Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes8
- Electrical system3
- Power train2
- Air bags2
- Unknown or other1
- Electronic stability control (esc)1
- Engine1
- Fuel/propulsion system1
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 injuries and 1 deaths reported
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV failed the safety check 1.83% of the time — 27% less often than the average 2012 passenger car (2.52%). Median odometer at inspection: 41,548 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Registered new in Europe in 2012
787 new Mitsubishi i-MiEV cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2012; the largest markets were Estonia (456), the United Kingdom (107), Austria (67).
- Average mass
- 1,185 kg
- Average power
- 36 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Electric 100%
European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · averages weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value; fuel type as recorded at registration, where many non-plug-in hybrids appear as petrol · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
In the United Kingdom
58 cars built in 2012 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 22 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
6 of these cars first registered in 2012 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 112,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
27 2012 cars are on the New Zealand register; 85% arrived as used imports, 15% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
6 Transport Canada recalls for the 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV.
| 2019562 8 Nov 2019 | Brakes Issue: On certain vehicles, the brake vacuum pump may fail. This can cause a hard brake pedal and an increase in brake pedal effort. If the brake vacuum pump … |
| 2017018 11 Jan 2017 | Airbag On certain vehicles, long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and temperature, combined with high temperature cycling, could eventually degrade the propella… |
| 2015419 23 Sept 2015 | Airbag On certain vehicles, due to improper manufacturing, the electrical resistance inside the impact sensor for the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) air bag syste… |
| 2014377 5 Sept 2014 | Brakes On certain vehicles, vacuum pump function could be affected by software defects and/or blockage of the pump exhaust hole. An inoperable vacuum pump would affect… |
| 2013025 25 Jan 2013 | Brakes On certain vehicles, the brake system vacuum pump may have been manufactured incorrectly and could fail. Loss of brake power assist could increase stopping dis… |
| 2012252 31 Jul 2012 | Airbag On certain vehicles, sensors are incompatible with the self-diagnostic software used by the Safety Restraint System (SRS) system, causing the SRS warning lamp t… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mitsubishi told its dealers about the 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11010045 | This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division, notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with Arizona addresses to inform them of open Takata recalls. |
| 11008814 | This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Georgia Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division, notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with Georgia addresses to inform them of open Takata recalls. |
| 11008790 | This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Georgia Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division, notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with Georgia addresses to inform them of open Takata recalls. |
| 11008766 | This Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Georgia Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division, notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with Georgia addresses to inform them of open Takata recalls. |
| 11006081 | This Technical Service Bulletin instructs the dealer to update the Hands Free Module software to improve the Bluetooth connection when certain devices are connected to WiFi. |
| 11006079 | This is a Technical Information Notice informing dealers that with permission from the New York Department of Motor Vehicles, notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with New York addresses to inform of open Takata recalls. |
| 11003538 | This is a dealer letter sent to dealers informing them of the annual distribution of Electric Vehicle (EV) insulated gloves. |
| 11001197 | This is a Technical Information Notice informing dealers that with permission from the California Department of Motor Vehicles, notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with California addresses to inform of open Takata recalls. |
| 10249796 | This is a Technical Information Notice informing dealers that with permission from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Commission, notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with Alabama addresses to inform of open Takata recalls. |
| 10249795 | This is a Technical Information Notice informing dealers that with permission from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with Texas addresses to inform of open Takata recalls. |
| 10246263 | This Technical Service Bulletin provides service manual corrections to the Active Stability Control System, On Vehicle Service section of the applicable Service Manual. |
| 10246262 | This is a Technical Information Notice informing dealers that with permission from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with New York addresses to inform of open Takata recalls. |
| 10244846 | Service Manual Revision - This Technical Service Bulletin provides additional circuit diagrams for the High Voltage Power Supply Control System section. |
| 10243486 | This is a Technical Information Notice informing dealers that with permission from the Puerto Rico Traffic Safety Commission, notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with Puerto Rico addresses to inform of open Takata recalls. |
| 10243485 | This is a Technical Information Notice informing dealers that with permission from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with Florida addresses to inform of open Takata recalls. |
| 10240447 | This Technical Service Bulletin provides service manual corrections and additional information for the installation procedure for the EV Water PTC Heater installation due to changes in the specification of service parts. |
| 10240443 | This is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has launched the 3rd quarterly technician quiz for 2023. |
| 10240442 | This is a Technical Information Notice informing dealers that with permission from the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with Nevada addresses to inform of open Takata recalls. |
| 10238896 | This is a revised Safety Recall bulletin sent to dealers informing them of new Takata inflator return procedures. |
| 10237509 | This is a dealer letter sent to dealers informing them of the annual distribution of Electric Vehicle (EV) insulated gloves. |
| 10237508 | This is a Technical Information Notice informing dealers that with permission from USAA, notification letters on USAA letterhead are being sent to vehicle owners insured by USAA to inform them of open Takata recalls. |
| 10235609 | This Technical Service Bulletin provides instructions and material safety data sheets for removal of rap-film adhesive residue. |
| 10235608 | This Technical Service Bulletin reviews the regulations that require a label showing the reduction in load carrying capacity be affixed to vehicles when the total net weight of accessories is more than 1.5 percent of the vehicle's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or 100 lbs. |
| 10235606 | This is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has launched the 2nd quarterly technician quiz for 2023. |
| 10234017 | This is a Technical Information Notice informing dealers that with permission from the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV), notification letters are being sent to vehicle owners with Massachusetts addresses to inform of open Takata recalls. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Brake Vacuum Pump Failure
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation