2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
67 NHTSA owner complaints · 10 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
Avoid the 2015 and 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, which have 232 and 163 complaints and scores of 34 and 36, and treat the 2013 and 2014 cars (scores 67 and 65) with caution. Buy a 2017 or later car: the 2017 has 73 complaints and no recalls, the 2018 has 21, and the 2021 to 2025 cars have between 1 and 17 complaints each with scores of 90 to 93. Read the full note on the model page. 2013 specifically: 67 complaints on record, score 67/100 — read the year table on the model page to see where it sits among its siblings.
Read the guide
Used Mitsubishi Outlander and Outlander Sport: the years to avoid, including 2013 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 67 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 5.15
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
The contact owns a 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V144000 (Suspension, Structure); and it was determined the undercarriage was extremely rusted. The vehicle was not repaired due to the rust. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000. Parts distributio…
The lights on my clutch are not coming on. I’m concerned there are other electrical issues affecting the cluster and the odometer display
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
Recalls: 10 campaigns (4 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 14V031000 | Air Bags | Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2013 Outlander Sport vehicles manufactured July 20, 2012, through May 29, 2013 and equipped with leather seats. |
| 21V144000 | Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Arm | Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Outlander Sport vehicles originally sold, 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,… |
| 13V300000 | Suspension:Front | Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2013 Outlander Sport vehicles manufactured January 17, 2013, through January 25, 2013. |
| 18V103000 | Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Linkages | Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2011-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles. |
| 20V279000 | Structure:Frame And Members | 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,… |
| 14V744000 | Seat Belts | Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Outlander Sport vehicles manufactured July 20, 2012, to July 23, 2014. |
| 18V070000 | Parking Brake | Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Outlander and 2013-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles. |
| 13V116000 | Power Train:Automatic Transmission | Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2013 Outlander Sport vehicles manufactured June 11, 2012, through September 11, 2012. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 27 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,300
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Air Bags14 complaints · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,700
- Electrical System14 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Engine9 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Unknown Or Other8 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Visibility/Wiper8 complaints · typical job: Wiper motor, linkage or windscreen replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$490–$1,200
- Power Train7 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
Other Mitsubishi Outlander Sport years
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport years to avoid, and the best years to buy →
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Air Bags (14 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is CAUTION with a reliability score of 67/100, computed from 67 NHTSA complaints and 10 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport's most common problem?
14 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport sit in the Air Bags group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement: about 2.5 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $600–$1,700 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport cost to run per year?
About $4,747 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $23,738 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 10 recall campaign(s) for the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, 4 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 04/02/2014. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other compact suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Moderate evidence — 67 complaints, 10 recalls on record
- 67 NHTSA complaints on record (5.2/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (4.3/yr)
- 10 recall campaigns, 4 touching safety-critical systems