2003 Mitsubishi Expo problems
The Mitsubishi Chariot is an automobile manufactured and marketed by Mitsubishi from 1983 to 2003. It is a small multi-purpose vehicle (MPV). Based on the SSW concept car first exhibited at the 23rd Tokyo Motor Show in 1979, the MPV derives its nameplate from chariots used by the ancient Greek and Roman empires.
Internationally, the MPV has been marketed as the Mitsubishi Space Wagon, Mitsubishi Nimbus and Mitsubishi Expo — and as the Dodge and Plymouth Colt Vista Wagon, as captive imports in North America, and as the Eagle Vista Wagon in Canada. It has also been manufactured under license as the Hyundai Santamo and Mitsubishi Savrin in Asia.
First generation (1983)
The first generation Chariot (D0#W-series) was produced from February 1983 until May 1991 with a choice of SOHC straight-four powerplants ranging from the 1.6-liter 4G32 to the 2.0-liter 4G63 petrol engines, or the 1.8 liter 4D65T turbo-diesel (from October 1984), mated to a 5-speed manual or 3-speed automatic transmission. Based on the Tredia, the Chariot partially replaced the Mitsubishi Galant station wagon. In Japan the Chariot was available as either a six- or a seven-seater, in which the rear two rows could be folded down flat; the middle row on the six-seater model could be turned around to create a sitting area in the rear (although not while the vehicle was in motion).
The Chariot's wheelbase was 2,625 mm (103.3 in), while overall length ranged from 4,295–4,485 mm (169.1–176.6 in) depending on market and equipment level, which was within compliance with Japanese regulations concerning exterior dimensions and engine displacement size. In most export markets, the Chariot was sold as the Mitsubishi Space Wagon, but there were also a number of other names used.
A van version with an extended fiberglass roof was sold in Finland as the Mitsubishi Space Van. At the time vans were exempt from tax in Finland and the roof was extended to reach the minimum height of cargo space needed to be registered as a van. The fiberglass extensions were produced by boat manufacturer Esboat. The van's top speed was limited to 80 km/h.
From June 1984, a version with permanent four-wheel drive was also offered for the two-liter engined model, while Japanese customers could also get the 4G62 engine in the MR Turbo version from July 1983 until the 1987 model year (1795 cc, 135 PS or 99 kW at 5800 rpm). This version could reach 175 km/h (109 mph), and was also available with the 3-speed automatic.
In Australia, where it was marketed as the "Nimbus", it won the 1984 Wheels Car of the Year award in its debut year. The Nimbus model codes were "UA" (1984), "UB" (1986), and "UC" (1987).
A single 1.8-litre GLX version, with manual or automatic transmission, was assembled from CKD kits in New Zealand by importer Todd Motors (later Mitsubishi NZ Ltd).
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Common 2003 Mitsubishi Expo problems
The Mitsubishi Expo, produced from 1992 to 2003, is known for several common problems that affect its overall performance and reliability. These issues have been reported by owners and documented in various sources.
- Airbag Recall: The Mitsubishi Expo has been affected by the Takata airbag recall, which affects various models and years of Mitsubishi vehicles. The recall involves the passenger-side airbags, which may deploy with too much force and cause injury. This issue has affected over 89,900 units, and as of January 2018, only 4% of the affected airbags had been fixed.
- Engine Cranks But Won't Start: This problem is common in certain Mitsubishi vehicles, including the Expo. It is often caused by a shorted coil, which can be identified by checking for power at the coils and tracing the black and white wire to the fuse panel. The solution is to replace the faulty coil with a high-quality one, and it is recommended to check all the coils and plugs while the intake plenum is removed .
- Software Errors: The Mitsubishi Expo has been affected by software errors, including issues with the in-vehicle infotainment system (A-IVI) and the transmission control unit (CVT-ECU). These errors can cause problems with the backup camera display and engine stalls, respectively. The software updates are available for free, and owners are advised to contact Mitsubishi customer service for more information.
- Rear Brake Caliper Corrosion: The Mitsubishi Expo has also been affected by an issue related to water penetrating the rear brake calipers. This can cause the parking brake actuator shafts to corrode and bind, interfering with the parking brake's ability to fully engage and disengage. This issue has affected over 141,000 units, and as of April 2018, the completion rate was less than 1%.
- Sunroof Glass Detachment: The Mitsubishi Expo has been affected by an issue where the sunroof glass may detach from the sunroof assembly. This issue has affected over 56,640 units, and as of April 2018, only 4% of repairs had been completed.
In summary, the Mitsubishi Expo has several common problems that affect its overall performance and reliability. These issues include transmission failure, airbag recall, engine cranks but won't start, software errors, rear brake caliper corrosion, and sunroof glass detachment. Owners of the Mitsubishi Expo are advised to be aware of these issues and to take appropriate measures to address them.
2003 Mitsubishi Expo car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Mitsubishi Expo problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Power train problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2003 Mitsubishi Expo vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2003 Mitsubishi Expo complaints
The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2003 Mitsubishi Expo.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2003-04-19
- VIN: JA3CD49G4PZ
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: TL*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:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000. UPDATED 07/08/08. *BF UPDATED *JB
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