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2013 Mitsubishi Outlander problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
37% of relevant owner complaints on the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.
Better than 59% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 16 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 28%).
Does the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander have engine problems?
More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 19 of 52 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (37%), and the largest group is filed under engine (9). For comparison, the 2012 scores 41% and the 2014 scores 37%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2013 compares with other Mitsubishi Outlander years
Of the 13 Mitsubishi Outlander years with enough complaints to score, the 2013 is the 6th-best on engine and transmission share (37%). The worst is the 2015 (75%), the best the 2022 (20%). By volume, the 2013 drew 68 complaints (19 drivetrain), against 36 for the 2012 and 86 for the 2014.
Mitsubishi Outlander years to avoid and best years →
2010 Outlander problems · 2011 Outlander problems · 2012 Outlander problems · 2013 · 2014 Outlander problems · 2015 Outlander problems · 2016 Outlander problems · 2017 Outlander problems · 2018 Outlander problems · 2019 Outlander problems · 2020 Outlander problems · 2022 Outlander problems · 2023 Outlander problems
The rest of the picture on the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 19 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2013 Mitsubishi Outlander transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 14 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2013 Outlander Sport vehicles manufactured June 11, 2012, through September 11, 2012. These vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment," and FMVSS number 114, "Theft Protection." The brake stop lamps may illuminate…
Risk: If the brake lamps do not illuminate properly other vehicles may not know when the vehicle is stopping. This could increase the risk of a crash. If the shift lever is moved from park without using the brake, the…
Fix: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will correct the installation of the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The recall BEGAN ON April 18, 2013. Owners may contact Mitsubishi at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's…
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2013 Outlander Sport AWD vehicles manufactured June 11, 2012, through December 11, 2012. These vehicles may have been built without a fuel sending unit harness for the sub-sending unit. This may result in a false fuel tank level reading.
Risk: The vehicle operator may believe they have fuel when the tank is actually empty. This could cause the engine to stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will install the proper fuel sending harness, free of charge. The recall began on April 18, 2013. Owners may contact Mitsubishi at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's campaign…
12 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander have engine problems?
More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 19 of 52 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (37%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander is electrical system: 15 of 68 complaints (22%) name it, followed by air bags (14) and engine (9). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 37% of the relevant total.
Is the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 37% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 59% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 13 Mitsubishi Outlander years we score, it ranks 6th-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 14 in total: 13V116000 (power train: automatic transmission), 13V112000 (fuel system, gasoline). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Mitsubishi Outlander years are better?
Among the Mitsubishi Outlander years we track, the 2022 (20%), the 2020 (29%) and the 2023 (29%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2013 (37%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/mitsubishi-outlander
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.