The Mitsubishi Group traces its history back to 1870 through 1946, before a forced disbanding after World War II. Constituent companies carried on separate business operations and retained the Mitsubishi name but little else. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries includes the automotive division, aerospace, missiles, tanks, elevators, and other components. Of all its companies combined, Mitsubishi Group accounts for 7.7% of Japan's total revenue.
Mitsubishi's first foray into the automotive world came in 1912 with its Model-A, designed as a luxury car for government officials. The brand’s first vehicle imported into the United States, nearly sixty years later, was a rebadged Dodge Colt in 1971. Only ten years later, the NHTSA set its VIN mandates for the automotive industry.
The Mitsubishi Colt nameplate was introduced in 1962 which began the company's eleven-digit VIN structure of letters and numbers. This format lasted until 1981 when the company accepted the NHTSA mandates.
Mitsubishi VIN Decoder
VIN decoders tell the user each piece of information encoded into every character of the 17-digit alphanumeric VIN code. Sometimes, the characters are combined to give users more detail about model types, engine and transmission configurations, and manufacturing plant locations.
Prospective buyers, owners, insurance personnel, fleet managers, and others input the vehicle's code into a quality tool such as GoodCar VIN Decoder. The application returns basic information an automaker wants its users to know.
Deciphering an Mitsubishi VIN
Each Mitsubishi VIN is divided into three subsections to give users additional clarification on a specific VIN code. These groups include 1) World Manufacturer Identifier, 2) Vehicle Descriptor Section, and 3) Vehicle Identifier Section.
- 1
- F
- T
- 8
- W
- 3
- D
- T
- 8
- 5
- 5
- c
- 3
- 8
- 8
- 9
- 9
Locations of the Mitsubishi VIN
Mitsubishi follows the NHTSA rule for VIN placements as well as additional locations.
- The first mandated location: the VIN is heavily stamped on a plaque affixed to the driver’s side dashboard at the windshield. The VIN must be visible through the glass.
- The second required location is on the driver‘s side door jam or post about mid-way down. The VIN must be permanently stamped on a plaque, which may contain other information, such as tire size and pressure requirements.
- Some early Mitsubishi models may have the VIN stamped on the engine block, frame rails, or firewall. The VIN will also appear on ownership documentation, insurance, and registration papers.
Popular Mitsubishi Models
Mitsubishi Montero
The world is full of SUVs. Some are excellent for their reliability, power, and longevity. Others are pretenders built for the fad market. The Mitsubishi Montero full-size has been one of the best-selling SUVs on the global market for years. Montero has consistently won at the greatest rally of them all, Dakar, along with other grueling events. Unfortunately, due to import laws, this beast is no longer available in the American market. The full-size classic is the Pajero. The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, which starts at $59,990, is comparable to a Land Cruiser.
Mitsubishi Outlander
The Mitsubishi Outlander is the brand's best-selling model, and for good reason. The crossover SUV’s success is due to a well-developed market timing model and a robust base platform. An Outlander plug-in hybrid starts at $40,445 and offers a wide range of technology-driven features. It has digital displays everywhere, a 3-zone climate control system to keep passengers comfortable, and an elite navigation system. Power comes from electric and gas, which provides a hefty 248hp. Stunning interior and exterior options are plentiful, making the Outlander Plug-In Hybrid an excellent value.
The Mitsubishi VIN
The 1971 Dodge/Mitsubishi Colt was a direct response to several American-built subcompacts. The model carried an eleven-character VIN that began with the original Colt of 1964. Once 1981 rolled around, Mitsubishi was in full compliance with the NHTSA VIN mandates.
Mitsubishi VIN Lookup
Performing a detailed lookup of a 17-digit code on a quality tool such as GoodCar will yield a host of valuable information. Each character of the VIN yields a specific piece of information, and some characters are combined to offer greater detail on the make and model. The GoodCar VIN Check tool unravels vast amounts of detailed data that helps prospective owners, fleet managers, and others to make wise decisions.
GoodCar Mitsubishi VIN Checks
Input the VIN code into the GoodCar VIN Check application, and users will be given a complete historical timeline of every event that happened to a specific Mitsubishi model. Title status is vital for prospective buyers who must know if a severe accident has created a salvage or rebranded title for insurance purposes. Over 50 title brands may affect a vehicle's value.
Ownership records and odometer readings are essential for fleet managers and prospective buyers. Odometer fraud is a fast-growing automotive crime that makes it easy for crooks to deceive the unwitting. GoodCar fights this fraud by recording every odometer reading so that users can compare the mileage.
GoodCar provides recalls and technical service bulletins to give interested parties an inside track on knowing whether to purchase or discard the vehicle. Recalls are recorded instantly, and the issue date, the specific problem for the recall, and the action an owner should take are stated.
Technical Service Bulletins
March 2024, TSB-24-37-001. Affected vehicles are the 2022 through 2024 Outlander models. A TSB is issued for noises and vibration felt when turning the steering wheel. When turning the steering wheel after the vehicle stops for more than 15 minutes, a clunk sound may be heard from the driver's side floor, and a vibration may be felt. Dealers should repair programming, auto-configure the EPS Control Unit, and calibrate the Torque Sensor.
Recalls
June 2023, Mitsubishi recall notice SR-23-001. Mitsubishi is recalling certain 2022-2023 Outlander and 2023 Outlander PHEV vehicles, and the number of vehicles affected is 89,907. The issue is the in-vehicle infotainment system (A-IVI); the backup camera’s rearview image may not appear on the display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, “Rear Visibility.” Policy. Owners should take their vehicles to the dealer to update the A-IVI software free of charge.
August 2022, Recall notice SR-22-004. The affected models are the 2019 through 29022 Outlander Sports, with 76,508 vehicles involved. A software error in the transmission control unit (CVT-ECU) may incorrectly reduce the transmission gear ratio at high speeds, which can result in an engine stall, which can increase the risk of a crash. Owners should take their Outlander to the nearest dealer, where they will update the CVT-ECU software free of charge.