2013 Mitsubishi Outlander reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 68 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander over 14 years — 3 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Outlander years here — under the median of the other years, which is 8. NHTSA has 5 recalls on file, including Frame, Motor, and Linkages.

2012 Mitsubishi Outlander — Photo by TTTNIS, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC0

Complaints

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (15 of 68), then Air bags (14) and Engine (9). Those filings include 6 that report a crash and 5 that report an injury.

Next to 2012 and 2014

The 2012 Outlander has 36 complaints, 2 per year, and the 2014 has 45 complaints, 7 per year. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2012. The 2013 has fewer complaints per year than the 2014.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (5)

Recall structure, frame 2020-05-18 · NHTSA campaign 20V279000

Summary 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, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The front lower control arms may detach due to the front cross member corroding from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.

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 with a new one. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-20-003.

Recall visibility, windshield wiper, motor 2017-07-20 · NHTSA campaign 17V461000

Summary 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.

Recall visibility, windshield wiper, linkages 2016-10-31 · NHTSA campaign 16V791000

Summary 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 separating and the wipers becoming inoperative.

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. These repairs will be done free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-16-009.

Recall Front lower control arm 2016-06-23 · NHTSA campaign 16V458000

Summary 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, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. In the affected vehicles, the front lower control arms may detach due to the front cross member corroding from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.

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 with a new one that has a sealing/anti-corrosion agent applied to it. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began January 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-16-003.

Recall steering, hydraulic power assist, hoses and connections 2014-06-25 · NHTSA campaign 14V366000

Summary 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. The transmissions in these vehicles have insufficient clearance between the power steering pressure tube and the converter housing of the automatic transmission. As a result of the contact, the power steering pressure tube may develop a hole and leak power steering fluid.

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. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-14-006.

Complaints by component (68 total)

Electrical system

Air bags

Engine

Visibility and wipers

Powertrain

Service brakes

Structure

Steering

Suspension

Fuel and propulsion system

Electronic stability control (ESC)

Exterior lighting

Seat belts

Seats

Speed control

Visibility

Wheels

Show 9 more Show less

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"My vehicle shut off on a state route when I had the vehicle towed to the dealership I was informed it was the ecu. I found out a year after my vehicle was purchased, there was a technical service bulletin out in this…"
Electrical system · filed 2025-08-27
"The contact owns a 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V144000 (Suspension, Structure); and it was determined the undercarriage was…"
Suspension, Structure · filed 2025-06-23
"The lights on my clutch are not coming on. I’m concerned there are other electrical issues affecting the cluster and the odometer display"
Unknown or other · filed 2025-02-18
"AIRBAG SYSTEM SERVICE REQUIRED message appears on dash. Occurred on 09/20/2018 and again on 09/29/2023. Both times required service to fix. Has now happened again on 10/14/2024. Secondary issue was reported by another…"
Air bags · filed 2024-10-14
"In 2020 I got a recall for engine support from Mitsubishi. We took it in and told me that the support was find that I didn’t need to be replace even tho the recall called for it. They ended up putting rust paint on the…"
Steering, Suspension, Engine · filed 2024-03-29

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2013 Mitsubishi Outlander SUV AWD	4 stars	4 stars	4 stars	4 stars
2013 Mitsubishi Outlander SUV FWD	4 stars	4 stars	4 stars	4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
Outlander two-wheel drive	2.4L, 4-cyl	Automatic (AV-S6)	Front-wheel drive	22	28	25 MPG	$2600
Outlander two-wheel drive	3L, 6-cyl	Automatic (6-speed)	Front-wheel drive	19	26	22 MPG	$3650
Outlander four-wheel drive	3L, 6-cyl	Automatic (6-speed)	Four-wheel drive	19	24	21 MPG	$3800
Outlander four-wheel drive	2.4L, 4-cyl	Automatic (AV-S6)	Four-wheel drive	22	27	24 MPG	$2700
Outlander Sport two-wheel drive	2L, 4-cyl	Manual 5-speed	Front-wheel drive	23	29	26 MPG	$2500
Outlander Sport two-wheel drive	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic (AV-S6)	Front-wheel drive	24	30	27 MPG	$2400
Outlander Sport four-wheel drive	2L, 4-cyl	Automatic (AV-S6)	Four-wheel drive	24	29	26 MPG	$2500

Compare

Previous year 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander Next year 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander See every Mitsubishi Outlander model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander reliable?

What are common problems with a 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander?

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (15 of 68), then Air bags (14) and Engine (9). Those filings include 6 that report a crash and 5 that report an injury.

Is the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander more reliable than the years next to it?

Has the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander been recalled?

The 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander has 5 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander?

Owners have filed 68 complaints about the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander is 24.4 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What generation is the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander?

Fourth generation (2022-on).

What oil does a Mitsubishi Outlander take?

US notes list 0W-20 for the common four-cylinder engines; confirm V6 grades in the owner's manual when equipped.

What tire size does a Mitsubishi Outlander commonly use?

Third-generation US pages often list 225/55R18; fourth-generation trims use 235/60R18 or 255/45R20.