← 20142013 model year2012 →
⚡ NHTSA Official DataUpdated: May 2026How we calculate this
Good Record

2013 Mitsubishi Lancer: Is It Reliable?
Problems, Recalls & Buyer Verdict

Shopping for a used 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer? This page highlights owner-reported complaint patterns and recall history so you can inspect the right systems before buying. Current data includes 5 complaints, with Uncategorized Issues as the top reported area.

5
Complaints
—
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Injuries
—
Deaths
—
Recalls

2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Fuel Economy

✓ EPA Official Data

EPA-rated fuel economy across 8 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer trim configurations. The median figure is shown; range reflects all available trims.

22
MPG City
17–25 range
28
MPG Hwy
22–33 range
25
MPG Combined
19–28 range
361
g CO₂/mile
Regular Gasoline
⚠️Costs $1,500 more than avg vehicle over 5 years

Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov. Figures reflect EPA lab testing; real-world results vary by driving style, load, and conditions. 8 trims analysed.

2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Safety Ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Program2 variants tested — showing 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer 4 DR FWD

Official crash test results from the NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings program. Stars reflect government-conducted tests; higher is safer.

Overall

4/5

12.1% rollover risk

Frontal Crash

4/5

Side Crash

4/5

Rollover

4/5

12.1% probability

✓Stability Control: Standard○Forward Collision Warning: No○Lane Departure Warning: No

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Ratings are based on government crash tests and may not reflect all trim levels.

Quick Answer

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer has 5 owner complaints, 0 crash-related complaints, and 0 recall campaigns on record. The most frequently reported component is Uncategorized Issues. NHTSA reliability signal: Good Record.

2013 Mitsubishi Lancer — key reliability facts
Make
Mitsubishi
Model
Lancer
Model year
2013
NHTSA owner complaints
5
Crash-related complaints
0
Safety recall campaigns
0
Top reported component
Uncategorized Issues
Reliability signal
Good Record
EPA MPG combined
25
EPA MPG city / highway
22 / 28
Fuel type
Regular Gasoline
NHTSA overall safety rating
4/5 stars
NHTSA frontal crash rating
4/5 stars
NHTSA side crash rating
4/5 stars
NHTSA rollover rating
4/5 stars
Electronic stability control
Standard
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

Most Common 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Problems

Top owner-reported complaint areas and where they often appear.

#1
2
complaints

Uncategorized Issues

#2
2
complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

#3
2
complaints

Engine Problems

Complaint patterns center on Uncategorized Issues, Transmission / Drivetrain, Engine Problems. Use these as a pre-purchase inspection guide, then verify recall and damage history on the specific VIN.

Should You Buy a Used 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer?

The 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer looks comparatively lower-risk based on complaint volume, but model-year averages do not confirm the condition of any specific used car.

Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report.

What to Check Before Buying a Used 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer

Inspection Focus

  • Inspect vehicle for any uncategorized issues reported by previous owners.
  • Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
  • Request service records for transmission, drivetrain, and engine repairs.
  • Have a mechanic inspect the brake system, airbags, and electronic stability control before purchase.

Before You Close the Deal

  • Inspect vehicle for any uncategorized issues reported by previous owners.
  • Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
  • Request service records for transmission, drivetrain, and engine repairs.
  • Have a mechanic inspect the brake system, airbags, and electronic stability control before purchase.

Shortlist with model-year data. Decide with the exact VIN.

Before buying a used 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, theft checks, and open recalls for the exact vehicle.

What the Complaint Data Suggests

Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology

Based on 5 complaints for the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer, issues appear spread across multiple components, with no single dominant problem. The low complaint count and absence of recalls or crashes limit strong conclusions.

Key Findings
  • Complaints are distributed among Uncategorized Issues, Transmission/Drivetrain, and Engine Problems (2 each), with single reports for Brake System, Airbag Malfunctions, and Electronic Stability Control.
  • No crashes or recalls were reported for this model year.
  • The data covers only one model year (2013), preventing year-over-year comparison.
Top Concerns
  • Uncategorized Issues
  • Transmission/Drivetrain problems
  • Engine Problems
Data note: NHTSA complaints are consumer-submitted and do not confirm a manufacturing defect. The sample size of 5 complaints is very small, making patterns unreliable. Confidence level is Low, so findings should be interpreted cautiously.

All 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Complaints by Category

Every owner-reported complaint category filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer. Use this as a pre-purchase inspection checklist.

ComponentComplaintsCrashesFiresAvg MileageVolume
Uncategorized Issues2———
Transmission / Drivetrain2———
Engine Problems2———
Brake System1———
Airbag Malfunctions1———
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)1———

Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.

Real Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

🔍

Showing 5 most recent complaints

Uncategorized IssuesJun 10, 2020

MASTER CYLINDER CLUTCH IS FAULTY CAUSING THE PROBLEMS IN SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. AN ARTICLE ONLINE STATED THERE WAS A RECALL FROM 2008-2013 REGARDING THIS ISSUE. WHY IS MY VIN NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. PER WEB ARTICLE RETRIEVED 06/10/2020 : HTTPS://WWW.EDMUNDS.COM/CAR-NEWS/200…

Uncategorized IssuesSep 23, 2019

VEHICLE HAS OVERHEATED ON THE HIGHWAY,. ONCE IT DID TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY MORE OFTEN, EVEN THOUGH THE BATTERIES WERE STILL GOOD. THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH DIAGNOSTIC CODE P0420, IT SEEMS TO …

Transmission / DrivetrainJul 15, 2019

WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP CAR HAS SEVERE HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING AND SHIFTING. ITS EVEN WORSE WHEN THE A/C IS RUNNING. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES TO BE TOLD ITS THE TYPE OF TRANSMISSION IT IS (CVT). I KNOW THIS IS NOT THE CASE WHEN A PERSON ON A BICYC…

Airbag MalfunctionsApr 8, 2019

TAKATA RECALL- ABS LIGHT IS ON PER RECALL IT HAS TO DO WITH AIR BAG INFLATOR IN OTHER MITSUBISHI CARS. ALSO THE STALLS AND SHUTS DOWN AND OVER HEATS. THIS HAS BEEN NOTICED. THIS IS THE TIME IT HAPPENED.

Transmission / DrivetrainSep 18, 2018

ABOUT A MONTH AGO SERVICE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON AND THROWS CODE P1875(DAMPER SPEED SENSOR) . I'VE BEEN TOLD BY MITSUBISHI THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS OTHER THAN PURCHASING A NEW $15,000 SST TRANSMISSION FROM THEM. THE CAR IS NOT EVEN WORTH THAT MUCH BY NOW. HOW IS IT…

Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer.

2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Recalls

0 campaigns

NHTSA recall campaigns for the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer. No recall campaigns are currently listed for this model year in the dataset, but VIN-level recall checks are still essential. Recalls are free to fix at authorized dealers, but completion status must be verified on the exact VIN.

No recall campaigns found for this model year in the current data. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls directly for the latest information.

Compare Mitsubishi Lancer Model Years

Compare complaint and recall volume across years to see whether 2013 lands in a lower-risk or higher-risk part of the model timeline.

2017201620152014201320122011201020092008

2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Buying FAQ

Buyer-focused answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this model year.

Is the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer reliable?▾

Good Record. NHTSA currently shows 5 owner complaints, 0 crash-related complaints, and 0 recall campaigns for this model year. The 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer looks comparatively lower-risk based on complaint volume, but model-year averages do not confirm the condition of any specific used car. Treat this as a model-year signal, then verify the exact vehicle's condition and history before purchase.

What are the most common problems with the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer?▾

#1: Uncategorized Issues (2 complaints). #2: Transmission / Drivetrain (2 complaints). #3: Engine Problems (2 complaints)

At what mileage do problems start on the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer?▾

Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.

How safe is the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer?▾

Complaint data is not the same as crash-test scoring, but it does highlight possible risk patterns. For the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer, NHTSA complaints include 0 crash-related reports and 0 fire reports out of 5 total complaints. For controlled crash-test ratings, check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Does the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer have any recalls?▾

No NHTSA recall campaigns were found for the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer in the current data. Always verify with a VIN check as recalls can be added at any time.

Should I buy a 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer?▾

The 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer looks comparatively lower-risk based on complaint volume, but model-year averages do not confirm the condition of any specific used car. Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report. Pay extra attention to Uncategorized Issues during inspection. Before committing, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, and recall completion for the exact car.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.

Wider context: See the full Mitsubishi Lancer reliability report with year-by-year comparison.

Owner Reliability Rating

Rate the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer based on your ownership experience.

Add your rating:

Ratings are based on owner experience and are separate from NHTSA data shown above.

Check the Exact Vehicle History Before You Buy

Model-year complaints and recalls reveal patterns. A VIN report confirms whether the exact car has accident history, title brands, mileage issues, or open recalls.