2013 Mitsubishi Outlander problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Visibility/Wiper (5) · Power Train (4) · Engine (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mitsubishi Outlander model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
20 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (5)
Structure:frame And Members 2020-05-18 · campaign 20V279000 · 141,200 vehicles
Defect: 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 c
Risk: A detached front control arm can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Visibility:windshield Wiper/Washer:motor 2017-07-20 · campaign 17V461000 · 100,082 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Fix: 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.
Visibility:windshield Wiper/Washer:linkages 2016-10-31 · campaign 16V791000 · 100,082 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Fix: 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.
Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm 2016-06-23 · campaign 16V458000 · 194,674 vehicles
Defect: 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 Co
Risk: A detached front control arm can result in the loss of control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections 2014-06-25 · campaign 14V366000 · 203 vehicles
Defect: 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, t
Risk: A power steering fluid leak could result in a loss of steering assistance, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (106)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Seat Belts 2025-11-21 · TECH TALK 289 · Other
tech talk is a service newsletter that was sent out to dealers. it covers various topics and reviews the previous months publications.
Electrical System 2024-07-23 · TSB-16-54-001REV · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this technical service bulletin instructs the dealer to update the hands free module software to improve the bluetooth connection when certain devices are connected to wi‐fi.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-07-21 · DEALER LETTER · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a dealer letter sent to dealers informing that mitsubishi technical training has launched the 3rd quarterly technician quiz for 2023.
Structure 2023-04-24 · TSB-23-00-004 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this technical service bulletin provides instructions and material safety data sheets for removal of rap-film adhesive residue.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-04-24 · TSB-23-00-001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this technical service bulletin reviews the regulations that require a label showing the reduction in load carrying capacity be affixed to vehicles when the total net weight of accessories is more than 1.5 percent of the vehicle's gross vehicle weight rating (gvwr) or 100 lbs.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-04-21 · DEALER LETTER · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a dealer letter sent to dealers informing that mitsubishi technical training has launched the 2nd quarterly technician quiz for 2023.
Showing the 6 most recent of 106 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-08-27 · Electrical System“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 shu…”
2023-12-17 · Unknown Or Other“on dec 8,2023 our mitsubishi outlander shut off while being driven. 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. they have also told us t…”
2021-09-30 · Power Train“1) transmission or power train 2) the vehicle may be inspected at request 3) the vehicle starts and may go for about a mile, and then it will buck and act like it's in neutral for all gears. i got stuck in the middle of an intersection turning left. i managed to get it back home, and then needed help pushing it into the driveway, where it sits.…”
2021-09-09 · Unknown Or Other“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…”
2021-02-10 · Vehicle Speed Control · 70,000 mi“i was driving on the highway when an active stability control service warning displayed on the dashboard. 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…”
2020-08-19 · Power Train · 115,000 mi“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.…”
2019-11-26 · Service Brakes · 69,300 mi“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 no…”
2018-10-08 · Power Train · 71,000 mi“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…”
2018-04-28 · Air Bags · 96,000 mi · 💥 crash“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…”
2018-04-15 · Engine · 92,166 mi“on april 12th, thursday night around 8 pm, i was heading near the i-290/ i-90 intersection, riding on i-90 west. i heard a sharp crack in the front of the car. i lost power steering, check battery charge light came on and within 2-3 minutes, engine overheating light came on. i brought my car to a stop in a safe area between the intersecting highwa…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.