Problems · NHTSA complaints
2013 Mitsubishi Outlander problems
Owners filed 68 complaints about the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander with NHTSA between Jan 2013 and Aug 2025. The most-cited component is electrical system (15).
Complaints
68
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
17
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system15
- Air bags14
- Engine9
- Visibility/wiper8
- Power train7
- Service brakes6
- Structure5
- Suspension4
- Steering4
- Fuel/propulsion system3
- Seat belts2
- Electronic stability control (esc)2
- Exterior lighting2
- Wheels1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
5
2
2
7
12
9
7
5
5
5
4
2
3
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 3 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
15 reports
“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 shutting off on the highway. How is a vehicle safe when it just shuts off. This should have been a recall and not a bulletin. Please reconsider making this a recall. I would hate to see people lose their lives because of this.”
Air bags
14 reports5 crashes
“AIRBAG SYSTEM SERVICE REQUIRED message appears on dash. Occurred on 09/20/2018 and again on 09/29/2023. Both times required service to fix. Has now happened again on 10/14/2024. Secondary issue was reported by another driver for same vehicle for NHTSA ID Number: 11339357 and NHTSA ID Number: 11567379”
Engine
9 reports1 crash
“In 2020 I got a recall for engine support from Mitsubishi. We took it in and told me that the support was find that I didn’t need to be replace even tho the recall called for it. They ended up putting rust paint on the support. 4 weeks ago that part broke on my wife when she was driving down the road. The steering wheel was taken out of my wife’s hand while driving. She was able to get the off the road safely. But sprained her wrist. When I found the broken part on the car. I call Mitsubishi themself. When I reported these issue, I was told that someone would be coming to my house to look at the car. I signed a form for them to do that. And for the to read the computer on my car. That was 4 weeks ago. I have emailed them and called them. And no one knows what I’m talking about our replying to my email. And on top of it all we are missing work, at least one day a week because of this.”
Visibility/wiper
8 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY CONDITIONS AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO WAIT FOR THE RAIN TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (RAY BRANDT CHEVROLET, WESTBANK EXPY, HARVEY, LA 70058 (504)-229-6013). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIPER MOTOR WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V792000 (VISIBILITY) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.”
Power train
7 reports
“The contact owns a 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the "Transmission Overheating" message was displayed on the instrument panel as the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the vehicle would restart after waiting approximately 10 minutes and would resume normal operation. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who discovered that there was no defect with her vehicle and that the failure was linked to an electrical issue. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000.”
Service brakes
6 reports
“My vehicle has had over 10 recalls but Mitsubishi has refused to properly fix any of the problems. I will attach a photo of the control arms and certain parts and recalls THEY cleared, and sent me on my way with. Now there is full suspension damage. Tire damage. And an entire list of other recalls that were never fixed by Mitsubishi. Also Airbag light, incorrect gas level. Windshield fluid leaking, and more. My front tire is about to fly off. There are problems with the struts. And no mechanic wants to touch it due to a strut recall and can’t even buy struts anywhere for my car. They have been taken off the market completely. I have a 8 year old child in this car. And both of our lives at risk. I have brought it to several mechanics and they are in shock at the damage and how we have survived. I have had to pay with my own money for certain repairs because Mitsubishi said “everything looks fine” and sent me on my way. And now refuse to open a claim and pay it back. Or fix all the damage it has caused since the first control arm problem. I can get receipts and invoices together. But honestly the entire car is A huge liability and needs an IMMEDIATE SOLUTION!”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.