2012 Mitsubishi I-miev: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2012 Mitsubishi I-miev: 6 recalls, 13 owner complaints and up to 112 mpg combined.

Recalls
6 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Airbags Vehicle recall #12V372000 · 2012 · 261 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Brakes, Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #13V031000 · 2013 · 1,402 vehicles
What's wrong: The brake system vacuum pump May fail, causing the vacuum pump to be inoperable.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected vacuum pumps free of charge. The recall began on February 28, 2013.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #14V522000 · 2014 · 1,810 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: If the brake vacuum pump stops functioning, the distance needed to stop the vehicle May be lengthened, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #15V594000 · 2015 · 13,558 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not deploy or deploys late, increases the risk of occupant injury.
The fix: Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected impact sensors, free of charge. The recall began on November 5, 2015.
Airbags Vehicle recall #17V022000 · 2017 · 1,964 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: An inflator rupture May result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Mmna will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on March 10, 2017.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #19V804000 · 2019 · 2,108 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Mmna will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake vacuum pump, free of charge. The recall began January 7, 2020.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 1 injuries and 1 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Brakes (8): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Electrical (3): the most common themes are electrical failure (2).
- Airbags (2): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Transmission & drivetrain (2): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
The 2012 Mitsubishi I-miev has 13 owner complaints, ranking #1 of 8 I-miev model years for complaints (7.4× the average I-miev year). Complaints peaked in 2014 (4 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 36,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2011 (0 complaints, 1 recalls), 2013 (0 complaints, 2 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric (49 kW DCPM) | Automatic (A1) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 126e | 99e | 112e | Electricity |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2012 Mitsubishi I-miev.
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FAQ
Does the 2012 Mitsubishi I-miev have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 vehicle recalls for the 2012 Mitsubishi I-miev. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2012 Mitsubishi I-miev problems?
Owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are brakes (8), electrical (3), airbags (2).
What gas mileage does the 2012 Mitsubishi I-miev get?
EPA ratings run up to 112 mpg combined, across 1 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2012 Mitsubishi I-miev repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.