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severe Owners of the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the body at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See body across all vehicles →
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 Outlander | 4 |
| 2016 Outlander (this page) | 11 |
| 2018 Outlander | 5 |
Among the 6 model years of Mitsubishi Outlander in our records for body problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
All 2 active body recalls on this vehicle land at critical or severe — none classified moderate.
A gas spring cylinder rupture or a liftgate falling unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.
A gas spring cylinder rupture or a liftgate falling unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that MMNA is investigating the field performance of certain liftgate gas springs outside the population of vehicles covered by Safety Recall No. SR-25-002.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Technical Service Bulletin provides instructions and material safety data sheets for removal of rap-film adhesive residue.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This is a TSB that was sent to dealers to inform them that due to stress applied intensively onto the left and right rear end portion of the seat cushion by a passenger, the cushion may sink down and rub against the edges of the metal seat frame. This in turn may cause the damaged urethane material to turn to powder and fall on the floor carpet. This TSB provides a repair procedure to replace the damaged seat cushion pad, and apply tape on the frame to help prevent future damage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This is a Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers. This bulletin updates the Body section of the affected Service Manual, to correct the window glass run channel and door opening weather-strip removal and installation procedure.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This is a Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers. This bulletin updates the Body section of the affected Service Manual, to correct the window glass run channel and door opening weather-strip removal and installation procedure.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
Water intrusion is the most documented issue. One owner bought new and experienced leaks through the sunroof and door speaker area within two weeks of purchase. Despite three separate dealership visits and a third-party specialist's involvement spanning nearly two months, leaks persisted — water re-entered the vehicle during a follow-up car wash. Another owner reports water leaking through the roof and interior sides, soaking the headliner and floors during heavy rain. A third mentions water coming through a roof antenna, with the dealership unable to repair it.
Paint quality troubles emerge consistently. One owner saw hood paint chipping after only 2,000 miles and a second wash, with visible rust starting within weeks. Another reports paint failure worsening over four years. A regional manager inspected one vehicle and acknowledged similar issues on other dealership lot units but declined to repaint, calling it standard Mitsubishi work.
Door electrical faults are widespread. Owners report doors refusing to auto-lock at speed and manually locked doors unlocking while driving. Door open indicators stick on even after closing, requiring three or more open-close cycles to clear. One owner's key won't unlock the doors, forcing reliance on a remote. At 77,000 miles, tailgate struts fractured, causing the gate to close unexpectedly after opening.
Water intrusion occurring through the sunroof, roof area, antenna, and passenger door seals. Multiple owners report wet headliners, soaked floors, water dripping on occupants during car washes and rain, and water pooling around door speakers. One owner experienced repeated leaks despite multiple dealership and third-party specialist repair attempts over months.
When: Within first month of ownership for some; ongoing across multiple repair attempts
Symptoms owners cite: Water dripping from sunroof during car wash; Water inside vehicle on passenger door near speaker; Leaking during rainfall; Wet headliner with water stains; Soaked interior floors after heavy rain; Water leak through roof antenna
Repairs/costs cited: Third-party specialist engaged multiple times with partial resolutions; dealership unable to locate leaks on initial inspection; Cerritos Mitsubishi unable to repair antenna leak
Paint failure occurring within months and minimal mileage, with clear chipping on hood and other panels. Owners report chipping after 2,000 miles and second car wash, and rust developing within a week of purchase. Appears to be inadequate paint preparation or clear coat application. Mitsubishi regional manager attributed damage to rocks but acknowledged similar issues on dealership lot vehicles.
When: 2,000 to 4,000 miles; within first month to first year
Symptoms owners cite: Paint chipping on hood after light use; Paint flaking off in multiple spots; Rust beginning to form shortly after purchase; Deterioration worsening over years; Inadequate clear coat and primer protection visible
Repairs/costs cited: One owner requested hood repaint; regional manager (Bill Fordyce) refused, claiming it was normal Mitsubishi quality
Multiple electrical door-locking issues including doors not auto-locking at speed, manual locks unlocking while in motion, doors not unlocking with physical key, and door open indicator light stuck on after closing. Owners report needing to repeatedly cycle doors to clear warning lights and inability to rely on automatic locking features.
When: 59,000 miles and beyond; recurring throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Doors do not auto-lock after reaching speed; Manually locked doors unlocking while vehicle is in motion; Door open indicator light persisting after door is closed; Indicator requiring 3+ open/close cycles to turn off; Key unable to unlock doors; remote required; Failure occurring on all four doors
Tailgate struts fracturing and becoming inoperable, causing tailgate to close unexpectedly after being opened. Owner noted symptoms matching NHTSA campaign 16V867000 for structural issues. Failure occurred at moderate mileage.
When: 77,035 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Tailgate lifts fractured; Tailgate opened then suddenly closed
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership diagnosed inoperable tailgate struts; vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer referred contact to NHTSA; related to campaign 16V867000
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
On 9/19/2016, I purchased a new 2016 Mitsubishi outlander gt awc. On 10/3, we took it through its first car wash. During the wash, water dripped onto my face from the sunroof. After the wash, we noticed water inside of the vehicle on the passenger's door surrounding the speaker near the window. We provided pictures to the dealership when the car was dropped off for this and other issues on 10/6.…
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.
Based on the 11 complaints filed, body issues most often appear around 45,508 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Yes — 2 active recall(s) cover body issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.