Mitsubishi Mirage Problems by Year
NHTSA has 466 owner complaints and 8 safety recalls on file for the Mitsubishi Mirage, across 18 model years (1995–2024). The 1997 model year has the most complaints (74). The most reported problem area overall is air bags.
Mitsubishi Mirage years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Mirage year: 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2014, 2015. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1997 Mirage: 74 complaints, 1 recall
- 1995 Mirage: 70 complaints, 0 recalls
- 1999 Mirage: 57 complaints, 3 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2016 Mirage: 1 complaint, 1 recall
- 2020 Mirage: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 2021 Mirage: 2 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Mitsubishi Mirage problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags problems | 127 | 15 | 104 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 51 | 8 | 2 |
| Power Train | 49 | 14 | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 49 | 11 | 17 |
| Electrical System | 39 | 11 | 3 |
| Suspension | 33 | 11 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 33 | 11 | 10 |
| Structure | 32 | 10 | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 25 | 4 | 5 |
| Seat Belts | 21 | 9 | 9 |
| Steering | 19 | 8 | 3 |
| Engine | 15 | 7 | 3 |
| Wheels | 13 | 7 | 0 |
| Tires | 11 | 7 | 2 |
| Seats | 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 9 | 4 | 1 |
| Visibility | 9 | 5 | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 8 | 5 | 1 |
| Equipment | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Mitsubishi Mirage model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Mirage | 4 | 0 | 4★ | Forward Collision Avoidance | |
| 2022 Mirage | 2 | 0 | 4★ | Electrical System | |
| 2021 Mirage | 2 | 0 | 4★ | Air Bags | |
| 2020 Mirage | 1 | 0 | 4★ | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | |
| 2019 Mirage | 5 | 0 | 4★ | Air Bags | |
| 2018 Mirage | 10 | 1 | 4★ | Air Bags | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2017 Mirage | 15 | 2 | 4★ | Air Bags | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2016 Mirage | 1 | 1 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2015 Mirage | 39 | 2 | 4★ | Service Brakes | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2014 Mirage | 44 | 3 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2002 Mirage | 5 | 1 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2001 Mirage | 31 | 2 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2000 Mirage | 35 | 2 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1999 Mirage | 57 | 3 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1998 Mirage | 43 | 2 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1997 Mirage | 74 | 1 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1996 Mirage | 28 | 0 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 1995 Mirage | 70 | 0 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Mitsubishi: all Mitsubishi models · Mitsubishi VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Mitsubishi Mirage years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1995 (70), 1997 (74), 1998 (43), 1999 (57), 2000 (35), 2001 (31), 2014 (44), 2015 (39) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Mirage year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Mitsubishi Mirage?
Air Bags, with 127 complaints across 15 model years.
How many recalls does the Mitsubishi Mirage have?
8 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.