AI Damage1992 Mitsubishi Expo: common problems
Owners of the 1992 Mitsubishi Expo filed 41 complaints with NHTSA, most often about seat belts and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 41
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Seat belts 54% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 15% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 15% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 5% of all complaints
- 5 Latches, locks, linkages 5% of all complaints
- 6 Seats 5% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel system 2% of all complaints
- 8 Parking brake 2% of all complaints
- Seat belts: 22 complaints (54% of all).
- Powertrain: 6 complaints (15% of all).
- Structure: 6 complaints (15% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (5% of all).
- Latches, locks, linkages: 2 complaints (5% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.8 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 41 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Parking brake | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Vehicle was parked in a driveway on a very slight incline, with emergency brake on, and vehicle rolled backward on to driver. Tt
Transmission goes out in middle of highway had to push car to safety and was almost run over no warning this was gonna do this.
This failure could cause a circuit to burn and lead to engine stalling. The dealer stated that there was nothing that they could do, but were aware of the failure. The contact stated that the failure could lead to severe injuries and/or death.
Consumer received recall 97v063001 concerning seat belt failure. When vehicle was started automatic seat belts did not engage. The seat belt did not slide on the rail properly. This vehicle was repaired under the recall once, but the problem recurred.
This 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.
Front driver side passive restraint seatbelt will not work. The motor is out and the shoulder belt does not retract properly. The car has already been serviced for the "seat belt latch switch recall" which was issued in 1998 (serviced feb. 1999). After recall fix is when this system completely failed.
Driver's seat shoulder belt is stuck in forward position, there is a recall but this vehicle is not affected. Recall campaign 97v063000, dealer refused to replace recall component.
Rotors and replacements are defective...rotors warp within 3 months of repair or replacement.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 5,891 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 16% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Expo has 12 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 41, above average.
What to check before buying
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1992 Mitsubishi Expo?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: seat belts, powertrain, structure. Total complaints: 41. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (27%), door locks, latches, handles (2%), fuel system, fuel smell (2%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1992 Mitsubishi Expo?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1992 Mitsubishi Expo from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1992 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.