RoadVitals

1989 Mitsubishi Precis

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
5
Latest Feb 4, 1999
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Latest Mar 22, 1995
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Mitsubishi Precis, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and interior & seats categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 4 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical120.0%
  • Engine120.0%
  • Interior & seats120.0%
  • Suspension120.0%
  • Visibility120.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

3 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

Mar 22, 1995
1,906 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLES INVOLVED ARE THOSE THAT HAD THE HEATER VALVE STEMS REPLACED IN AN EARLIER MITSUBISHI RECALL (94V-103.001). CERTAIN VEHICLES HAD AN INCORRECT VALVE STEM INSTALLED WHICH COULD CAUSE THE INCORRECT STEM TO LEAK AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME.
The risk: THIS CAN RESULT IN A BURN INJURY TO THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER'S FEET AND LEGS.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE INCORRECT VALVE STEMS.
MITSUBISHI AMERICAView on NHTSA.gov

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

Oct 4, 1994
23,935 units potentially affected
The defect: THE HEATER CONTROL VALVE STEM DOES NOT MEET THE MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS. HIGH COOLANT TEMPERATURES CAN CAUSE THE STEM TO LEAK.
The risk: THIS CAN RESULT IN A BURN INJURY TO THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER'S FEET AND LEGS.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE DEFECTIVE VALVE STEMS.
MITSUBISHI AMERICAView on NHTSA.gov

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

Dec 31, 1991
895,000 units potentially affected
The defect: DETERIORATION OF THE REED VALVE SUBASSEMBLY MAY LEAD TO A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SECONDARY AIR SUPPLY PORTION OF THE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM. THE SCREWS WHICH ATTACH THE REEDS TO THE REED VALVE SUBASSEMBLY MAY RUST, AND IF THE RUSTING BECOMES SEVERE, THE SCREW HEADS WILL ERODE AND ALLOW THE REEDS TO SEPARATE FROM THE REED VALVE SUBASSEMBLY. CORROSION MAY ALSO OCCUR ON THE REED VALVE SUBASSEMBLY, DEFORMING THE REED SEATS AND PREVENTING THE REEDS FROM CLOSING PROPERLY. SEPARATION OF THE REEDS FROM THE REED VALVE SUBASSEMBLY OR IMPROPER CLOSING OF THE REEDS ALLOW HOT EXHAUST GASES TO FLOW BACKWARD INTO THE PLASTIC SECONDARY AIR FILTER CASE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. THESE HOT EXHAUST GASES MAY MELT THE SECONDARY PLASTIC AIR FILTER CASE.
The risk: THE MELTING PLASTIC AIR FILTER CASE MAY LEAD TO A FIREIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
The remedy: REPLACE THE REED VALVE SUBASSEMBLY WITH ONE WHOSE METAL COMPONENTS ARE FABRICATED FROM CORROSION RESISTANT STAINLESS STEEL.
HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICAView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Interior & seats
Filed Feb 4, 1999
Crash reported1 injury reported

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5MPH OR LESS WHEN REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 45MPH OR MORE, UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SEATBACK REST BROKE AND DRIVER WAS EJECTED FROM SEAT INTO REAR OF CAR. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
834483
Incident
Feb 3, 1999
Visibility
Filed Mar 13, 1996

TRIED TO GET RECALL REMEDIED AND THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT DID NOT EXIST AND THEY WILL NOT SET UP AN APPOINTMENT FOR HIM EVEN THOUGH HE HAS A LETTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
980638
Incident
Mar 13, 1996
Suspension
Filed Nov 29, 1995

PURCHASE CAR NEW THE FRONT END WAS REALIGNED TEN TIMES,ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED TWO TIMES. TT

NHTSA ID
975749
Engine
Filed Aug 25, 1995
Fire reported

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE IT WAS REED SWITCH . TT

NHTSA ID
971047
Incident
Aug 8, 1995
Electrical
Filed Feb 12, 1995

ALTERNATOR FAILED, ALSO VEHICLE CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL OR NOT START.

NHTSA ID
481172
Incident
Jan 1, 1995

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TT253

EQUIPMENT

This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.

TSB-19-00-008

EQUIPMENT

This is a Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers. This bulletin supersedes TSB-18-00-003, issued April, 2018, to add updated information for Carrying Capacity Reduced Label.

TT237

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.

TSB-13-42A-002

STRUCTURE

This Technical Service Bulletin updates the door adjustment procedure in the Body Section of the applicable service manuals.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mitsubishi Precis by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1994010
1993210
1992110
1991210
1990220
1989Viewing530
1988331
1987120

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.