly, the vehicle could rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear brake caliper assemblies, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed May 4, 2021. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-20-005.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Outlander and 2018-2019 Outlander PHEV vehicles. The second-row center seat belt buckle may interfere with the right-side seat belt buckle when the seat backs are folded down. The interference may cause the right-side seat belt buckle cover to come off, making the buckle latch inoperable and unable to restrain an occupant.
Consequence: An unrestrained occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will modify the second-row center seat belt buckle cover, install a new warning label to the second-row seat support base, and provide a new warning label insert for the owner's manual, free of charge. The recall began September 1, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-20-004.
PARKING BRAKE · 18V070000
2018-01-26
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Outlander and 2013-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles. Water may enter the rear brake calipers causing the parking brake actuator shafts to corrode and possibly bind.
Consequence: If the parking brake actuator shaft binds, the parking brake may not engage or disengage fully. If the parking brake does not engage properly, the vehicle may move unexpectedly if it is parked on a slope, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear brake calipers and replace the parking brake boot and lever or the brake caliper body, as necessary. Dealers will also replace the piston assembly of the rear brake caliper. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 27, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-002.
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.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH · 17V233000
2017-04-06
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2016 Outlander and Outlander Sport vehicles. The inside door latch mechanisms may not latch securely in high temperatures, allowing the doors to open while vehicle is in motion.
Consequence: If a door opens while the vehicle is being driven, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door latches, free of charge. The recall began August 25, 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-17-002.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) · 16V563000
2016-07-28
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.
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