Most common 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander problems
Share of the 26 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mitsubishi Outlander complaints by model year
Best Outlander years: 2012, 2013, 2019. Years to avoid: 2022, 2016, 2023, 2024, 2025. Compare all years →
2013 Mitsubishi Outlander recalls (5)
Structure › Frame and members
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2008-2010 Lancer, 2009-2010 Lancer Sportback, 2008-2013 Outlander, and 2011-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland,…
Remedy: 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…
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Motor
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2007-2013 Outlander vehicles. In the affected vehicles, water may drop between the hood and the windshield and leak into the wiper motor breathing hole. The water may cause internal corrosion of the windshield wiper motor and the possible failure of the motor.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiper motor, free of charge. The recall began July 28, 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-17-003.
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Linkages
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2007-2013 Outlander vehicles manufactured September 8, 2006, to March 29, 2013. In the affected vehicles, water may enter between the hood and windshield and cause the front wiper link ball joint to corrode, possibly resulting in the wiper link…
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rubber boot on the ball joint to prevent water intrusion. Additionally, they will inspect the wiper motor crank arm for excessive play, replacing it as necessary.
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower arm
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2002-2007 Lancer, 2004 Lancer Wagon, 2003-2006 Lancer Evolution, 2003-2006 Outlander and 2007-2013 Outlander V-6 vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland,…
Remedy: 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…
Steering › Hydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2013 Outlander vehicles equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Additionally, Mitusbishi is recalling certain 2007-2012 Outlander vehicles that received replacement 6-speed automatic transmissions during servicing.
Remedy: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering pressure tube and return tube, free of charge. The recall began in August 2014.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander:
Electrical overstress
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events.
What 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander owners say
Windows, wipers & sunroof
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander. While driving in rainy conditions at approximately 65 MPH, the windshield wipers stopped without warning. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact pulled the vehicle over to wait for the rain to stop. The vehicle was taken to the dealer (ray brandt Chevrolet, westbank expy, harvey, la 70058 [phone]). The dealer diagnosed that the wiper motor was faulty. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 16V792000 (visibility) as a possible solution; however, the VIN was not included in a recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 65,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V791000 (visibility/wiper). The parts to do the repair were unavailable. In addition, the wipers failed to work intermittently. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact called a local dealer (motor world group at 150 motorworld dr, wilkes-barre, pa, 18705) and was informed that the parts were on backorder and the contact would be notified when they become available. The failure mileage was 57,800. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Engine & cooling
On Dec 8,2023 our mitsubishi outlander shut off while being driven. When this occurred multiple warning lights come on including, service engine immediately, engine overheating (which it was not) and multiple other lights. It was towed to the dealership where they told us the ECU is bad. Mitsubishi no longer makes the part. They have also told us this is the 3rd vehicle in the last month with the same issue. Car had no power/electrical /engine issues prior to this event. Mitsubishi is offering no solution to fix the issue. Luckily when the car shut down we were driving at a low speed in a neighborhood. If this had happened on the freeway it could have been very dangerous. We now have no car, no possibility of repair and no answers to why this happened without warning.
I was driving on the highway when an active stability control service warning displayed on the dashboard. It was coupled with the check engine light and immediately caused my car to seize up making me momentarily lose control of the vehicle. As I regained control the vehicle continued to resist any acceleration while the rpms would frequently spike. I also lost anti-lock brake functionality with no dashboard warning. Through my mechanic I later found out the car was forcing itself into "limp mode" because the engine air flow sensor was giving a faulty reading. All of this put my car into conditions for a crash had I not acted quickly to avoid it. It also created a repair bill that was unnecessary as this is apparently part of a known technical service bulletin TSB-13-13-008. …
Transmission & drivetrain
1) Transmission or power train 2) The vehicle may be inspected at request 3) The vehicle starts and may go for about a mile, and then it will buck and act like it's in neutral for all gears. I got stuck in the middle of an intersection turning left. I managed to get it back home, and then needed help pushing it into the driveway, where it sits. 4) I have seen several similar complaints for the years; 2012, and 2014 through 2021. 5) The vehicle has been worked on, and the valve body for the transmission was replaced about a month ago. 6) The warning message that popped up just before the issue was "Transmission service is required." It appeared on 9/27/2021, the day I was giving a ride to someone across town. I had recently replaced the valve body, because the solenoids were failing, and the transmission itself was serviced.
After a long drive, even more so uphills, the transmission starts slipping and the car hesitates to go after a stop. A warning message that the transmission is over heating appears and the car runs at high rpms at only 60 MPH. Error code p1778 has appeared twice. The car only has 71,000 miles
2013 Mitsubishi Outlander engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | 24 / 30 / 27 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 23 / 29 / 26 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | CVT | 4WD | 24 / 29 / 26 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | 22 / 28 / 25 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | CVT | 4WD | 22 / 27 / 24 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 26 / 22 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 19 / 24 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander a good car?
Based on 26 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Outlander rates better than average: 43% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Outlander at the same age. It is one of the best Outlander years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander?
The windows, wipers & sunroof — 6 complaints, 23% of all complaints for this model year, most often about windshield wiper/washer › motor. Next are the engine & cooling (5) and transmission & drivetrain (4).
How many recalls does the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander, the most recent from May 18, 2020 (frame and members). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mitsubishi Outlander?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012, 2013 and 2019. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2022, 2016, 2023, 2024 and 2025. See the full Mitsubishi Outlander years comparison.
At what mileage do 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 65,000 miles; 45% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.