The Mitsubishi Cordia spans 1983–1988 with 4 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 4.5/5 ForCar reliability score. The years to approach with caution are 1988, 1987, 1986 (most owner complaints); the cleanest are 1983, 1984, 1985. It delivers competitive fuel economy and NHTSA-rated safety.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Mitsubishi Cordia is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 1983 to 1988 across multiple generations.
How to read a Mitsubishi Cordia VIN — every digit explained
Every Mitsubishi Cordia carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Mitsubishi and the country it was built in.
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this Cordia.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
Model-year code (10th digit)
The 10th character is the model year. It cycles through letters and numbers, skipping I, O, Q, U, Z and 0 to avoid confusion:
Where to find your Cordia VIN
- Dashboard — driver's side, visible through the windshield from outside.
- Driver's door jamb — on the manufacturer sticker when you open the door.
- Paperwork — vehicle registration, title and insurance card.
- Engine bay & frame — stamped on the firewall or chassis on many models.
How many recalls does the Mitsubishi Cordia have?
The Mitsubishi Cordia has 4 recorded NHTSA recalls across 1983–1988. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
1988 Mitsubishi Cordia recalls 1
Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
What's wrong. The front safety belt buckle release buttons can break. These red plastic release buttons are marked "press." if a button breaks, pieces can fall into the buckle assembly causing the buckle to operate improperly.
Risk. The safety belts would not provide adequate protection to an occupant in a vehicle crash.
Fix. Owners should promptly check the condition and operation of both front safety belt buckles and carefully inspect the red release button for any breaks or cracks. They should ensure that both buckles are operating properly by inserting each latch plate into its buckle, tugging on the belt to make sure the latch is securely locked, and then pressing the release button. The latch plate should pop out of the buckle when the button is pressed. If either release button shows a sign of breaking or cracking or if either buckle fails to operate properly, owners should promptly contact their authorized dealer to schedule an appointment to have the buckle replaced or repaired, free of charge. The manufacturer is developing a remedy designed to prevent failure of the buttons that are not currently broken.
1987 Mitsubishi Cordia recalls 1
Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
What's wrong. The front safety belt buckle release buttons can break. These red plastic release buttons are marked "press." if a button breaks, pieces can fall into the buckle assembly causing the buckle to operate improperly.
Risk. The safety belts would not provide adequate protection to an occupant in a vehicle crash.
Fix. Owners should promptly check the condition and operation of both front safety belt buckles and carefully inspect the red release button for any breaks or cracks. They should ensure that both buckles are operating properly by inserting each latch plate into its buckle, tugging on the belt to make sure the latch is securely locked, and then pressing the release button. The latch plate should pop out of the buckle when the button is pressed. If either release button shows a sign of breaking or cracking or if either buckle fails to operate properly, owners should promptly contact their authorized dealer to schedule an appointment to have the buckle replaced or repaired, free of charge. The manufacturer is developing a remedy designed to prevent failure of the buttons that are not currently broken.
1986 Mitsubishi Cordia recalls 1
Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
What's wrong. The front safety belt buckle release buttons can break. These red plastic release buttons are marked "press." if a button breaks, pieces can fall into the buckle assembly causing the buckle to operate improperly.
Risk. The safety belts would not provide adequate protection to an occupant in a vehicle crash.
Fix. Owners should promptly check the condition and operation of both front safety belt buckles and carefully inspect the red release button for any breaks or cracks. They should ensure that both buckles are operating properly by inserting each latch plate into its buckle, tugging on the belt to make sure the latch is securely locked, and then pressing the release button. The latch plate should pop out of the buckle when the button is pressed. If either release button shows a sign of breaking or cracking or if either buckle fails to operate properly, owners should promptly contact their authorized dealer to schedule an appointment to have the buckle replaced or repaired, free of charge. The manufacturer is developing a remedy designed to prevent failure of the buttons that are not currently broken.
1983 Mitsubishi Cordia recalls 1
Vehicle Speed Control
What's wrong. Snap pin could interfere with the throttle mechanism. If the accelerator pedal is heavily depressed, the throttle could become stuck in the open position. Normally, when accelerator pedal is released, throttle closes and vehicle speed decreases.
Fix. Metal will be removed from the choke housing cover to provide clearance for the throttle lever assembly. In addition, the clevis snap pin will be repositioned and a recall identification sticker will be installed if found necessary.
Best and worst years for the Mitsubishi Cordia
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint volume across 6 tracked years, the worst years are 1988, 1987, 1986 and the best (fewest complaints) are 1983, 1984, 1985.
ForCar aggregate — our own analysis of complaint volume, not published by NHTSA.
| Year | Owner complaints | Top issue | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 Cordia | — | Best | |
| 1984 Cordia | — | Best | |
| 1985 Cordia | — | Best | |
| 1986 Cordia | — | Avoid | |
| 1987 Cordia | Engine And Engine Cooling | Avoid | |
| 1988 Cordia | Seat Belts | Avoid |
What are the most common Mitsubishi Cordia problems?
The most-reported Mitsubishi Cordia problems are Wheels (1 reports), Seat Belts (3 reports) and Suspension (1 reports) — out of 6 owner complaints NHTSA holds for the model. Here's how they break down:
Most-reported components — tap a category to read what owners actually experienced:
Seat Belts 3 Read
Owner received recall notice and dealer said it would take six to eight weeks for the parts to come in. Recall #950522. *ak
Driver and passenger side seatbelts not working. Tt
Driver's seatbelt buckle has broken, due to pieces of plastic particles falling inside, rendering seatbelt inoperative. Tt
Suspension 1 Read
The right rear wheel bearings failed, causing damage to the wheel hub and the spindle/trailing arm assembly.
Wheels 1 Read
Right rear wheel bearings replaced. Wheel bearings disintegrated, causing damage to the wheel hub and the spindle/trailing arm assembly.
Engine And Engine Cooling 1 Read
While driving at highway speeds, the timing belt broke, causing the vehicle to stall. *ak
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Mitsubishi Cordia specifications & dimensions
The 1988 Mitsubishi Cordia. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN.
| Specs cache warming… |
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Mitsubishi Cordia cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the Cordia holds — passengers and cargo. Seating, cargo and interior dimensions vary by trim and seat configuration — decode your VIN for the exact build.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Mitsubishi Cordia tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Mitsubishi Cordia get?
MPG cache warming… reload in a moment.
What engines does the Mitsubishi Cordia have? Power & range
Powertrain data warming… reload in a moment.
How much does a Mitsubishi Cordia cost to own?
A Mitsubishi Cordia depreciates at about an average rate. A typical example keeps roughly 46% of its value after five years — losing about 54% to depreciation. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 80% | $24,000 | −$6,000 |
| Year 2 | 70% | $21,000 | −$9,000 |
| Year 3 | 61% | $18,300 | −$11,700 |
| Year 4 | 53% | $15,900 | −$14,100 |
| Year 5 | 46% | $13,800 | −$16,200 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this Cordia loses about 54% of its value over five years.
- Fuel — based on EPA economy at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the Cordia ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
Is the Mitsubishi Cordia safe?
NHTSA crash-test ratings aren't published for the Cordia yet.
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How many miles does a Mitsubishi Cordia last?
A well-maintained Mitsubishi Cordia typically lasts 250,000–300,000+ miles. It's exceptionally durable — with routine maintenance many owners report 250k+ on the original powertrain. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 4.5/5.
Decode your Mitsubishi Cordia’s window sticker & build
Original options, specs, recalls and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Decode VIN →All Mitsubishi Cordia model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Mitsubishi Cordia — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 Cordia | 1 recall | — | — |
| 1987 Cordia | 1 recall | — | — |
| 1986 Cordia | 1 recall | — | — |
| 1985 Cordia | 0 | — | — |
| 1984 Cordia | 0 | — | — |
| 1983 Cordia | 1 recall | — | — |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the Cordia?
By owner-complaint volume, 1988, 1987, 1986 drew the most reports. 1983, 1984, 1985 have the cleanest records.
How many recalls does the Cordia have?
4 recorded NHTSA recalls across 1983–1988. Always check open recalls by your VIN.
How many miles does a Cordia last?
A well-maintained Cordia typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the Cordia reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the Cordia is 4.5/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Mitsubishi Cordia warranty?
New Mitsubishi models carry a 5 years / 60,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 10 years / 100,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Mitsubishi dealer.
Where is the Mitsubishi Cordia made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your Cordia's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Mitsubishi may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much ground clearance does the Cordia have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.