1996 Mitsubishi EXPO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 1 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 100.0% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 1 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 1 |
1999: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 830426 · 1999-02-04 (February 4, 1999)
WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 830426 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V542000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly
Reported: 2004-11-10 (November 10, 2004)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE THE RADIATOR UPPER HOSE CLAMPING IS INSUFFICIENT.
Consequence: DUE TO ENGINE BEHAVIOR, FORCES MAY PULL ON THE RADIATOR HOSE AND THE HOSE MAY COME OUT, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO COOLANT LEAKAGE AND SUBSEQUENT OVERHEATING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND INSTALL NEW RADIATOR HOSE AND HAVE THE HOSE CLAMP CHANGED WITH MODIFIED ONES. THE RECALL BEGAN MARCH 9, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI OF CARIBBEAN AT 787-251-8715.
NHTSA campaign record ↗Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
1 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
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.
| Component | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 49.8%ODI 10000665THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE TRANSMISSION HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED SINCE 1992 WHEN THE AUTOMOBILE WAS PURCHASED. IN BOTH CASES WE WERE TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WAS DAMAGED DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION. NEITHER WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND DUE TO THIS BEING A REAR WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE WE WERE NOT INFORMED OF THE RECALL. | 18.3%ODI 763364I GOT THIS CAR FROM A USED LOT, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TAT SAME DAY. I WANT TO MAKE THIS COMPLAINT AGAINT THE DEALER CAR CITY OUTLET.*AK | 746.7%ODI 10021711THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP WHILE REVERSING. THE VEHICLE NO LONGER SHIFTS INTO ANY GEAR. *TT | 436.4%ODI 10038811 · 117,000 miAUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE INOPERABLE. *PH | 1100.0%ODI 830426WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK | 1100.0%ODI 10230789 · 108,000 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI EXPO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A WINDING NOISE FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, HE STILL HEARD THE WINDING NOISE FOLLOWED BY A THUNK. THE REVERSE GEAR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO DRIVE AND PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WITH A NEW TRANSMISSION KIT, WHICH LASTED APPROXIMATELY 2.5 YEARS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE DRIVE AND REVERSE GEARS FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V168000 (POWER TRAIN:A… |
| Seat Belts | 819.5% | 216.7%ODI 702689IN AUGUST 1998, MY WIFE GOT IN HER VEHICLE TO START AND WARM UP HER ENGINE PRIOR TO DEPARTING FOR WORK. WHEN SHE TURN OFF IGNITION HER MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE REMAINED IN THE FORWARD POSITION. APPARENTLY, THE MOTOR FOR RETRACTING THE SHOULDER BELT RAN IN REVERSE., INSTEAD OF PULLING OR PLACING TENSION ON THE CABLE TO RETRACT, THE CABLE WAS COMPRESSED. WITH THE SYSTEM ALREADY IN THE FORWARD POSITION, THE CABLE WAS FORCED OUT OF ITS TRACK. WHEN LOOKED AT BY LOCAL DEALER, THE SHOP MANAGER THOUGHT THIS MAY FALL UNDER A RECALL NO… | 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. |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 717.1% | 18.3%ODI 717323THE SEAT BELTS DOESN'T WORK AT ALL SINCE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE. *AK | 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. |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 49.8%ODI 725196MANUFACTURING SAFETY DEFECT WHICH MITSUBISHI IS FULLY RESPOPNSIBLEDEALER AND CUSTOMER SERVICE STATED THIS IS OUT OF WARRENTY, BUT WOULD FIX IT FOR 50% OF THE COST, TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT. ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER, BUT PROMISED CALL WAS NEVER RETURNED. THIS IS A SEVERE PROBLEM. *AK | 216.7%ODI 808346BOTH SEAT BELTS LOCK UP WHEN TRYINGTO PULL AROUND DRIVER AND PASSENGER. ALSO THEY WILL NOT RETRACT WHEN IN USE. *AK | 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. |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 213.3%ODI 962326DURING FRONT END COLLISION, AIRBAG DEPLOYED CAUSING 2ND DEGREE BURNS TO DRIVER. TT | 218.2%ODI 815093WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WEST DIRECTION ON HIGHWAY WAS HIT BY ANOTHER DRIVER, WHO WAS DRIVING NORTH, ON THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY NEITHER ON THE DRIVER'S OR PASSANGER'S SIDES. A POLICE REPORT WAS DONE AND COMSUMER DID NOT CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. *AK TWO PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN ACCIDENT. *SLC | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Structure:Body:Door | 49.8%ODI 801700PASSENGER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR CENTER RAIL BROKE, CAUSING DOOR TO FALL OFF TRACK.* AK | 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. |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 24.9%ODI 8007620DRIVER'S SEAT SHOULDER BELT IS STUCK IN FORWARD POSITION, THERE IS A RECALL BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED.*AK RECALL CAMPAIGN 97V063000, DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE RECALL COMPONENT. *TT | 18.3%ODI 10067406 · 99,000 miTHERE WAS A RECALL (97V063001) CONCERNING THE DOOR LATCH WHICH COULD MALFUNCTION WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE SHOULDER BELT ANCHORAGE TO REMAIN AT THE A-PILLAR WHEN THE DOOR WAS CLOSED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS DID NOT ENGAGE. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT SLIDE ON THE RAIL PROPERLY. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME VEHICLE ONLY ONE YEAR EARLIER, BUT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK (RIGHT REAR DOOR) *SC *JB | 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. |
| Seat Belts:Front:Webbing | 24.9% | 18.3%ODI 811740SHOULDER BELT ATTACHED TO DOOR & COMES OUT WHEN DOOR IS OPENED & STAYS; WILL NOT BEE IN A RETRACTING POSITION; CAN UNLOCK LAP BELT & FASTEN IT. *AK | 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. |
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 | 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.
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
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | 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.
1996: 1 complaints · 2003: 1 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | 1 | 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 | Power Train:Automatic Transmission |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | — |
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.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.