YearToAvoid

2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander has a complaint index of 32, ranking 14th out of 20 model years, and earns a Good verdict. NHTSA lists 26 complaints, 5 recalls, and no do-not-drive recalls for this year.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
32/100
#14 of 20 Outlander years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
26
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
5
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
3
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
13
Top issue
Visibility & Wipers
Best nearby year
2012
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
23
20.5 city / 26.5 hwy
Injuries / deaths
13 / 0

Top 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Visibility & Wipers6 (23%)
  2. Electrical System5 (19%)
  3. Engine5 (19%)
  4. Other4 (15%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain4 (15%)
  6. Airbags3 (12%)
  7. Brakes2 (8%)
  8. Seat Belts1 (4%)
  9. Steering1 (4%)
  10. Structure & Body1 (4%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Airbags failed to deploy in frontal and side-impact crashes, in one case leading to injuries after the driver struck the steering wheel.
  • Water condensation formed inside the driver-side headlight shortly after purchase, with the dealer declining to repair it.
  • A shirt cuff caught on the lower paddle shifter during a turn, pulling the driver's arm and causing loss of steering control.
  • Owners reported CVT fluid leaking from underneath the motor and transmission, requiring a filter replacement that did not stop the leak.
  • The engine stalled without warning at low speed with no dashboard warning beforehand.
  • Some owners could not get replacement parts for the windshield wiper motor recall within a reasonable time.
2013 Mitsubishi Outlander complaints: complaints filed per month2Jan 2013Sep 2013Mar 2017Aug 2017Apr 2018Aug 2020Dec 2023
26 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2013 to Aug 2025; peak May 2013 (2).

2013 Mitsubishi Outlander recalls

5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. NHTSA 17V461000Jul 20, 2017Visibility & Wipers100,082 vehicles

    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.

    Risk: Failure of the wiper motor can cause a loss of visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

    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.

  3. NHTSA 16V791000Oct 31, 2016Visibility & Wipers100,082 vehicles

    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 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 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.

See all 5 recalls for the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander →

2013 Mitsubishi Outlander fuel economy and fuel cost

City
20.5 MPG
Highway
26.5 MPG
Combined
23 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,175
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 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2011Caution2158823
2012Best522623
2013Good3226523
2014Caution6345426
2015Good2652526

All Mitsubishi Outlander years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2013 Outlander has a complaint index of 32 and ranks 14th of 20 model years, earning a Good verdict relative to other Outlander years.
What problems does the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander have?
The top complaint area is Visibility & Wipers, making up 23% of complaints, followed by Electrical System and Engine issues, each at 19%. Median mileage at failure across complaints is 61,400 miles.
Does the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2013 Outlander, covering structure and body corrosion, windshield wiper water intrusion (two separate campaigns), suspension corrosion, and a power steering tube issue. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2013 Outlander compare to other years?
With a complaint index of 32, the 2013 model sits well below higher-complaint years like 2016 (95) and 2022 (100), which are rated Avoid, and it ranks better than most Caution-rated years such as 2007, 2009, and 2018.
What is the top complaint area for the 2013 Outlander?
Visibility & Wipers leads with 6 complaints, or 23% of the total, tied to a recall for water leaking into the wiper motor.

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.