Total Complaints
20 filings
MITSUBISHI I-MIEV · model year
20 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports, and 6 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2012MITSUBISHII-MIEV carries 20 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 2 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2012 I-MIEV is service brakes with 8 filings, followed by electrical system (3) and air bags (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 6 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 14 investigation files overlapping the 2012 I-MIEV. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
20 filings
Crashes Reported
3 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES | 8 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 3 |
| AIR BAGS | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 1 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
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.
AIR BAGS
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
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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 necess
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
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.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
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.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
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 wou
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.
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.
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.
Mileage: 89,804
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.
Mileage: 60,000
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.
Mileage: 60,000
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.
Mileage: 60,000
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.
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.
Mileage: 22,141
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 T
Mileage: 50,000
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 T
Mileage: 50,000
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.
Mileage: 26,517
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.
Mileage: 41,800
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.
Mileage: 41,800
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.
Mileage: 36,000
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
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
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.
Mileage: 22,000
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 THINNE
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 THINNE
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.
Mileage: 10,000
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.