2016 MITSUBISHI Lancer Problems

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Complaints Reported

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Complaints by Component

POWER TRAIN

15 complaints

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 into limp mode, hi low hi low rev, jerking and couldn’t get over 30 mph. This looks like a continuous problem with these transmission and gives Mitsubishi a bad taste in some peoples mouths. I’m out of a decently nice car and probably a couple thousand dollars for a new transmission.

Jul 20, 2025

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 03, 2025

The car is bucking hi low hi low and then the service transmission light is coming on. We brought the car in a couple of weeks ago and I thought this was suppose to he fixed. It is alot worse now

Feb 21, 2025

Loss of power on acceleration, rpms going up and down, hesitation in acceleration, going into limp mode won't accelerate over 25-40mph pulled code P084A shop believes it needs a complete replacement based on their computer systems repair procedures guidelines. Car has just over 107k miles on it and is a pre-owned. No information was given regarding this issue having happened or if it was ever repaired based on the recall in 2016 but shows as not having any unrepaired recalls when searching the VIN in the search tool. Cannot afford a new transmission not sure what to do.

Oct 07, 2024

Purchased the vehicle with only 59K miles in May 2024. Transmission immediately started acting up, hesitating, jumping RPMs, and delayed acceleration and loss of power. Service Transmission light came on once but after restarting the light turned off, but still has the issues. Have had the fluid and gasket replaced but did not remedy the problem. This is very dangerous to drive, especially when crossing roads with loss of power and very delayed acceleration and RPMs jumping to the point of wheels spinning out.

Sep 26, 2024

+ 10 more complaints for this component

POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2 complaints

I purchased this car in 2016 brand new from the dealer. Have kept up with its maintenance but in the past couple of months, the car is not taking off. What I mean by that is that the transmission slips and won't allow the car to gain speed there is a delay in the car accelerating. This is the second time that it has happened this year and its very unsafe to use a car this way and its less than 10 years old.

Jul 17, 2023

AS I WAS DRIVING IT IT SEEMS TO HESITATE ON ACCELERATING AFTER A FEW STOPS THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT WOULD COME ON FOR A LITTLE BIT THEN GO OFF. SAME WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. AS I WAS DRIVING IT TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY.. IT SUDDENLY STARTED LOSING POWER AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND PARK IT AT A GAS STATION WHERE IT WENT COMPLETELY DEAD.. I HAD AAA TOW IT.. IT STARTED UP BUT THE SHIFTING IS NOT ENGAGING RIGHT AWAY. HAD THE SOFTWARE UPDATED IN 2019.. THE CVT TRANSMISSION ARE FULL OF PROBLEMS. IT SEEMS TO HAVE THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALL BUT MY CAR WAS NOT RECALLED ACCORDING TO THE VIN NUMBER.. I HAD A FLUSH DONE RECENTLY AND I HAVE ALSO HAD THE OIL CHANGED WHEN NEEDED. THE ACCELERATION HESITATION THEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING 60 ON THE FREEWAY IS A SAFETY ISSUE... A LOT OF SEMI TRUCKS TRAVEL THAT HIGHWAY AND THEY CANT STOP WHEN A CAR LOSES POWER IN FRONT OF THEM.

Mar 07, 2021

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2 complaints

The contact owns a 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated he was not sure if any warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to safely pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to his residence. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched the failure and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V609000 (Electrical System). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

Mar 18, 2022

THE CAR DOESNT CRANK AND WE HAVE TO WAIT LIKE 2 OR 3 MIN AND THEN WILL CRANK BUT STRUGGLING.

Jun 28, 2020

STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

I've had the vehicle for 7 years and after inspection performed by the dealer, there is so much subframe rot that my car will not pass the next inspection due in April. I've contacted Mitsubishi and they said there is nothing they can do as there isn't any recall. This model of Mitsubishi has had recalls on many different previous years, such as 2005, 2010 and many online reports of 2014 with the same problem.

Aug 09, 2024

POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

1 complaint

2016 SE 2.4L AWC. Purchased car in February 2022 at 66k miles. In December of 2022 at 78k miles, car lost majority power while traveling at 40 MPH, threw 'Tranmission Servie Required' warning light. Drove 3 blocks home, parked for 2 hours. Turned car on and drove normally without lights. Previous event happened x3 before changing transmission fluid in February 2023. From February to May, roughly 500 miles, no codes occured. However, occasional hesitation when accelerating from a stop. Then, in May 2023, while traveling 80 MPH, RPMs shot to 6000, car began to lose power. Pulled to shoulder, turned car off and on, and was able to travel home without issue, another 15 miles.

May 28, 2023

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE

1 complaint

Vehicle accelerates by it self

Dec 18, 2022

STRUCTURE

1 complaint

The contact owns a 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated while driving down his driveway at an undisclosed speed, he heard an abnormal popping sound coming from underneath the front end of the vehicle. The contact engaged the parking brake. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and raised up on a lift. The vehicle was diagnosed with a severely corroded front subframe. Additionally, there were large holes in the subframe. The independent mechanic informed the contact that the vehicle was not drivable. The dealer and other unknown dealers were notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the 10 years/ 100,000 mile corrosion warranty could not cover the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 57,130.

Sep 12, 2022

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

1 complaint

The contact owns a 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 50 MPH, the RPM increased from 2,000 to 5,000. Additionally, speedometer became inoperable, he brake was not working as designed, and the Service Transmission message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who referred the contact to the dealer. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact stated the failure was similar to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V609000 (Electrical System). The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

Aug 31, 2022

POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

Our 2016 lancer has suddenly started hesitating/ taking seconds to shift from park to reverse/drive. Also while driving vehicle its rpms fluctuate causing a shudder and surge in power or acceleration. This is a very alarming problem as it puts mine and my kids safety as it hesitates to shift and while driving it loses power and then powers up by itself. We have taken to a transmission shop (HIgH TECH Transmission) and now a dealer (Mission Mitsubishi) and both have replicated problem and pulled code but dealer will not honor recall or repair it. There was a safety recall for 2016 lancers with a cvt8 (SR-16-006) that produces a code P084A as well which and that if both were present a replacement transmission should be approved. All information was pulled from Mitsubishi website, and I called them and spoke to Carla did not give a last name and she advised me that our lancer doesn’t have a recall and I said well is it possible you’ll missed some vehicles that have the same problem from the recalls you’ll have already put out? And she got snappy and said to contact safer car.gov; so here I am, presenting facts to you'll that my 2016 lancer may and hopefully is part of a recall which in result to not being identified or checked out caused more damage as stated it would on the manufacturers website. And needs to be fixed due to not being identified in recall so preventive measures could have been taken. Please our vehicle is experiencing the problem as a recall Mitsubishi put out but failed to identify our lancer and now is experiencing hesitation in CVT trans, and shudder/surge in transmission.

Oct 27, 2021

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1 complaint

WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR STARTS OUT REALLY SLOW. THERE IS A LOT OF JERKING AND ACCELERATION ISSUES. WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE, IT ACTS LIKE IT IS SHIFTED TO L, BUT THEN IT SPEEDS UP. THIS IS A CONSTANT ISSUE.

Mar 24, 2021

AIR BAGS

1 complaint

ACCIDENT THAT RESULTED IN THE CAR BEING DECLARED TOTAL LOSS. THE CAR WAS HIT IN THE UPPER FRONT AND SIDE AREA OF DRIVERS SIDE. DURING THE ACCIDENT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. RESULTED IN INJURIES, OF COURSE. THE CAR WAS MAKING LEFT HANDED TURN FROM RESIDENTIAL AREA ONTO A BUSY MAIN STREET. AND THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS NOT PAYING ATTENTION AND HIT THE CAR WHILE IT WAS TRYING TO TURN. THE CAR WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MPH. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS GOING 40-45 MPH. WHAT WOULD CAUSE THE AIR BAGS TO MALFUNCTION?? BECAUSE I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHY INJURIES HAD TO EVEN OCCUR SINCE THEY ONLY HAPPENED DUE TO THE MALFUNCTION OF THE AIR BAGS.

Jan 16, 2020

Crash: 1

Injuries: 1

VISIBILITY

1 complaint

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH, WHEN I HEARD A VERY LOUD SOUND, LIKE A GUNSHOT, AND MY SUNROOF SHATTERED. THERE WAS NO ROCK OR IMPACT TO MY CAR, IT JUST SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED WITH GLASS RAINING EVERYWHERE. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS CLEAR THAT THERE WAS NO ROCK IMPACT TO THE SUNROOF BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT THE REMAINING GLASS WAS BOWED OUTWARD. HOWEVER, WHEN THEY SUBMITTED THE DOCUMENTATION TO MITSUBISHI CORPORATE, AFTER 8 HOURS OF REVIEW, THEY DECLINED TO COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY, STATING THAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN DUE TO A ROCK IMPACT OR OTHER COLLISION AND NOT BECAUSE OF A GLASS OR MANUFACTURER DEFECT.

Apr 15, 2018

Injuries: 1

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 complaint

I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS NOW AND EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE VERY RANDOMLY I EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ACCELERATION COMPLETELY. IT HAPPENS AFTER A LONG PERIOD OF DRIVING AND WHEN I'M COMING UP TO A STOP SIGN AND GOING TO ACCELERATE AGAIN AFTER DOING RESEARCH ONLINE AND TAKING IT TO MY DEALERSHIP THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY CANNOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM I FOUND A RECALL ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE FOR MY VEHICLE WITH MY VIN NUMBER INCLUDED IN THE RANGE OF IN NUMBERS EXPERIENCING THIS EXACT PROBLEM. I NEED HELP GETTING MY DEALERSHIP TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS BECAUSE IT IS NOT ON THEIR WEBSITE. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR-ENDED MULTIPLE TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM AND I AM AFRAID FOR MY SAFETY

Mar 24, 2017

4.3/5.0

86 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

How many problems does the 2016 MITSUBISHI Lancer have?

The 2016 MITSUBISHI Lancer currently has 29 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.

What are the most common problems with 2016 MITSUBISHI Lancer?

The most common problems reported for the 2016 MITSUBISHI Lancer are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.

Where does this 2016 MITSUBISHI Lancer problem data come from?

All problem and complaint data for the 2016 MITSUBISHI Lancer comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.