U.S. public vehicle records

Mitsubishi PRECIS problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

16 owner complaints analyzed

6 distinct recall campaigns

85,780 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1987 to 1994 model years. Data updated: 2026-10-01 (October 1, 2026). 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train:Manual Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 16 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Transmission and shifting	4	25.0%
Braking behavior	1	6.3%
Electrical and battery issues	1	6.3%
Steering behavior	1	6.3%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Power Train:Manual Transmission

Power Train:Clutch Assembly

Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core

Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery

Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline

Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Power Train:Manual Transmission	4
Power Train:Clutch Assembly	2
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core	2
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery	1
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator	1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System	1
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	1

Power Train:Manual Transmission: 4; Power Train:Clutch Assembly: 2; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core: 2; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 1; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 15 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995

1996

1999

2003

1995: 9; 1996: 2; 1999: 4; 2003: 1

Pattern summary

Power Train:Manual Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 480586 · 1995-01-18 (January 18, 1995)

TRANSMISSION GEAR BOX NOISY/HARD SHIFTING.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480586 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 481204 · 1995-02-11 (February 11, 1995)

TRANSMISSION BEARING FAILED, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO GRIND. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481204 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 700998 · 1999-01-19 (January 19, 1999)

IT WAS A RAINY DAY. I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SLOWED. I DID ALSO. MY BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND ALTHOUGH I WAS PRESSING ON THEM. THE CAR STARTED SKIDDING AND WOULDN'T STOP. I CRASHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE DAMAGE TO THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS SLIGHT. LUCKILY WE BOTH HAD INSURANCE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ONCE BEFORE, ALSO WHEN IT WAS RAINING. I HIT A CURB THAT TIME. AT NO TIME DURING THESE TWO INCIDENTS WAS I DRIVING AT AN EXCESSIVE SPEED. THE CAR JUST REFUSED TO STOP.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 700998 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 481172 · 1995-02-12 (February 12, 1995)

BATTERY FAILED 5 TIMES, PREVENTING VEHICLE FROM STARTING. *SKD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481172 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 852891 · 1999-11-15 (November 15, 1999)

TRANSMISSION SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE AND BECOME NOISY, WHICH MAY HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. DEALER HAD REPLACED ENGINE. BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK VEHICLE MAKES A TICKING NOISE WHILE BEING DRIVEN, VEHICLE IS SLUGGISH. STEERING WHEEL SHIMMIES, 3 OUT OF 4 TIRES HAVE GONE FLAT. VEHICLE AT TIMES WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR WOULD LURCH FORWARD. *SLC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 852891 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1987: 2; 1988: 3; 1989: 3; 1990: 2; 1991: 1; 1992: 1; 1993: 1; 1994: 1

First model yearSecond model year

Year-by-year records

Mitsubishi PRECIS model-year comparison
Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Change in recalls
1987	1	2	Not available
1988	3	3	+1
1989	5	3	0
1990	2	2	-1
1991	2	1	-1
1992	1	1	0
1993	2	1	0
1994	0	1	0

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

16 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

6.3%Usable mileage1 / 16 records

87.5%Valid incident date14 / 16 records

100.0%Valid filing date16 / 16 records

87.5%Ordered incident and filing dates14 / 16 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994
Power Train:Manual Transmission	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	2100.0% ODI 480586 TRANSMISSION GEAR BOX NOISY/HARD SHIFTING. Look up ODI 480586 at NHTSA ↗	150.0% ODI 482022 BURNT CLUTCH. *SKD Look up ODI 482022 at NHTSA ↗	1100.0% ODI 713377 VEHICLE IS MAKING A FLAPPING NOISE UNDERNEATH. IT WAS TAKEN TO TWO TRANSMISSION SPECIALISTS AND ONE GARAGE AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OR REBUILT. THERE IS MOST LIKELY PARTS WEARING INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION SO I AM HAVING IT WORKED ON BY ATECH TRANSMISSION SPECIALISTS, EAST AURORA, NEW YORK ON 10/21/99. I CONSIDER MY VEHICLE TO BE OF LOW MILEAGE FOR THE VEHICLE NEEDING THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. Look up ODI 713377 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Power Train:Clutch Assembly	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 480586 TRANSMISSION GEAR BOX NOISY/HARD SHIFTING. Look up ODI 480586 at NHTSA ↗	150.0% ODI 482022 BURNT CLUTCH. *SKD Look up ODI 482022 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 486804 HEATER CORE RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO UNAVAILABILITY OF PARTS. (94V-103001) *AW Look up ODI 486804 at NHTSA ↗	120.0% ODI 980638 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 Look up ODI 980638 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	120.0% ODI 481172 BATTERY FAILED 5 TIMES, PREVENTING VEHICLE FROM STARTING. *SKD Look up ODI 481172 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	120.0% ODI 481172 BATTERY FAILED 5 TIMES, PREVENTING VEHICLE FROM STARTING. *SKD Look up ODI 481172 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 852891 TRANSMISSION SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE AND BECOME NOISY, WHICH MAY HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. DEALER HAD REPLACED ENGINE. BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. AK VEHICLE MAKES A TICKING NOISE WHILE BEING DRIVEN, VEHICLE IS SLUGGISH. STEERING WHEEL SHIMMIES, 3 OUT OF 4 TIRES HAVE GONE FLAT. VEHICLE AT TIMES WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR WOULD LURCH FORWARD. SLC Look up ODI 852891 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	120.0% ODI 971047 CONSUMER WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE IT WAS REED SWITCH . TT Look up ODI 971047 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 504129 WHEEL RIMS CAUSE TIRES TO GO FLAT. *DSH Look up ODI 504129 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
No usable records for this analysis.

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

1993: 2 complaints · 1994: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
1993	0	1	2
1994	0	0	0

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
1993	2	0	0
1994	0	0	0

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Power Train:Manual Transmission	Power Train:Clutch Assembly	Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core	Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery	Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator	Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System	Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Power Train:Manual Transmission	—	2 ODI 480586 TRANSMISSION GEAR BOX NOISY/HARD SHIFTING. Look up ODI 480586 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 482022 BURNT CLUTCH. *SKD Look up ODI 482022 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0	0	0	0
Power Train:Clutch Assembly	2 ODI 480586 TRANSMISSION GEAR BOX NOISY/HARD SHIFTING. Look up ODI 480586 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 482022 BURNT CLUTCH. *SKD Look up ODI 482022 at NHTSA ↗	—	0	0	0	0	0	0
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core	0	0	—	0	0	0	0	0
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery	0	0	0	—	1 ODI 481172 BATTERY FAILED 5 TIMES, PREVENTING VEHICLE FROM STARTING. *SKD Look up ODI 481172 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator	0	0	0	1 ODI 481172 BATTERY FAILED 5 TIMES, PREVENTING VEHICLE FROM STARTING. *SKD Look up ODI 481172 at NHTSA ↗	—	0	0	0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	0	0	0	0	0	—	0	0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	0
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

1 patterns with matching reports.

Hard or delayed shifting

2 mentions · 12.5% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 480586

TRANSMISSION GEAR BOX NOISY/HARD SHIFTING.

Look up ODI 480586 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 852891

Look up ODI 852891 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule