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2012 Mitsubishi I-MiEV

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 I-MiEV.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2012 Mitsubishi I-MiEV is classified as a passenger car, and its model-year reliability record is defined by a modest complaint volume of 13 owner reports, with service brakes cited as the leading concern, alongside six recalls. That low complaint count suggests this model year sits on the quieter side of the I-MiEV's reliability history. Still, the concentration of brake-related reports and the recall activity mean researchers should treat the braking system as the primary area of scrutiny rather than reading the low total as a trouble-free baseline.

Model year20172016201420132012

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque65-80 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 151R · 370 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 151R · 370 CCAOEM · verified
Tire size4WD:P225-75R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · verified

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the I-MiEV of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

13.0–13.4 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 13.00 sec — 2012 SE
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2012SE Elec 16-kWh13.00 sec20.30 sec66 hpRWD
2012SE Elec 16-kWh13.40 sec19.40 sec66 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

Torque lug nuts to 65-80 ft-lbs.

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts65-80 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Standard BCI Group Number151R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance370 cca

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket20 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle74 ft-lbs
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.606 in
Drum Discard at-or-over8.071

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Every 15,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Transmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 miBrake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 45,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2010 and 2011 model years each recorded zero consumer complaints but were subject to one recall apiece, with no investigations and relatively high‑30 and 28 bulletins, respectively. By 2015 the complaint count remained at zero, yet the same single recall was accompanied by two investigations and a rise in TSBs to 36, suggesting an increasing focus on potential issues despite unchanged complaint volume. For the target 2012 year, the federal record shows no recall or investigation figures, but complaint data indicate five service‑brake‑related reports, two combined air‑bag/service‑brake reports, one unknown/other issue, and one power‑train/electrical‑system/engine complaint, along with two crash‑related complaints and no fire complaints. This pattern places 2012 between the low‑complaint, low‑investigation early years and the higher‑investigation 2015 year, with brakes emerging as the predominant concern area. Consequently, a 2012 Mitsubishi I‑MiEV may warrant a thorough pre‑purchase inspection of the brake system before purchase.

6
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
127
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
13
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent
’10’11’15

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 13 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes5
Air Bags,Service Brakes2
Unknown Or Other1
Power Train,Electrical System,Engine1
Power Train,Electrical System1
Electronic Stability Control (Esc),Fuel/Propulsion System1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic,Service Brakes1
Electrical System1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 127 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TIN-25-00-0132025-11-10Air BagsThis Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Puerto…
TIN-25-00-0112025-09-08Air BagsThis Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Texas…
TIN-25-00-0042025-04-11Air BagsThis Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Louisiana…
TIN-25-00-0052025-04-11Air BagsThis Technical Information Notice informs dealers that with permission from the Ohio…
TIN-24-00-0112024-12-09Air BagsThis is a Technical Information Notice informing dealers that MMNA is launching a social…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific I-MiEV. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 151R battery

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

Does the 2012 I-MiEV have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.