2013 Mitsubishi Outlander: problems, recalls and reliability
5 recalls and 26 owner complaints on record; most reports concern visibility/wiper.
Data updated weekly · latest recall May 2020
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 26 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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 part. I am not sure why there was not a recall sent when they knew this part could be defective and my life was put at risk by it shutting off on the highway. How is a vehicle safe when it just shuts off. This should have been a recall and not a bulletin. Please reconsider making this a recall. I would hate to see people lose their lives because of this.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jun 2025
“My catalytic converter just went in my vehicle. I was told by dealership that the warranty expired by months. I contacted Mitsubishi and a case was opened. I was called by them today and they wont make an exception even though my mieage is well under the 80000 miles (under by over 28,000 miles) When I asked to talk to a manager I was told no and no exception would be made. I just want them to pay for the defective part.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Sep 2021
“At 115,000 miles, the transmission went out. My suv no longer goes above 30mph without the rpms wildly jumping. Both the 2014 and 2015 models have a recall for this very cvt issue but the 2013 does not.”Owner report · Power Train · Jun 2020
Show 7 more owner reports
“Tl* the contact owns a 2013 mitsubishi outlander. While driving 35 mph, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to immediately stop. Also, the acs malfunction warning indicator illuminated. The contact also mentioned that the vehicle would not start without being (7) jumpstarted. The vehicle was taken to north palm mitsubishi (572 northlake blvd, north palm beach, fl 33408, (561) 328-9121) where the computer was replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 69,300.*pm*jb”Owner report · Service Brakes · Jun 2019
“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”Owner report · Power Train · Oct 2018
“My car was totaled a few days ago I was driving home and hit a dear at 55mph and my air bags did not deploy my front end was destroyed my radiator was destroyed along with other parts of the car and the car was considered totaled. I was informed my air bags should of deployed but they did not”Owner report · Air Bags · Apr 2018
“Tl* the contact owns a 2013 mitsubishi outlander. While driving 30 mph, there was an abnormal grinding noise and the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 99,000.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Mar 2018
“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 (504)-229-6013). 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.”Owner report · Visibility · Dec 2017
“Without warning the rpm will drop to zero. At first it would start right back up without having to restart it. Now without warning it will just die and rpm goes to zero and I have to restart it. Check engine light will come on but no diagnostic codes are stored as to what the problem is. It has happened while stopped as well as driving don the road at 50 mph.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Nov 2017
“Struck in right front quarter panel by pickup truck going 70mph which totalled my vehicle and caused injuries to myself and grandson but no airbags deployed. Deployment would have reduced our injuries.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2017
When filing, owners marked a crash in 3 of these complaints and injuries in 13 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 5 campaigns
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2013 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Outlander by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander reliable?
NHTSA has 26 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander. The most complained-about area is visibility/wiper.
Does the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander have open recalls?
5 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning visibility:windshield wiper/washer:linkages. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.