Investigations
Brake Vacuum Pump Failure
NHTSA Recall Query RQ19002 — closed, opened 2019-05-10 and involving the MITSUBISHI MITSUBISHI.
NHTSA investigation RQ19002 is a Recall Query opened on 2019-05-10 and currently closed. The subject of record is MITSUBISHI MITSUBISHI, which places this file inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue for MITSUBISHI. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2019-12-12 — NHTSA updates that field whenever an Information Request goes out, a supplement is filed, or a status change is recorded in the public docket.
A Recall Query like RQ19002 evaluates whether a previously issued recall is actually fixing the problem. NHTSA opens an RQ when owners continue to report the original defect after the recall remedy is installed, or when completion rates fall short of the agency's expectations for that risk tier.
Investigators summarized the matter as follows: "On May 10, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ19-002 to investigate three complaints alleging brake vacuum pump failures after the remedies for Recalls 13V-031 and 14V-522 had been comp..." Investigations are the early-warning layer of the federal auto-safety system, sitting upstream of formal recalls and defect orders. Whether this one closes without action or escalates into an Engineering Analysis, the full history stays in the ODI archive so researchers, litigators, and buyers can pull the paper trail at any time. Related MITSUBISHI files, listed below, give context on whether this is an isolated concern or part of a broader pattern across the brand.
Investigation Summary
On May 10, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ19-002 to investigate three complaints alleging brake vacuum pump failures after the remedies for Recalls 13V-031 and 14V-522 had been completed in model year (MY) 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV vehicles. The investigation was opened on model year (MY) 2010 through 2017 Mitsubishi i-MiEV vehicles to cover all products sold in the United States with the same vacuum pump (Recall 14V-522 included MY 2010 through 2014 i-MiEV vehicles). Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) provided information about nine (9) additional reports of brake vacuum pump failure in its response to ODI's information request letter for RQ-002 (MY 2012 - 8, MY 2014 - 1). In addition, MMNA's response indicated that there are no MY 2010 through 2011 i-MiEV vehicles currently in the United States (a small number of MY 2010 through 2011 pre-production i-MiEV demo vehicles were listed as scrapped or exported - four of these were included in the scope of 14V-522). On November 8, 2019, MMNA submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a defect in the brake vacuum pump in approximately 2,108 MY 2012 through 2017 Mitsubishi i-MiEV vehicles manufactured from October 28, 2011 through June 10, 2016 (NHTSA Recall 19V-804, Mitsubishi Recall SR-19-002). Mitsubishi's DIR identified a defect in the brake vacuum pump design that may allow water to penetrate the pump and cause internal corrosion, which may result in brake vacuum pump failure and increased risk of a vehicle crash. Recalled vehicles will have the vacuum pump replaced with a redesigned pump that has improved sealing and anti-corrosion performance. Mitsubishi's DIR indicates that the recall covers all i-MiEV vehicles sold in the United States, as U.S. sales began with MY 2012 and concluded with MY 2017. This investigation is closed based on Recall 19V-804. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under the following ID numbers: 11078966, 1
About This Investigation Type
A Recall Query (RQ) evaluates the effectiveness of a previously issued recall. NHTSA opens an RQ when consumer complaints suggest that a recall remedy may not be adequately addressing the safety issue, or when the recall completion rate appears insufficient.
Other MITSUBISHI Investigations
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Clutch Interlock Switch Malfunction
GASOLINE LEAKS
PASSENGER DOOR FIRE
PASSENGER DOOR FIRE
Data from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Cross-references: NHTSA recall campaign API and NHTSA FARS where fatality records overlap. PlainCars does not rate or recommend vehicles. Learn more.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.