2013 Mitsubishi OUTLANDER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
26 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
61,400 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility/Wiper is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 26 complaints (23.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 15.4% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 15.4% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 7.7% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 7.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 7.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility/Wiper | 6 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
Visibility/Wiper: 6; Engine: 5; Electrical System: 4; Power Train: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4; Air Bags: 3; Service Brakes: 2; Exterior Lighting: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 6 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2013: 5; 2014: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 7; 2018: 4; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 3; 2023: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility/Wiper leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10512875 · 2013-05-20 (May 20, 2013)
I NOTICED OIL DRIPPING FROM UNDERNEATH THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID IT WAS TO FULL OF OIL, TOOK VEHICLE BACK HOME CONTINUED TO LEAK, TOOK VEHICLE BACK AGAIN TO DEALERSHIP FOR SAME LEAK THEY SAID IT WAS THE CVT FILTER SO THEY REPLACED IT. TOOK VEHICLE HOME PARKED IT IN GARAGE WHEN I WOKE UP NEXT DAY TO CHECK ON IT THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF OIL UNDER THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION, HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND NOW THEY ARE SAYING THE SEAL BETWEEN THE MOTOR AND TRANS. IS BAD, THEN THEY SAID TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 341 miles reported. Look up ODI 10512875 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11138997 · 2018-10-08 (October 8, 2018)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 71,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11138997 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10502217 · 2013-03-09 (March 9, 2013)
I HAD OWNED MY OUTLANDER FOR JUST OVER A WEEK AND WAS ATTEMPTING A NORMAL LEFT HAND TURN. MY LONG-SLEEVE, CUFFED SHIRT BECAME CAUGHT ON THE LOWER PORTION OF THE RIGHT PADDLE SHIFTER. AS I ATTEMPTED TO STRAIGHTEN THE CAR FROM THE TURN, THE WHEEL TURNED AND PULLED MY STUCK RIGHT ARM INTO AN OPENING ON THE STEERING WHEEL.CONSEQUENTLY, MY VEHICLE CONTINUED TURNING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AS I BOTH TRIED TO STOP AND FREE MY ARM. LUCKILY, APPROACHING TRAFFIC SAW MY CAR IN ENOUGH TIME TO AVOID HITTING ME. I WAS NOT ABLE TO FREE MY HAND UNTIL I BROUG…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10502217 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10633083 · 2014-09-14 (September 14, 2014)
MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT ENGAGE. THEREFORE I STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL TWICE, AND WHIPPED MY NECK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10633083 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10542216 · 2013-09-06 (September 6, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,600.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10542216 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11079779 · 2018-03-16 (March 16, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 99,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11079779 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11282414 · 2019-11-26 (November 26, 2019)
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 NORTHLAKE BLVD, NORTH PALM BEACH, FL 33408, [phone removed]) WHERE THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,300.*PM…
Owner-reported narrative. 69,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11282414 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11395590 · 2021-02-10 (February 10, 2021)
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. I ALSO LOST ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FUNCTIONALITY WITH NO DASHBOARD WARNING. THROUGH MY MECHANIC I LATER FOUND OUT THE CAR WAS FORCING ITSELF INTO "LIMP MODE" BECAUSE THE ENGINE AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS GIVING A…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11395590 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11085120 · 2018-04-15 (April 15, 2018)
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 HIGHWAYS. A HIGHWAY WORKER PROTECTED ME WITH HIS SAFETY TRUCK TILL AAA TOW TRUCK TOOK MY CAR TO THE LOCAL SCHAUMBURG MITSUBISHI DEALER ANY STEPS YOU TOOK TO ISOLATE THE PROBLEM, SUCH AS CHECKING FOR FL…
Owner-reported narrative. 92,166 miles reported. Look up ODI 11085120 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11560529 · 2023-12-17 (December 17, 2023)
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 this is the 3rd vehicle in the last month with the same issue. Car had no power/electrical /engine issues prior to this event. Mitsubishi is offering no solution to fix the issue. Luckily when the car …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11560529 at NHTSA ↗