2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Problems & Issues

On the 2011-2022 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, the Jatco-built CVT used across most Outlander Sport years is prone to shuddering, jerking, hesitation when shifting from park to drive/reverse, whining or whirring noise during acceleration, and slipping (engine revs without proportional acceleration). Degraded CVT fluid and belt/chain wear are the primary drivers, and neglected fluid accelerates failure. Powertrain is consistently the most-complained-about area in NHTSA data for this model.

On the 2011-2026 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, the Outlander Sport CVT develops a judder during low-speed acceleration and deceleration. The transmission hesitates when pulling away from stops, and the simulated shift points feel rough and inconsistent.

On the 2013-2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, nHTSA recall 18V070000 covers certain 2013-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles whose rear-caliper lever boots can admit water, corroding and binding the parking-brake actuator shafts so the brake may not engage or disengage fully. Recall 20V741000 adds a bounded 2016 population whose shaft coating may have peeled during assembly, enabling the same corrosion and binding risk. An improperly engaged parking brake can permit rollaway on a slope.

On the 2011-2020 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, the Outlander Sport is susceptible to accelerated underbody rust and corrosion, particularly in salt-belt states. The rear subframe, fuel tank straps, and brake lines are the most affected areas, with rust perforation occurring in as little as 5-7 years.

On the 2013-2015 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, mitsubishi SR-21-001 and NHTSA recall 21V144000 cover certain 2013-2015 Outlander Sport vehicles currently or previously registered in specified road-salt jurisdictions. Insufficient front-crossmember rust protection can allow corrosion after long exposure to snowmelt water and anti-freezing agents; a front lower control arm may detach and cause loss of vehicle control. The campaign expands 20V279000 and remains VIN- and registration-history controlled.

On the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 2.0L 4B11 I4, aWD Outlander Sport models use a two-lobe fuel tank shaped around the rear driveline, with a main sending unit and a separate sub sending unit measuring the second lobe. Mitsubishi's ECM does not simply watch the sub sender's voltage - it runs a consumption rationality test. Mitsubishi's published service data for this generation sets DTC P2066 when fuel consumption calculated from injector operation reaches 10 litres (2.6 gallons) while the level derived from the sub fuel level sensor has changed by less than 2 litres (0.5 gallon), or when the sub sender's resistance is 13 ohms or below or 70 ohms or above (earlier calibrations used a 30-litre consumption threshold). NHTSA recall 13V112000 documents the manufacturing defect behind this on 2013 AWD cars: certain Outlander Sport AWD vehicles manufactured June 11 through December 11, 2012 were built without the fuel sending unit harness for the sub sending unit, producing a false fuel tank level reading. With the sub sender never reporting a changing level, the gauge shows far more fuel than the tank holds, and the ECM's rationality monitor flags the implausible sub-sender data. The real-world consequence is the serious one for this code family: the driver may believe fuel remains when the tank is empty, and the engine stalls while driving. Outside the recall population the same monitor is set by an aged or contaminated sub level sensor, a corroded sub-sender connector, or a failed fuel pump module assembly.

On the 2011-2020 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, the AC compressor in the Outlander Sport frequently fails between 50,000 and 80,000 miles. The compressor clutch bearing seizes or the internal reed valves break, contaminating the AC system with metal debris.

On the 2011-2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, nHTSA recall 16V792000 covers certain 2011-2015 Outlander Sport vehicles whose wiper-motor breathing hole can admit water from the hood-to-windshield area and cause internal motor corrosion and failure. Recall 18V103000 separately covers certain 2011-2016 vehicles whose front wiper-link ball joint can corrode, separate and make the wipers inoperative. Both conditions reduce visibility, but their populations and remedies must remain distinct.