Buyer Research

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.

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.

Known Issues for the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer

Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.

CVT durabilityHigh — wallet impact

The Jatco-derived CVT shudders and fails on higher-mileage cars; a replacement approaches the value of the car.

Repair cost range: $3,000-$4,000

Thin dealer networkMedium

Fewer Mitsubishi dealers and independents familiar with the platform.

Repair cost range: Reflected in downtime

Oil consumption and timing chain wearMedium

The 2.0/2.4 engines can consume oil and develop chain noise.

Repair cost range: $300-$2,000

Interior material durabilityLow

Cheap materials that wear quickly.

Repair cost range: n/a

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

Found a specific Mitsubishi Lancer?

This page covers what goes wrong on the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.

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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.