The Mitsubishi Outlander is one of the least sold offerings in its segment. Despite us loving it for its looks, size, and seating capacity that price-competitive competition can’t match, people still seem least interested in it. The sales have picked up this with the update for the 2016 model year, but that’s hardly a dent in the segment dominated by other Japanese SUVs like the Toyota RAV4, the Honda CR-V, and the Nissan Rogue. Mitsubishi’s appalling service network might be one reason while the sloppy reliability and built quality prospectus are not doing any help in improving things either. Though the complaint numbers are on the lower side, the recalls number are well on the higher side with most of them pointing towards low standards of production and quality inspection methods as most issues stated are failures due to corrosion. So should you be spending $22,995 on this SUV? Let’s take a look.
2016 Mitsubishi Outlander User Complaints and Problems
Mechanical Complaints
- Engine problems- The engine stalling while driving, as reported, is one of the major issues on the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander. Multiple owners complained about the unit overheating and at times even smelling burnt before shutting itself off. Even though the dealers were unable to trace the cause initially it was later found to be faulty engine relays causing all these issues. A recall (ID 17V609000) was initiated later that year to replace the affected relays.
- Transmission/ CVT problems- Jerking on throttle input, sluggish acceleration, and delay in shifting between modes have been some common issues with the CVT on the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander. The automaker was aware of the issues that the CVT units had and has even rolled out a recall (ID-16V563000) just months after the launch. Multiple cases of transmission replacement have been recorded by the NHTSA on high mileage vehicles.
Electric System complaints
- Headlight issues- Voltage irregularities and wiring issues on the headlights of the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander cause the bulbs to fail within a short time. This is a pretty widespread issue and no plausible fixes have been brought out by the automaker. A short circuit inside the unit does cause the light casing to melt, making it impossible to replace a bulb, necessitating the replacement of the entire headlight unit.
- Parking brake- The electric parking brake on the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander may not work properly due to corrosion on the actuator. Vehicles with this issue require service or replacement of rear parking brake caliper assembly. This issue falls under recall 18V070000 and could be fixed free of charge.
Structural complaints
- Steering issues- Steering column vibration and noises when turning are some issues to look for on the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander. This issue could possibly arise from a defective steering gearbox to issues like a faulty/ damaged lower control arm which even received a recall (ID-20V27900) for suspected failure due to corrosion.
- Corrosion- excessive corrosion on body panels is a known issue on the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander. Parts like the fenders, wheel arches, lift gate supports, wiper mechanism, and suspension components all have quick tendencies to corrode. This has been a major issue troubling the automaker and this has triggered multiple events of recalls for the replacement of corroded parts.
- Water leak- Water leak from the roof antenna and sunroof (as equipped) is another issue that comes to life on the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander with high mileage. There are no direct remedies to this issue and cases are attended to on a customer basis.
2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Recalls
|
S. No |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
30th November 2020 |
20V741000 |
Parking brake operating shaft mar corrode |
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, causing it to not engage properly and increasing the risk of a crash or injury. |
The dealers will replace the rear brake caliper assemblies, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed on May 4, 2021. |
|
2 |
13th July 2020 |
20V403000 |
Inoperative right seatbelt buckle. |
The second-row center seat belt buckle may interfere with the right-side seat belt buckle when the seat backs are folded down, causing it to not restrain the occupant correctly. |
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 on September 1, 2020. |
|
3 |
18th May 2020 |
20V279000 |
The lower control arm may detach due to corrosion. |
The front lower control arms may detach due to the front cross member corroding from salt water exposure such as from road salt use, resulting in the loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash. |
MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front cross members. Depending on the level of existing corrosion, either a sealing/anti-corrosion agent will be applied or the front cross member will be replaced with a new one. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 7, 2020. |
|
4 |
9th February 2018 |
18V103000 |
The Wiper link can corrode due to moisture exposure. |
Water may enter between the hood and windshield and cause the front wiper link ball joint to corrode, possibly making the wiper inoperative and reducing driver visibility. |
MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rod of the wiper link and the wiper motor crank arm, free of charge. The recall began on April 10, 2018. |
|
5 |
26th January 2018 |
18V070000 |
The parking brake actuator may corrode. |
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, causing it to not engage properly and increasing the risk of a crash or injury. |
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 began on March 27, 2018. |
|
6 |
29th September 2017 |
17V609000 |
The engine may stall or overheat. |
Defective relays in vehicles can result in an engine stall, reduced engine power, or the engine overheating increasing the risk of a crash or fire. |
MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected relays, free of charge. The recall began on October 24, 2017. |
|
7 |
6th April 2017 |
17V233000 |
Doors may open unexpectedly. |
The inside door latch mechanisms may not latch securely in high temperatures, allowing the doors to open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury. |
MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door latches, free of charge. The recall began on August 25, 2017. |
|
8 |
2nd December 2016 |
16V867000 |
Lift gate supports may fail and the liftgate may fall. |
The liftgate support outer tube on the affected vehicles may have insufficient anti-corrosion treatment that can allow the outer tube to corrode due to salt and water penetration, causing it to fall suddenly when the truck is in access and increasing the risk of injury. |
MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the lift gate supports, free of charge. The recall began on January 20, 2017. |
|
9 |
28th July 2016 |
16V563000 |
Vehicle hesitation while accelerating. |
The affected vehicles are equipped with a constant velocity transmission (CVT) that, in certain driving conditions, may cause a delay in the vehicle accelerating, which can increase the risk of a crash. |
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. |
Should you buy a used 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander?
The Mitsubishi Outlander is the most practical SUV in its segment being the only one offering up to 7-seats in the price range it competes against. But unlike some Mitsubishis that we liked from the past for their durability and solidness, the brand identity renovation that has been taking place in recent times has taken a toll on its products trying to make them cheap and mainstream. Recalls for built and quality issues have become a common sight on Mitsubishi vehicles now, which is not something that we expect from this renounced automaker. The Mitsubishi Outlander is still a decent SUV to buy, no doubt about that, but the compromised inbuilt quality and production methods do affect the SUV inversely in the long run. If you are someone who constantly switches between cars, then it wouldn’t be a problem, but if you are looking for long-timer options like the RAV4 or the CR-V would do you better.
