— Mitsubishi is recalling 83,500 model year 2014-2018 Mirage cars for computer and sensor problems that can keep the airbags (all seven of them) from deploying in a crash.
Mitsubishi says the acceleration sensor in the safety restraint system (SRS) electronic control unit (ECU) can misread vibrations to the car.
A flat tire, driving on bad roads or other conditions can cause the system to read things as a sensor error, disabling the airbags.
The sensor has a self-diagnostic function that makes mistakes in its diagnosis. Cars vibrate, especially on rough patches of road, and instead of the sensor ignoring a common occurrence, it will activate the airbag warning light and prevent all seven airbags from deploying in a crash.
The driver and occupants won't have protection typically provided by the frontal, knee, side and side curtain airbags, all because of a one little bad sensor.
The Mitsubishi Mirage recall should begin by the end of November 2017. Dealerships will need to reprogram the software for the safety restraint system electronic control unit.
Mirage owners may contact Mitsubishi at 888-648-7820 and use recall number SR-17-006.