Mitsubishi is to recall about 14,700 of its electric vehicles, due to problems with the braking system.
According to Reuters, the recall affects models of i-MiEV car and its Citroen C-Zero, Peugeot iON and Minicab i-MiEV variants.
It’s about half of all the models yet produced, since they were launched in 2009.
Cars in both the brand’s native Japan and Europe will be requested to return for a fix, which will correct a potential problem with the electric pump that affects braking performance. The owners of around 3,400 i-MiEV city cars and 2,400 Minicab i-MiEVs in Japan will be invited to take their model to a local dealer for inspection and free repair.
In Europe, around 8,900 i-MiEVs will also be recalled, some of which will have been sold as Peugeot iON and Citroen C-Zero models, although Mitsubishi declines to say how many.
While recalls are common, when new alternative fuel cars are involved, it is much more likely to catch media attention.
But owners of electric Mitsubishis shouldn’t worry, no deaths or injuries have been reported as a result of the problem and there is no risk of fire, an unnamed Mitsubishi spokesman has said.
Pump problem
An improperly shaped or damaged electric pump, which is designed to send air to the brake booster, may not work properly and causing the car to take longer to come to halt.
The brake booster is intended to multiple the force from the driver’s foot and make braking easier.
Owners of affected models will be invited to their local dealer for a repair, which will take around half an hour.
Sadly, this recall is one of the largest we’ve yet seen for electric vehicles, eclipsing a recall made by GM for around 8,000 Volt plug-in cars just last year.
Mitsubishi Motor has been in hot water over its handling of recalls, just last month, an inspection by Japan’s Transport Ministry concluded that the carmaker inappropriately reported recalls involving its small cars.
Reuters even suggests that an insider’s tip made in 2000, revealed that the firm had been hiding customer complaints illegally for over two decades.