2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV Review

Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.

If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).

Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum

Recall Number: 

19V804000

Manufacturer Recall Number: 

SR-19-002

Manufactured from: 

2011-10-28 to 2016-06-10

Number of vehicles affected: 

2108

Defect Description: 

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.

Defect Consequence: 

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.

Corrective Action: 

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:passenger side frontal

Recall Number: 

17V022000

Manufacturer Recall Number: 

SR-17-001

Manufactured from: 

2011-10-28 to 2014-09-03

Number of vehicles affected: 

1964

Defect Description: 

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.

Defect Consequence: 

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

Corrective Action: 

MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-17-001.

Air bags

Recall Number: 

15V594000

Manufacturer Recall Number: 

SR-15-011

Manufactured from: 

2011-10-28 to 2012-09-07

Number of vehicles affected: 

13558

Defect Description: 

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.

Defect Consequence: 

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

Corrective Action: 

Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected impact sensors, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. 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:vacuum

Recall Number: 

14V522000

Manufacturer Recall Number: 

SR-14-007

Manufactured from: 

2009-09-15 to 2014-03-25

Number of vehicles affected: 

1810

Defect Description: 

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.

Defect Consequence: 

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

Corrective Action: 

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 brakes, hydraulic:power assist

Recall Number: 

13V031000

Manufacturer Recall Number: 

SR-13-001

Manufactured from: 

2011-12-02 to 2012-09-07

Number of vehicles affected: 

1402

Defect Description: 

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.

Defect Consequence: 

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.

Corrective Action: 

Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected vacuum pumps free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Mitsubishi at 1-888-648-7820.

Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module

Recall Number: 

12V372000

Manufacturer Recall Number: 

SR-12-003

Manufactured from: 

2011-11-04 to 2011-12-22

Number of vehicles affected: 

261

Defect Description: 

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.

Defect Consequence: 

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.

Corrective Action: 

Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the incompatible air bag sensors with new, compatible units, free of charge. Mitsubishi has not provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Mitsubishi at 1-800-222-0037.