IllustrationON 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.
2012 Mitsubishi I-MIEV
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all I-MIEV years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 9 of 13 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
Power Train complaints
2 reportsON 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 PU…
Read full complaint
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 FOR THIS EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. I AM NOT AN ENGINEER, BUT THE OPERATIONS OF AN ELECTRIC CAR APPEAR TO BE RATHER STRAIGHT FORWARD. THE CAR EITHER HAS A FUNCTIONING POWER SOURCE OR IT DOES NOT. HAVING A CAR THAT INEXPLICABLY LOSES POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN THE BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED IS A HAZARD NOT ONLY TO MY FAMILY BUT ALSO TO OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD.
Official recalls
619V804000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum
Nov 8, 2019
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.
Consequence & remedy
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.
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.
17V022000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Jan 10, 2017
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
15V594000 · Air Bags
Sep 23, 2015
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
14V522000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum
Sep 2, 2014
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
13V031000 · Service Brakes; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist
Jan 25, 2013
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.
Consequence & remedy
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.
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.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Service Brakes
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
12V372000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
Aug 1, 2012
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.
Consequence & remedy
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.
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1RQ19002 · Brake Vacuum Pump Failure
Opened May 10, 2019 · Closed Dec 12, 2019
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum
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, 11171175, 11187483.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum
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, 11171175, 11187483.
Service Brakes
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, 11171175, 11187483.