The 1993 Mitsubishi Expo has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 48,508 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the seat belts. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
POWER TRAIN98V1680001998-07-229,560 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ALL WHEEL DRIVE PASSENGER VEHICLES. LOCKUP OF THE TRANSFER CASE CAN OCCUR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR ADEQUACY OF THE TRANSFER CASE OIL VOLUME, TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AND OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION OF THE TRANSFER CASE MECHANISM. IF OIL VOLUME IS INSUFFICIENT, THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF OIL WILL BE ADDED. IF THERE IS TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AFFECTED COMPONENTS WILL BE…
EXCESS LUBRICATION CAN CAUSE THE RUBBER DOOR LATCH SWITCH COVER TO DEFORM, AND THE DOOR LATCH SWITCH TO MALFUNCTION, SO THAT THE SHOULDER BELT ANCHORAGE WOULD REMAIN AT THE A-PILLAR WHEN THE DOOR WAS CLOSED.
Consequence
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DOOR LATCH SWITCH.
Complaints by component
SEAT BELTS
2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
1
Total complaints13
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“I 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”
“Passenger's seat belt would intermittently not engage when closing the door, leaving passenger without any restraint. Dealer and manufacturer were not notified at this time. Feel free to provide any further information.*ak”
“In 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…”
“The seat belts doesn't work at all since I bought this vehicle. *ak”
“Both seat belts lock up when tryingto pull around driver and passenger. Also they will not retract when in use. *ak”
“Engine gaskets failed causing engine oil to leak onto hot portions of exhaust manifold and transaxle.”
“Shoulder 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”
“Noticed that vehicle labored under acceleration and front brakes smelled after being parked. Symtpoms gradually worsened until vehicle would no longer move under its own power. After being towed to dealer was advised that hydraulic brake fluid had been contaminated and that rubber components…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA98002 Opened 1998-01-30 · closed 1998-04-30
TRANSFER CASE LOCKUP
InvestigationEA98002 Opened 1998-01-30 · closed 1998-04-30
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1993 Mitsubishi Expo as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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