YearToAvoid

2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

79/100

#4 most-complained of 15 Outlander Sport years

The 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport ranks 4th worst of 15 model years, with a Complaint Index of 79, 42 complaints, 10 recalls, and 3 crashes. Airbags and electrical issues are the top reported problem areas.

Complaints
42
Recalls
10
Crashes / fires
3 / 0
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
26
24 city / 29 hwy

Top 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags11 (26%)
  2. Electrical System11 (26%)
  3. Brakes6 (14%)
  4. Structure & Body5 (12%)
  5. Engine4 (10%)
  6. Other4 (10%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (10%)
  8. Fuel System3 (7%)
  9. Steering3 (7%)
  10. Transmission & Powertrain3 (7%)

What owners report

  • Airbags failed to deploy during frontal or rear-end crashes, even at highway speeds around 45-55 mph.
  • Wiper motors and wiper link ball joints corroded from water intrusion, causing wipers to stop working entirely during rain, including on the highway.
  • Electrical systems malfunctioned with dead batteries, warning messages cycling on the dash, door locks failing to respond, and fog lights strobing on their own.
  • A front cross member support rusted through and broke, pulling the steering wheel out of a driver's hands while driving.
  • Brakes produced a loud clanking noise from the front driver's side that dealers could not diagnose.
  • Tailgate and rear body panels showed rust near the lift gate handle and spoiler that Mitsubishi declined to address.
2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport complaints: complaints filed per month4Jan 2015Nov 2016Dec 2017Mar 2019Jan 2020Jul 2021Feb 2023Jun 2025
57 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2015 to Jun 2025; peak Aug 2017 (4).

2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport recalls

10 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V144000Mar 5, 2021Structure & Body15,347 vehicles

    Structure:frame and members

    Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Outlander Sport vehicles originally sold, 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.

    Risk: A detached front control arm can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

    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, free of charge. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-21-001. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 20V-279. Owners not previously notified under 20V-279 were notified on March 22, 2021.

  2. NHTSA 20V279000May 18, 2020Structure & Body141,200 vehicles

    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, 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.

    Risk: A detached front control arm can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

    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.

  3. NHTSA 18V103000Feb 9, 2018Visibility & Wipers158,651 vehicles

    Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:linkages

    Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2011-2016 Outlander Sport 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.

    Risk: Loss of wiper function can reduce visibility and increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rod of the wiper link and the wiper motor crank arm, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 10, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-004.

See all 10 recalls for the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport →

2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport fuel economy and fuel cost

City
24 MPG
Highway
29 MPG
Combined
26 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,500
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2013 compared with other Outlander Sport years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2011Caution71301026
2012Good4314626
2013Avoid79421026
2014Avoid8641626
2015Avoid100182926

All Mitsubishi Outlander Sport years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2013 model ranks 4th worst out of 15 model years, with a Complaint Index of 79 and an Avoid verdict relative to other Outlander Sport years.
What are the biggest problems with the 2013 Outlander Sport?
NHTSA data shows Airbags and Electrical System issues each account for 26% of complaints (11 each), followed by Brakes at 14% and Structure & Body at 12%.
Does the 2013 Outlander Sport have recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 10 recalls for the 2013 Outlander Sport, covering airbag wiring, seat belts, wiper motors, brake calipers, and front cross member corrosion.
How does the 2013 model compare to other years?
The 2013 Outlander Sport's Complaint Index of 79 is worse than 2012 (43, Good) and 2016 (36, Good), but better than 2015 (100, Avoid).
What is the fuel economy of the 2013 Outlander Sport?
EPA rates the 2013 Outlander Sport at 26 mpg combined (24 city/29 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,500.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.