1996 Mitsubishi Mirage

Routine

Owners filed 28 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the airbags. It has been recalled 1 time.

Not among the Mitsubishi Mirage years to avoid. Which Mitsubishi Mirage years to avoid →

Most common 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage problems

11 of the 28 complaints (39%) are about the airbags.

ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags › Frontal · airbags9
906
Power Train › Automatic Transmission · transmission2
000
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch · door locks and latches2
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline · engine2
010
Wheels1
000
Visibility1
000
Suspension › Front1
000
Structure › Body › Door · body and frame1
101
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder · brakes1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Pads · brakes1
100

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting06E065000
Filed Jul 17, 20063,593 vehiclesAj Motorsport

Defect. CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.

All 1 campaign on file, newest first.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Visibility
Filed Jan 15, 2004VA

I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR FROM DAY ONE. IT HAS ALWAYS USED OIL, HAVING TO ADD MORE OIL ALL THE TIME EVEN THOUGH I DUE AN OIL CHANGE ON REGULAR BASIS. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO RUN LOW ON OIL, AND THE OIL DOES NOT COME ON UNTIL AS THE MECHANICS SAY "ITS BONE DRY". THE AIR CONDITION BELT SQUEAKED FROM DAY ONE, THEN JUST QUIT WORKING. THE WATER PUMP HAS NOW WENT OUT TWICE!!! THE FIRST TIME THE THERMOSTAT ALSO WAS NOT WORKING, WHICH CAUSED ME TO HAVE A MAJOR MECHANICAL BILL...NO WARNING WHILE OUT OF STATE!!! THE WINDSHIELD HAS ALWAYS FOGGED UP NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO TO ELIMINATE IT, WHICH HAS CAUSED ME NEAR COLLISIONS NUMEROUS TIMES. THE WINDOWS SOON BECAME OFF TRACK FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND NOW LEAK WATER. BALL JOINTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THIS CAR BASICALLY WAS A LEMON. I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW, MY FIRST NEW CAR AND MY LAST FROM MITSUBISHI.

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 17, 2002VA

THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING AN ACCIDENT. YH

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Nov 5, 200183 milesVA

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISON IN WHICH THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. AS A RESULT THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO NECK AND BACK. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *NLM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder
Filed Mar 9, 2001MA

WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED THEY WENT TO FLOOR. BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER REPAIRED. *AK

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Oct 12, 2000VA

1996, MITSUBISHI LANCER; WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. MITSUBISHI CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK

Seats
Filed Aug 24, 2000MA

DRIVER'S SEAT HAS COME APART FROM THE REST OF VEHICLE POSSIBLY DUE TO A BOLT OR METAL STRESS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Mar 31, 2000SC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Jul 27, 1999MI

THE SRS AIR BAG LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH CONSOLE INFORMATION CENTER AND HAS NOT GONE BACK OFF, IT HAS BEEN ON FOR AT LEAST 2 WEEKS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 9, 1998CA

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING STILL AT A STOP LIGHT IT WAS HIT FROM THE REAR, AND THE PASSENGER'S AND DRIVER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS ONE INJURY. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. AN INSURANCE CLAIM WAS FILED. *AK

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch
Filed May 27, 1998FL

WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH THE HOOD FLEW OPEN AND SMASHED THE WINDSHIELD. DEALER SAYS THE LATCH BROKE. *AK

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch
Filed May 27, 1998UN

WHILE TRAVELING AT 30 MPH THE HOOD OPEND AND SMASHED INTO THE WINDSHIELD. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE OWNER FOUND THE FRAME THAT THE HOOD LATCH IS BOLTED TO HAD CRACKED AT THE RIGHT BOLT AND WAS HANGING DOWN. A SECONDARY LATCH ASSEMBLY THAT SHOULD HAVE PREVENTED THE FAILURE FAILED ITSELF.

Seat Belts
Filed Aug 29, 1997MD

THE VEHICLE'S SEAT BELTS DON'T LOCK, AND THE STRAPS FREQUENTLY BECOME TWISTED. THE STRAPS ALSO DON'T RETRACT PROPERLY. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Aug 22, 1997CA

DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKES LOCK UP. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE DEALER CHANGED THE MASTER CYLINDER BUT THE VEHICLE STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Aug 7, 1997TN

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AT 55MPH, AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S OR PASSEGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS. VEHICLE ALSO FLIPPED AND DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BROKE. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 11, 1997CA

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PUT INTO GEAR, THE VEHICLE STARTS HUMPING, (LIKE A MANUAL TRANS.) THEN CUTS OFF JUST WHEN IS ON PARKING LOT OR ON STREET DRIVEN ABOUT 25 MPH. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Jul 8, 1997CA

AIR BAGS: WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30MPH , SLOWED DOWN TO COME TO A STOP. TRAFFIC AHEAD HAD STOPPED AND VEHICLE DIDN'T SLOW DOWN IN TIME ENOUGH TO STOP. RAN INTO THE BACK OF VEHICLE AHEAD, AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK

Air Bags
Filed Jun 3, 1997CA

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON & STAY; TOOK TO DEALER 8 DIFFERENT TIMES TO BE REPAIRED; COULD NOT FIND OR FIX PROBLEM; DID REPLACE AIR BAG & FAULTY CONTROL UNIT BUT PROBLEM STILL EXIST.

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed May 20, 1997TN

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAREND COLLISION TRAVELING ABOUT 25 MPH, IMPACT 12:00 AND THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN INJURIES TO THE DRIVER. *AK

Suspension › Front
Filed Mar 28, 1997GA

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. CAUSE UNKNWON, WILL PROVIDE REPAIR ORDER. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Mar 14, 1997MS

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, 12:00 POSITION, SPEED 35MPH, DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

Wheels
Filed Dec 17, 1996FL

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE PULLED TO LEFT AND AFTER A FEW SECONDS WHEELS LOCKED UP/WHEEL DISCONNECTED FROM AXLE/STRUT BROKE OFF, JUST HUNG THERE DICONNECTED. LEMON LAW SAID IT IS NOT COVERED, DEALER IS HAVING SOMEONE COME TO LOOK AT CAR. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Oct 30, 1996FL

FAILURE ON THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS, CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION AND THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › GasolineFire
Filed Sep 11, 1996MA

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

Structure › Body › DoorCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 31, 1996GA

DURING FRONTAL IMPACT, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DOORS OPENED. PLEASE DESCRIBE.*AK

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed May 30, 1996CA

OWNERS' MANUAL INDICATES OTHERWISE, BUT CAN START VEHICLE IN GEAR WITHOUT PUSHING CLUTCH IN. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › PadsCrash
Filed Mar 29, 1996PR

DRIVER EXPERIENCES LOSS OF BRAKING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HWY WHICH WHICH LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT, EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE FRONT BRAKES PADS AFTER 8K MILES. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Mar 11, 1996FL

NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAG IN FRONTAL COLLISION. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jan 8, 1996PR

VEHICLE STALLS. *DSH

All 28 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1997
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20244000Routine
20222000Routine
20212000Routine
20201000Routine
20195000Routine
201810100Routine
201715200Routine
20161100Routine
201539200Routine
201444312Fatalities reported
20025400Routine
200131510Routine
200035510Routine
199957600Routine
199843520Routine
199774410Routine
1996 — this page28110Routine
199570110Routine
199460123Fatalities reported
199373300Routine
199215100Routine
199138120Routine
199033120Routine

Compare every Mirage year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jul 17, 2006. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.