2012 Mitsubishi I-Miev

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 13 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes. It has been recalled 6 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes6
101
Electrical System3
000
Air Bags2
100
Unknown or Other1
000
Electronic Stability Control (esc)1
000

6 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist › Vacuum19V804000
Filed Nov 8, 20192,108 vehiclesMitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

Defect. Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2012-2017 i-MiEV vehicles. Water may penetrate the brake assist vacuum pump, causing corrosion and a failure of the brake vacuum pump.

Risk. Without the brake vacuum pump, the driver will experience a sudden loss of braking assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake vacuum pump, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-19-002.

Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module17V022000
Filed Jan 10, 20171,964 vehiclesMitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

Defect. Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2012 and 2014 i-MiEV vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Risk. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy. MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on March 10, 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-17-001.

Air Bags15V594000
Filed Sep 23, 201513,558 vehiclesMitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

Defect. Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage vehicles manufactured July 27, 2013, to November 20, 2013, and 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV vehicles manufactured October 28, 2011, to September 7, 2012. Due to an increased resistance in the impact sensor for the air bag system, in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal, side and/or curtain air bags when the SRS warning is illuminated, the frontal air bag may have a delayed deployment and/or the side and curtian air bag may not deploy at all.

Risk. In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not deploy or deploys late, increases the risk of occupant injury.

Remedy. Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected impact sensors, free of charge. The recall began on November 5, 2015. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-15-011.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist › Vacuum14V522000
Filed Sep 2, 20141,810 vehiclesMitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

Defect. Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (Mitsubishi) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 i-MiEV electric vehicles manufactured September 15, 2009, to March 25, 2014. Due to either software programming or corrosion caused by road salt, the brake vacuum pump may stop functioning.

Risk. If the brake vacuum pump stops functioning, the distance needed to stop the vehicle may be lengthened, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Mitsubishi will notify owners, and depending on the affected vehicle, dealers will either reprogram the brake vacuum pump controller, replace the brake vacuum pump or do both, free of charge. The recall began on October 24, 2014. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-14-007.

Service Brakes13V031000
Filed Jan 25, 20131,402 vehiclesMitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

Defect. Mitsubishi Motors North America is recalling certain model year 2012 i-MiEV electric vehicles manufactured December 2, 2011, through September 7, 2012. The brake system vacuum pump may fail, causing the vacuum pump to be inoperable.

Risk. If the vaccum pump system fails, it will reduce available brake power which would result in lengthened stopping distances, which may increase the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy. Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected vacuum pumps free of charge. The recall began on February 28, 2013. Owners may contact Mitsubishi at 1-888-648-7820.

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module-inactive12V372000
Filed Aug 1, 2012261 vehiclesMitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

Defect. Mitsubishi is recalling certain model year 2012 i-MiEV vehicles manufactured between November 4, 2011, and December 22, 2011. Incompatibility between the air bag sensors and the self-diagnostic software may deactivate the frontal and side airbag system. Should this occur, the SRS warning lamp would illuminate to alert the driver.

Risk. The side and curtain air bags may not deploy in a crash for which those air bags were intended to deploy, increasing the risk of personal injury to the vehicle occupants.

Remedy. Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the incompatible air bag sensors with new, compatible units, free of charge. The safety recall began on during August 2012. Owners may contact Mitsubishi at 1-800-222-0037.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air Bags
Filed Jun 22, 2021GA

Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2012 Mitsubishi I-MIEV. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 19V804000 (Service, Brake, Hydraulic), 17V022000 (Air Bags), and 15V594000 (Air Bags) however, the contact stated there was no local dealer in their area to do the recall repairs. When they reached out to the manufacturer, they were informed to find a local authorized dealer, when the contact found an independent mechanic to do the recall repairs, the manufacturer would not authorize the independent mechanic to do the recall repairs. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 31, 202089,804 milesIL

MITSUBISHI ANNOUNCED A RECALL FOR ON BOARD CHARGER (OBC) DEFECTS PER ATTACHED LETTER AND ADVISED REPLACEMENT OR REFUND IF PART WAS ALREADY REPLACED. ALSO ATTACHED REPAIR INVOICE 301408 FOR $5080.82 WAS PAID BY WARRANTY COMPANY. MITSUBISHI IS OFFERING REFUND OF $100.00 DEDUCTIBLE INSTEAD OF TOTAL COSTS. PLEASE INTERVENE TO GET THE COMPLETE REFUND FROM OEM.

Electrical System
Filed Feb 26, 202060,000 milesOR

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE AT HALF CHARGE UNDER LOAD WILL DEACCELERATE FROM 50 TO BELOW 30 MILES AN HOUR. CAUSING DISRUPTIONS IN TRAFFIC AND PEOPLE PASSING YOU. THE POWER STEERING SEEMS TO SHUT DOWN WITH THE TURTLE LIGHT.

Service Brakes
Filed Feb 4, 2020CA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MITSUBISHI I-MIEV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V804000 (BRAKE ASSIST VACUUM PUMP). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO OAKLAND KIA MITSUBISHI, 2424 WEBSTER STREET, OAKLAND, CA 94612 WHERE THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR FOUR MONTHS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

Service Brakes
Filed Mar 18, 201922,141 milesOH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MITSUBISHI I-MIEV. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V522000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), THE BRAKE PRESSURE BEGAN LOSING POWER. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT CALLED SIMS MITSUBISHI (2908 MEDINA RD, MEDINA, OH 44256, (330) 722-8000) AND WAS INFORMED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,141.

Electrical System
Filed Jan 22, 201950,000 milesTX

ON 11/20/18, WE TOOK OUR 2012 I-MIEV INTO THE ROGER BEASLEY MITSUBISHI AT 1120 SHELBY LN, AUSTIN, 78745 AFTER THE CAR RAPIDLY LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON AT LEAST 2 OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME HE WAS DRIVING 65 MPH AND THE CAR SLOWED TO ABOUT 15 MPH. THE OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE WAS 50 DEGREES. HE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. HE RESTARTED IT TO SEE IF HE COULD GET THE CAR HOME. THE CAR STARTED. HE WAS ABLE TO GET IT UP TO 58 MPH AND ONCE AGAIN IT SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND DROPPED TO 15 MPH. WHEN THE CAR SLOWED TO 15 MPH, THE DASHBOARD DISPLAYED AN EXCLAMATION MARK INSIDE OF A CAR ERROR LIGHT. HE TOOK A VIDEO OF THE 2ND OCCURRENCE: HTTPS://FLIC.KR/P/2EMRH22. NOTE THAT THE CAR HAD 24 MI REMAINING ON THE RANGE AND HAD A BAR INDICATING OF THE BATTERY WAS CHARGED. WE ALSO INTERMITTENTLY RECEIVED THE POWER DOWN WARNING LIGHT ('TURTLE' ICON DISPLAYED ON THE DASH) IN COOLER WEATHER AND/OR WHEN THE CAR TOOK AN UPHILL GRADE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS--WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE SPEED OF THE CAR DECREASED. THE MAIN DRIVE LI-ION BATTERY IS COVERED FOR DEFECTS IN MATERIAL FOR 8 YEARS OR 160,000 KM. OUR CAR IS A 2012 AND HAS ROUGHLY 50,000 MILES ON IT. IN ALL THIS TIME, WE HAVE RECEIVED NO CLEAR COMMUNICATION FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AS TO WHEN WE WILL RECEIVE OUR CAR BACK. ALL WE ARE TOLD IS 'WE ARE STILL WAITING TO HEAR FROM THE JAPANESE ENGINEERS.' IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE AND IRRESPONSIBLE FOR MITSUBISHI TO HAVE LEFT US IN THIS POSITION WITH NO VEHICLE AND NO INFORMATION

Service Brakes
Filed Jan 21, 201926,517 milesNY

BRAKES SUDDENLY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE. THE PROBLEM WAS THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP. THE DEALER REPORTED TO ME THAT THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED IN 2013 AS A SAFETY RECALL. APPARENTLY THE REPLACEMENT PUMP DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE REPLACEMENT BRAKE VACUUM PUMP REPLACEMENT IS NOT DURABLE. I WAS CHARGED $1,300 TO HAVE IT REPLACED. THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP HAD SEIZED INTERNALLY.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Nov 15, 201841,800 milesNJ

TWO TRANSMISSIONS HAVE SEIZED AND SHEARED GEARS OR SHEARED GEARS RESPECTIVELY. ADDITIONALLY THE TRACTION BATTERY RETAINS 61% OF ADVERTISED CAPACITY AFTER 5.5 YEARS AND 41,XXX MILES.

Service Brakes
Filed Mar 13, 201836,000 milesMA

BRAKE VACUUM PUMP HAS FAILED THERE HAVE BEEN 2 PREVIOUS RECALLS RELATING TO THIS VACUUM PUMP. MY PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE UNDER THE FIRST RECALL. IT WAS NOT REPLACED UNDER THE SECOND RECALL (NHTSA ID: 14V522), DURING WHICH "DEALERS WILL EITHER REPROGRAM THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP CONTROLLER, REPLACE THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP OR DO BOTH, FREE OF CHARGE." MITSUBISHI CONSIDERS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY FULFILLED. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY ($846 FOR THE PART) TO REPLACE THIS CLEARLY PROBLEMATIC PART. I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND TO MITSUBISHI OF NORTH AMERICA AND RECEIVED NO HELP.

Service Brakes
Filed Dec 30, 2014HI

2012 MITSUBISHI I-MIEV. COMPLAINT RELATED TO SECOND RECALL OF I-MIEV. *MW THE CONSUMER STATED AT 12,000 MILES, THE FRONT BRAKE PADS DISINTEGRATED FOR NO REASON. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE VACUUM PUMP RELATED AND THE BRAKE PADS DISINTEGRATING WERE RELATED. THE CONSUMER STATED MITSUBISHI WOULD NOT PAY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SHIPPED HONOLULU FROM HAWAII ISLAND. MITSUBISHI STATED THE BRAKES WERE NOT A WARRANTY ITEM. *JB

Service BrakesCrash1 injured
Filed Nov 10, 201422,000 milesMN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MITSUBISHI I-MIEV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE SPINE WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V522000 (BRAKES) AND BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

Air BagsCrash1 killed
Filed Aug 23, 2014VA

THE I-MIEV WAS BEING OPERATED IN A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED WHEN IT HIT A PARKED CAR A AND PUSHED A INTO PARKED CAR B. THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG IN THE I-MIEV DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER DID NOT APPEAR TO BE AFFECTED BY THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, AND WAS COGENT AND CONVERSATIONAL. THE I-MIEV WAS TOWED AWAY DUE TO FRONT FENDER DAMAGE IMPEDING THE TIRE. THE DRIVER WAS PRESCRIBED THE BLOOD THINNER WARFIN AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER CONTINUED WITH THE DAILY ROUTINE AND WAS REPORTED TO HAVE SHOWN NO EFFECTS OF THE ACCIDENT UNTIL 6 HOURS LATER. AT THAT POINT THE DRIVER COLLAPSED INTO A COMA AND NEVER RECOVERED. THE DRIVER WAS TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL ER WHERE A CATSCAN SHOWED A SUBDURAL HEMATOMA. THE CAUSE OF DEATH PER THE DEATH CERTIFICATE WAS COMPLICATIONS OF SUBDURAL HEMATOMA; BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA TO THE HEAD; AND MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT. THERE ARE NO WARNINGS TO NOT RIDE IN THE FRONT SEAT OF A VEHICLE WITH AIRBAGS WHILE ON BLOOD THINNER. THE BLUNT FORCE OF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT CAUSED THE TRAUMA TO THE HEAD LEADING TO THE SUBDURAL HEMATOMA OF THE DRIVER ON WARFIN. HOW OFTEN HAS THIS HAPPENED? WHY ARE THERE NOT ANY WARNINGS ABOUT THE DANGER OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT FOR THOSE ON BLOOD THINNERS? THE COMPARISON TO AIRBAG DEATHS TO FRONT-SEATED CHILDREN IS STARK. NOW CHILDREN ARE REQUIRED TO SIT IN THE BACK SEAT TO AVOID AIRBAG DECAPITATION. HOW MANY PEOPLE ON BLOOD-THINNERS HAVE DIE BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN? *TR

Electrical System
Filed Feb 12, 201410,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MITSUBISHI I-MIEV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON THE NEGATIVE BATTERY TERMINAL WHICH NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

13 of 13 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2012
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20171200Routine
20160200Routine
20150100Routine
20140300Routine
20130200Routine
2012 — this page13601Fatalities reported
20110100Routine
20100100Routine

Compare every I-Miev year →

Reading this record

1 death reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Nov 8, 2019. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.