2013 Mitsubishi Lancer — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $5,000–$9,000. There is 1 high-severity known issue you need to know before handing over a check.
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Kestrel Take
A dated but durable compact with available all-wheel drive, kept alive long past its prime. The CVT is the concern on automatic cars; the manual and the AWD system are the appeal. Thin dealer support and a long-in-the-tooth design are the tradeoffs.
What we checked
Checked against public records, 2026-09-25
NHTSA holds 5 owner complaints for the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer, and no recall campaigns.
That is too small a record to read a pattern from, so we are not going to pretend otherwise — with numbers this low one owner moves the percentage by a lot. What has been filed is grouped under the transmission and drivetrain (2), the engine (2), the brakes (1). Treat those as things to look at, not as the vehicle's known weaknesses. A thin file usually means few of these were sold or few owners filed. It is not evidence the vehicle is trouble-free, and the issues below are our own research rather than a reading of this record.
Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.
Known Issues for the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents. How we decide that.
The Jatco-derived CVT shudders and fails on higher-mileage cars; a replacement approaches the value of the car.
Repair cost (estimate): $3,000-$4,000 — around 57% of what this car is typically worth
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the transmission and drivetrain (2).
Fewer Mitsubishi dealers and independents familiar with the platform.
Repair cost: Not yet priced
Source: not yet checked against public records.
The 2.0/2.4 engines can consume oil and develop chain noise.
Repair cost (estimate): $300-$2,000 — about 29% of what this car is typically worth
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the engine (2).
Cheap materials that wear quickly.
Repair cost: Not yet priced
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗CVT shudder or whine
- ✗No CVT fluid service
- ✗Oil consumption
- ✗A price that ignores parts-availability pain
Good Signs
- ✓5-speed manual
- ✓CVT fluid serviced on schedule
- ✓AWD model with documented maintenance
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Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
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