2013 Mitsubishi Outlander: common problems

Owners of the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander filed 26 complaints with NHTSA, most often about visibility and engine. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 26
involving a crash: 3

What fails most often

1 Visibility 23% of all complaints
2 Engine 19% of all complaints
3 Electrical system 15% of all complaints
4 Powertrain 15% of all complaints
5 Air bags 12% of all complaints
6 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
7 Exterior lighting 4% of all complaints
8 Seat belts 4% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Visibility: 6 complaints (23% of all).
Engine: 5 complaints (19% of all).
Electrical system: 4 complaints (15% of all).
Powertrain: 4 complaints (15% of all).
Air bags: 3 complaints (12% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.

Engines and transmissions

US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.

2 L · petrol · 4 cyl
2.4 L · petrol · 4 cyl
3 L · petrol · 6 cyl
automatic, 6-speed
CVTnamed in 2 complaints
manual, 5-speed

Drive: FWD, 4WD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 26 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

warning lights, check engine6 · 23%
airbags did not deploy2 · 8%
won't start2 · 8%
knocking, grinding or other noise2 · 8%
overheating, coolant loss2 · 8%
loss of power / limp mode2 · 8%
stalls while driving2 · 8%
hesitation when accelerating1 · 4%
headlights and tail lights1 · 4%
seat belts1 · 4%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Visibility	6	0
Engine	5	0
Electrical system	4	0
Powertrain	4	0
Air bags	3	3
Service brakes	2	0
Exterior lighting	1	0
Seat belts	1	1
Seats	1	0
Steering	1	0
Vehicle speed control	1	0
Other	4	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

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
Air bags · crash · 2018-04-28 · NHTSA complaint #11090823
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.
Air bags · crash · 2017-07-15 · NHTSA complaint #11005483
My air bags did not deploy, the seat belt did not engage. Therefore I struck the steering wheel twice, and whipped my neck.
Air bags · crash · 2014-09-14 · NHTSA complaint #10633083
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.
Electrical system · 2025-08-27 · NHTSA complaint #11683495
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.
Engine · 2023-12-17 · NHTSA complaint #11560529
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.
Powertrain · 2021-09-30 · NHTSA complaint #11434988
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.
Engine · 2021-02-10 · NHTSA complaint #11395590
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.
Powertrain · 2020-08-19 · NHTSA complaint #11350223

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

20135
20142
20161
20177
20184
20191
20201
20213
20231
20251

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 7,316 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 20% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Outlander has 53 complaints (25 years in the data). This year has 26, below average.

What to check before buying

Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: visibility, engine, electrical system. Total complaints: 26. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (23%), airbags did not deploy (8%), won't start (8%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 2013 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.