BestCarRank
Mitsubishi

2012 Mitsubishi I-MIEV

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2012 Mitsubishi I-MIEV has 20 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is brakes problems (45% of all complaints), specifically: 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 co.

3 crash reports 1 injury

20

Total Complaints

0

Recalls Issued

/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BRAKES

9 complaints
45%
  • 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 CO
  • 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 DE
  • 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
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

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 CO

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

3 complaints
15%
  • 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 M
  • 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
  • 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.
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

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 M

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

2 complaints
10%
  • 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 CO
  • 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. W
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

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 CO

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

2 complaints
10%
  • 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
  • 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.
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS

1 complaints
5%
  • 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.
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

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.

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BRAKES(~50K mi)
$500
ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)
$500
AIR BAGS(~50K mi)
$500
TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)
$500
ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS(~50K mi)
$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 20 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

  • BRAKES: 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 CO

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ELECTRICAL: 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 M

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • AIR BAGS: 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 CO

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • TRANSMISSION: 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

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)

Mitsubishi I-MIEV — Year Comparison

How does 2012 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.

Full years-to-avoid analysis →

NHTSA Safety Rating

No NHTSA safety rating available

At a Glance

Complaints
20
Recalls
0
Fire reports
0
Crash reports
3
Injury reports
1
Segment avg
80

Check a Specific VIN

See recalls for YOUR 2012 Mitsubishi I-MIEV