2016 Mitsubishi Lancer power train problems
21 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the power train on the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer — 70% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“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…”
filed Aug 6, 2026
“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…”
filed 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.”
filed May 3, 2025
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related recalls
- Affected vehicles are equipped with a constant velocity transmission (CVT) that, in…Campaign 16V563000 · Jul 28, 2016
Related service bulletins
Service Manual Revision - This Technical Service Bulletin provides corrections to the description of special tools used to install the oil seal within the Automatic Transaxle sections of the applicable Service Manuals.
TSB-24-23-004 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 3, 2024Service Manual Revision - This Technical Service Bulletin instructs dealers to diagnose and test drive vehicles exhibiting a shudder or surge condition possibly caused by poor reaction of the hydraulic pressure circuit.
TSB-20-23-001RV4 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 25, 2024Service Manual Revision - This Technical Service Bulletin instructs dealers to diagnose and test drive vehicles exhibiting a shudder or surge condition possibly caused by poor reaction of the hydraulic pressure circuit.
TSB-20-23-001REV · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 4, 2024Service Manual Revision - This Technical Service Bulletin provides the procedure for diagnostic trouble code and on-vehicle service for belt & pulley assembly on certain CVT models.
TSB-24-23-001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 14, 2024This Technical Service Bulletin provides service manual corrections to the CVT maintenance procedure.
TSB-23-23-004 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 24, 2023
Power Train problems in other Lancer years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 Lancer | 5 | 22% |
| 2011 Lancer | 6 | 18% |
| 2010 Lancer | 4 | 8% |
| 2009 Lancer | 14 | 14% |
| 2008 Lancer | 11 | 12% |
| 2006 Lancer | 1 | 3% |
| 2005 Lancer | 1 | 4% |
| 2004 Lancer | 7 | 9% |
| 2003 Lancer | 51 | 26% |
| 2002 Lancer | 22 | 15% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.