2017-2018 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 SRS Warning Lamp Illumination Safety Recall Campaign

April 26, 2019 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V330000

Air Bags May Not Deploy In A Crash

Air bags that do not deploy increase the risk of injury in a crash.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V330

Manufacturer Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

Components AIR BAGS

Potential Number of Units Affected 26,016

 

Summary

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Mirage G4 vehicles. The internal acceleration sensor in the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) can misinterpret vibrations, such as from poor road conditions or a flat tire, as a malfunction and disable all the vehicle’s air bags.

 

Remedy

MMNA notified owners, and dealers will reprogram the SRS-ECU software, free of charge. The recall began May 24, 2019. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA’s number for this recall is SR-19-001.

 

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

 

Check if your Mitsubishi has a Recall

 

---

SAFETY RECALL BULLETIN

 

SUBJECT: MIRAGE G4 SRS WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATION – SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN	No: SR-19-001
	DATE: May, 2019
	MODEL: 2017-2018 Mirage G4

 

PURPOSE

This Safety Recall Bulletin provides instructions for reprogramming the SRS-ECU with a countermeasure software. The countermeasure software addresses DTCs B1557 and B1616 as a result of the SRS-ECU’s misinterpretation of vibration caused by severe road conditions and/or driving on a flat tire.

 

BACKGROUND

The self-diagnostic function used by the internal acceleration sensor in the SRS-ECU may misinterpret vibration caused by severe road conditions and/or driving on a flat tire to be a malfunction in the SRS-ECU. If this occurs, the SRS warning lamp will illuminate and none of the seven airbags available in the vehicle will deploy in the event of a crash.

 

AFFECTED VEHICLES

2017-2018 Mirage G4 vehicles, produced on or before November 28, 2017

 

IMPORTANT

Affected new or used inventory vehicles must be repaired before the vehicle is sold/delivered. Dealers must check their inventory vehicles’ VINs on the Warranty Superscreen to verify whether the vehicle is involved in this recall campaign.  It is a violation of Federal law for a dealer to sell/ deliver a new motor vehicle or any new or used item of motor vehicle equipment (including a tire) covered by the notification under a sale or lease until the defect or noncompliance is remedied.

 

REQUIRED OPERATIONS

1. Confirm your MUT-III is updated with the latest reprogramming database.
2. Reprogram the SRS-ECU with the new software. Refer to the SRS-ECU Reprogramming Chart for new software information.

IMPORTANT: If an affected vehicle has a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illuminated before reprogramming, and DTCs other than B1557 and B1616 are listed in the SRS memory, diagnose and repair those DTCs per the service manual before reprogramming. DO NOT reprogram the SRS-ECU until the reason(s) for DTCs other than B1557 and B1616 being set is corrected.

 

EQUIPMENT

The following equipment is needed to reprogram the SRS-ECU.

•  VCI (Vehicle Communication Interface) or VCI Lite – MB991824 or MB992744V.
•  MEDIC Laptop/Tablet  with A/C power adapter – MIT540031, or FZG1MK2.
•  MUT-III main harness ‘A’ (blue connector at the DLC end) – MB992745V.
•  USB 2.0 cable – MB991827V or RRAR1MBR108GL.
•  MEDIC 3.5/4 update at 594 or higher.
•  For Standalone MUT-III SE units, MUT3-SE Reprogramming Database N190301 or higher.

 

SRS-ECU REPROGRAMMING CHART

M.F.F	ECU Part Number	Software Part Number
		NEW	OLD
8635A657	8635A426	8635A42603	8635A42600

 

REPAIR PROCEDURE

1. Verify that the SRS-ECU has not already been updated to the latest S/W number in the table above. If the SRS-ECU is at the latest level, reprogramming is not necessary.

For MEDIC 3.5/4 users only: (MUT-III STV users go to step 5)

2. Verify the MEDIC 3.5/4 is at version 3.5 and at update 594 or higher.

If your MEDIC 3.5/4 update is at least 594, continue with the Reprogramming Procedure on page 4.

If your MEDIC 3.5/4 update is below 594, update your MEDIC as follows.

3. Select the MEDIC 3.5/4 Admin tab and click on “MEDIC UPDATES.”

4. If the MEDIC update screen advises updates are available, click the “Begin” button. After all updates are complete, GO TO THE REPROGRAMMING PROCEDURE.
5. STANDALONE MUT-III SCAN TOOL VIEWER (STV) ONLY: (MEDIC 3.5 USERS – GO TO THE REPROGRAMMING PROCEDURE). Verify that your MUT3-SE has the most current version of the reprogramming database: From the MUT3-SE Main Page:
   1. Click “STV.”
   2. Click the “ECU Reprogramming” button.
   3. Click “SDB Data List.”
   4. Confirm that the database number displayed in the upper right above the chart is N190301 or higher
      • If the database number displayed on your MUT3-SE is N190301 or greater, continue to the Reprogramming Procedure.
      • If the reprogramming database number displayed on your MUT3-SE is lower than N190301, then the MUT3-SE database needs to be updated.

 

REPROGRAMMING PROCEDURE

NOTE:

VCI Stand-alone reprogramming is not available for this procedure. The laptop/tablet and the VCI must remain connected for the entire procedure.

 

CAUTION

To ensure that the vehicle battery maintains 12V during the procedure, hookup a battery charger to the vehicle during the procedure.

1. Connect the equipment as follows:

NOTE: VCI Lite and MEDIC 4.0 Toughpad shown for illustration purposes only.

• Turn the MEDIC PC/tablet on. If the battery indicator in the lower right hand corner of the screen does not show a full charge, it is recommended that either the battery be charged prior to beginning, or be used with the A/C power adaptor connected.
• Connect the USB cable to the VCI/VCI Lite.
• When the laptop/tablet displays the MEDIC main screen, connect the USB cable to the device.
• Connect the MUT-III main harness with the blue DLC connection to the VCI/VCI Lite.
• Connect the blue connection of the MUT-III main harness to the vehicle’s data link connector.
• Turn the VCI power switch ON.  Verify that the indicator lamp in the upper right corner of the screen is green.

CAUTION

DO NOT DISTURB THE HARNESS CABLES OR CONNECTIONS DURING THE CODING PROCESS AS IT COULD CAUSE THE CONTROL UNIT TO LOSE DATA. IF THE USB CABLE IS DISCONNECTED DURING THIS PROCEDURE, A WARNING MESSAGE WILL DISPLAY.

2. Turn the ignition switch to the “ON” position.
3. Using MEDIC, from the main page, click the “MUT3-SE” icon at the top center of the screen to open MUT-III SE.

Click the “STV” button.

4. The System Select screen opens and populates with some basic information from the vehicle.

Look at the label on the passenger side B pillar to identify the appropriate class.

Then select the correct class from the drop-down list.

5. The System List should now populate with vehicle information.

If required, select the correct Loading Option Setup from the drop-down lists.

•  TPMS: (e.g., with F.A.S.T. / w/o F.A.S.T.)
•  F.A.S.T./OSS/IMMO/Keyless: (e.g., with F.A.S.T. / w/o F.A.S.T.)

6. Verify that the SRS-ECU has not already been updated to the latest S/W number in the table above.

If the SRS-ECU is at the latest level, reprogramming is not necessary.

1. 1. Select “SRS-AIR BAG” from the System List, then click on the check mark at the bottom of the screen.
   2. Select “Special Function.”
   3. Select “ECU Information.”
   4. If the Software Part Number listed is NOT at the latest level (shown in the SRS-ECU Reprogramming chart), proceed with the next step.

If the Software Part Number is at the latest level, then reprogramming is not necessary.

7. Before reprogramming, perform an “Erase and Read All DTCs” to clear any DTCs that may have set.
   1. Click the home button to go back to the System Select screen.

Click the “ALL DTC” button.

1. 2. Select “Erase and Read All DTCs.”
   3. A window will pop up asking you to confirm DTC erasing. Click the check mark in the dialog box for DTC erasing and reading to begin.
   4. The “System List” on the left side of the screen will have all selections checked. Do not change these selections.
   5. Click the check mark to continue.

8. When DTC erasing is completed, click the check mark in the pop-up message that reads “All erasing and checks are completed.”
   1. If DTCs other than B1557 and B1616 return after erasing is completed, click the check mark to clear the window. Diagnose and repair per the Service Manual.
   2. If DTCs do not return, or only B1557 and B1616 remain, click the check mark to clear the window, then click the Home icon in the lower left to return to the System Select menu.
9. Reprogram the SRS-ECU following the steps below.
   1. Click on the Reprogram button.
   2. Select “ECU Reprogramming (SDB).”
   3. Verify the “SRS-AIR BAG” is selected in the System List, then click the check mark.
   4. Select the correct M.F.F data file listed in the SRS ECU Reprogramming Chart.
   5. Click the check mark at the bottom of the page to initiate reprogramming.
   6. Click the check mark in the “Check reprogramming data” dialog box.
   7. Once the reprogramming is initiated, the screen shown will indicate the reprogramming progress.

NOTE: Do NOT disturb the cables or turn off the ignition during reprogramming.

1. 8. Click the check mark in the “Completed” dialog box.
   9. Verify the correct information is listed in the table. Click the check mark at the bottom of the page, then click the Home button to return to the System Select screen.

10. Perform an “Erase and Read All DTCs” again to clear any DTCs that may have set. For instructions, refer to steps 7 and 8 in this TSB.
11. Verify that the software Data No. is now at the latest number listed in the SRS ECU Reprogramming chart in this TSB.

For instructions, refer to step 6 in this TSB.

12. Turn off the ignition switch and disconnect the MUT-III. Turn off and disconnect the battery charger.
13. Test drive the vehicle to confirm proper operation.

 

---

RENTAL CARS:

If there is a need to provide the owner with a rental car, claim the applicable charges in this section of the claim on the lower portion of the labor entry screen.

NOTE: Rental cars applicable in the US and Puerto Rico only.

 

---

Chronology

On November 13, 2014, MMC received a field report from the US stating that the SRS warning lamp was illuminated on a Mirage hatchback. MMC began an investigation.

Between December 2014 and April 2016, MMC received 19 additional reported incidents worldwide for this same issue, SRS warning lamp illumination on a Mirage hatchback.  From these 19 additional incidents, MMC was able to obtain and examine 8 returned SRS-ECUs, but was not able to identify the root cause of the issue.

From May 2016 to December 2016, MMC continued its investigation of this issue. MMC examined potential contributing factors including road vibration, SRS-ECU hardware design, electrical noise, and software.  MMC also conducted testing trying to duplicate SRS warning lamp illumination.  Unable to identify any specific causative factor, however, MMC began a field investigation program to respond to any potential future field complaints.

From January 2017 to March 2017, MMC conducted two field investigations in the US for this condition. In one case, MMC determined that the subject vehicle experienced SRS warning lamp illumination following a flat tire.  MMC then conducted vibration testing involving flat tire conditions and confirmed that driving on a flat tire could potentially cause SRS warning lamp illumination.

Based on the above findings, MMC began the development process for a software fix to eliminate potential SRS warning lamp illumination due to vibration caused by driving on a flat tire.

Between March 2017 and June 2017, having received 39 total reports of this condition worldwide involving the Mirage hatchback, MMC continued its investigation. This investigation revealed that some of the prior affected vehicles did not have a tire problem prior to the SRS warning lamp illumination. Accordingly, MMC continued to investigate other potential causes for this condition.

From July 2017 to October 2017, as part of its investigation processes and consistent with its further testing, MMC was able to determine that driving on specific roads in combination with vehicle speed could result in a vibration condition which, in some limited circumstances, could cause the SRS warning lamp to illuminate.  MMC was also able to confirm that the software change developed to resolve potential SRS warning lamp illumination due to a flat tire would effectively address this specific road/vehicle speed concern as well.

On October 23, 2017, MMC determined that a field action was necessary in the US to address this condition, and advised Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. to conduct a safety recall for the Mirage hatchback.

On February 13, 2018, MMC received its first ever similar field report for a Mirage G4 sedan stating that the SRS warning lamp was illuminated. MMC began its investigation and determined that the cause of the SRS warning lamp to illuminate was the same as the Mirage hatchback. MMC continued its investigation to estimate the future claim rate on Mirage G4 sedan.

From March 2018 to March 2019, the investigation revealed that a vibration condition, which could cause the SRS warning lamp to illuminate, on a Mirage G4 sedan, was not likely to occur compared to a Mirage hatchback due to the different vehicle specifications such as vehicle weight. In fact, MMC had received only 4 reports of this condition worldwide as of end of March 2019 on Mirage G4 sedan even though MMC had received 39 total reports for the Mirage hatchback.

On April 19, 2019, despite the significantly lower claim rate for Mirage G4 sedan compared to the Mirage hatchback, to assure continued future performance of the supplemental restraint system, MMC decided to conduct a recall and informed MMNA to proceed with a recall on Mirage G4 sedan. MMC has not received any claims of injury relating to this condition for the Mirage G4 sedan.

 

---

IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL

This notice applies to your vehicle,                               .

Date: May 2019

Dear FIRSTNAME LASTNAME,

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

 

Reason for notice:

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2017-2018 Mirage G4 vehicles. The self-diagnostic function used by the internal acceleration sensor in the SRS-ECU may misinterpret vibration caused by poor road conditions and/or driving on a flat tire to be a malfunction in the SRS- ECU. If this occurs, the SRS warning lamp will illuminate and none of the seven airbags available in the vehicle will deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury or death in a crash.

 

What you should do:

Please contact your local Mitsubishi Motors dealer and schedule an appointment to have the SRS-ECU reprogrammed with countermeasure software, free of charge. When you bring your vehicle in, please show the dealer this letter. If you misplace this letter, the dealer will still perform this repair for your vehicle, free of charge.

 

What your dealer will do:

The dealership will reprogram the SRS-ECU software with countermeasure software.

 

How long will it take?

The time needed for this repair is approximately 0.5 hrs. The dealer may need your vehicle for a longer period of time, but every effort will be made to minimize your inconvenience.

 

If you experience any problem having your vehicle repaired promptly and/or at no charge, please inform us by calling the Mitsubishi Customer Relations Department at 888-648-7820. Hours: Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Pacific Time)

If, after contacting Mitsubishi Customer Relations, you still have a problem getting this repair made promptly and/or without charge, you may submit a complaint to the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, D.C. 20590, or call the toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153), or go to https://www.safercar.gov.

If you have already encountered a problem with the SRS-ECU as a result of this specific condition and have paid for the repair, you may send your original repair order or invoice and original receipt/proof of payment to the following address for reimbursement consideration:

Mitsubishi Customer Relations Department, P.O. Box 6400, Cypress, CA 90630-0064

If you are the lessor of this vehicle, please forward a copy of this notice to the lessee within ten days to comply with federal regulations.

 

We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter. Sincerely,

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

 

---

2 Affected Products

Vehicle

MAKE	MODEL	YEAR
MITSUBISHI	MIRAGE G4	2017-2018

 

 

---

9 Associated Documents

Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc) – RE: Mirage G4 SRS Warning Lamp Illumination Safety Recall Campaign

RCMN-19V330-4025.pdf 54.521KB

 

---

ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-19V330-3230.pdf 226.969KB

 

---

Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-19V330-9298.pdf 682.623KB

 

---

Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-19V330-2959.pdf 244.573KB

 

---

Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-19V330-6702.PDF 212.816KB

 

---

Chronology

RMISC-19V330-6908.pdf 44.329KB

 

---

Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2019-2

RCLQRT-19V330-2590.PDF 211.157KB

 

---

Recall Quarterly Report #3, 2019-4

RCLQRT-19V330-3740.PDF 211.357KB

 

---

Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2019-3

RCLQRT-19V330-2906.PDF 211.26KB

 

---

Latest Recalls Documents

For the Latest and Most Recent Recalls Information Visit the link below…

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=19V330&docType=RCL

 

---

 

Reprogramming

J2534 Reprogramming - Mitsubishi

 

Introduction

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. offers J2534-1 Powertrain Control Module (PCM) re-flash capability in accordance with CARB & EPA regulations. Mitsubishi Motors vehicles use re-flashable PCMs starting with the 1998 model year. Before attempting a re-flash of a Mitsubishi PCM, you must obtain a validated J2534-1 pass-thru device. In addition, you must only re-flash a Mitsubishi PCM when a specific Mitsubishi Motors Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) calls for it. All TSBs are available in the Service Information portion of this website. In some cases, re-flash procedures are accompanied by replacement of parts or other related procedures. Failure to follow these guidelines may result in an unsatisfactory repair.

 

What is J2534-1?

J2534-1 is a Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standard that enables the use of a J2534-1 pass-thru device (available through Special Tool Manufacturers) and a personal computer to re-program a PCM with updated instructions, as well as perform other procedures on some PCMs. Mitsubishi Motors vehicles use re-flashable PCMs starting with the 1998 model year. Before attempting a re-flash of a Mitsubishi PCM, you must obtain a validated J2534-1 pass-thru device. In addition, you must only re-flash a Mitsubishi PCM when a specific Mitsubishi Motors Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) calls for it. All TSBs are available in the Service Information portion of this website. In some cases, re-flash procedures are accompanied by replacement of parts or other related procedures. Failure to follow these guidelines may result in an unsatisfactory repair.

There are two distinct families of PCMs, based on the communication protocol used for re-flashing. Each family of PCMs requires a specific software solution available on this website as follows:

• Legacy PCMs Refer to (Reprogramming System Identification Chart) for details (ISO9141) protocol for re-flash communication. A software application, Update Manager, is required to re-flash this type of PCM. Update Manager consists of 2 parts, Update Manager A & Update Manager B. Use Update Manager A to determine the current PCM instruction level (current flash level), known as ROM-ID. Then use Update Manager B to re-flash the PCM with re-flash files and other support files downloaded from this website. If installed for the first time, some K-Line PCM's require additional initialization procedures - for example, Immobilizer Key Code Transfer. To perform these initialization procedures, a MUT-III Special tool must be used. Please refer to the "Special Tool" section of this webpage for details.

• The latest technology PCMs Refer to (Reprogramming System Identification Chart) use CAN protocol for re-flash communication. In addition, some CAN-based PCMs require additional initialization procedures if installed in a vehicle for the first time, such as VIN writing, Variant Coding (programming specific vehicle attributes) and Immobilizer Key Code Transfer. All procedures are done using the MUT3-SE CAN Passthru application available for download from this website. Use MUT3-SE CAN Passthru to obtain the PCM Part number, VIN stored in the PCM (necessary before any other procedures). Then download additional software components and support files through MCDS Server to enable the MUT3-SE CAN Pass-Thru application to perform other procedures as needed.

 

---

 

---