2000 Mitsubishi Mirage

Routine

Owners filed 35 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 5 times.

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

Most common 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage problems

8 of the 35 complaints (23%) are about the electrical system.

ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train › Automatic Transmission · transmission4
000
Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under Dash3
000
Electrical System › Wiring3
010
Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and Attachments · body and frame2
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip · brakes2
200
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch · door locks and latches2
000
Air Bags › Frontal · airbags2
200
Unknown or Other1
000
Tires1
000
Suspension › Front › Macpherson Strut1
000

5 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting › Headlights09E025000
Filed May 11, 200942,540 vehiclesDope, Inc.

Defect. DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Exterior Lighting09E012000
Filed Apr 7, 200916,270 vehiclesSabersport

Defect. SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Exterior Lighting06E026000
Filed Mar 23, 200661,944 vehiclesPro-A Motors, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Equipment › Other › Labels04V428000
Filed Sep 1, 2004100,432 vehiclesMitsubishi Caribbean

Defect. CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH REMOVABLE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS AFFIXED TO THE DASH AND TO THE SUNVISOR DO NOT MEET THE SIZE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Risk. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Remedy. MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL CURRENT 2000-2004 NATIVA OWNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. THE NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIVA OWNERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL OR MAY 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine01V340001
Filed Nov 5, 200118,630 vehiclesMitsubishi America

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BOLT SECURING THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY CAN BECOME LOOSE AND THE PULLEY COULD FALL OFF THE VEHICLE.

Risk. THE CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES TO INSURE THAT THE BOLT IS TIGHTENED. FOR THOSE BOLTS NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED, THE BOLT AND PULLEY WILL BE REMOVED AND INSPECTED FOR ANY INDICATION OF DAMAGE. COMPONENTS SHOWING ANY SIGNS OF DAMAGE WILL BE REPLACED AND THE BOLT TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER TORQUE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 26, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AMERICA AT 1-888-648-7820.

All 5 campaigns on file, newest first.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 7, 2025VA

I am the original owner of this vehicle. During the last state inspection I was told and shown the cross member bar is starting to rust. In researching cross member bars with Mitsubishi this seems to be an ongoing problem with their vehicles. I would like them to replace this part on my vehicle, too, since there is a current recall on cross member bars on later vehicles and models.

Air BagsCrash
Filed May 23, 2015131,000 milesOH

MY NAME IS [XXX]. AND I AM REQUIRING ABOUT THE SAFER CAR RECALL.. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Electrical System
Filed Apr 15, 2013142,000 milesMO

MY ENTIRE BACK TAIL LIGHTS, SIDE LIGHTS, AND DASH LIGHTS FAILED AND DUE TO THIS ANOTHER DRIVER BUMPED MY VEHICLE BECAUSE MY LIGHTS WENT TOTALLY OUT AS I WAS DRIVING AND I COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING ON THE DASH AND IT WAS NIGHT TIME WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THEY WORKED BEFORE I ENTERED MY VEHICLE. MY HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM AS WELL SINCE THE INCIDENT AND I CANNOT ADJUST THEM FROM INSIDE. *TR

Tires
Filed Mar 6, 2013199,000 milesGA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE FR380 TIRES, SIZE 175/65R14. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT RECENTLY, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 199,000 THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 230,000. *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Jul 29, 2007115,000 milesCA

ODOMETER, GAS, TEMPERATURE GAUGES STOPPED FUNCTIONING... YOU DON'T KNOW HOW FAST YOU GOING YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MORE GAS LEFT IN YOUR TANK... ON JUN 8, 2007 I'M ON MY WAY HOME THE LEVEL ON MY GAS STUCK ON HALF I THOUGH IT'S REALLY HALF FULL BUT ITS NOT & I RAN OUT OF GAS ABOUT LESS THAN A MILE AWAY FROM MY HOME. WHAT IF IT HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY. *JB

Structure › Body › Door
Filed May 27, 2007194,250 milesUT

I OWN A 2000 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE THAT I BOUGHT NEW OFF THE LOT. I NOTICED IT HAD TROUBLE SHUTTING SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND IT HAD A LOUD SQUEAK. ABOUT A YEAR LATER THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HAD THE SAME ISSUE FOR A FEW MONTHS IN THE WINTER BUT STOPPED IN THE SUMMER. THIS WINTER (2006/2007) THE PASSENGER DOOR STARTED ACTING UP ONCE AGAIN. IT WASN'T UNTIL AROUND EASTER THAT I WAS WITH MY DAUGHTER SHOPPING AND AFTER 3 OR 4 STOPS THE DOOR WOULDN'T CLOSE. IT HAD DROPPED ABOUT 1 INCH SO IT NO LONGER LINED UP. WHEN WE GOT HOME I CHECKED THE HINGES. THE DOOR HAD CRACKED AROUND THE CONNECTION POINT SO THE DOOR IS PULLING AWAY FROM THE HINGE. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO 3 DIFFERENT BODY SHOPS AND THEY ALL CONFIRMED IT IS RUST THAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH. I HAD TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT SEVERAL WEEKS AGO AND THEY TOOK PICTURES BUT HAVE NEVER CONTACTED ME BACK. THEY SAID THAT ALTHOUGH I WAS WITHIN THE NUMBER OF YEARS FOR THE CORROSION COVERAGE I WAS OVER THE ALLOWED MILES. ANYBODY WILL SAY THE NUMBER OF MILES HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. RUST HAPPENS OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. IN FACT I HAVE SEEN OTHER CAR COMPANIES THAT HAVE A TIME LIMIT FOR THE CORROSION YET UNLIMITED MILES. IF MITSUBISHI HAD THIS IT WOULD STILL BE UNDER WARRANTY. THE ESTIMATED COST IS ANYWHERE FROM 1000.00 TO 1500.00 DEPENDING ON IF IT CAN BE REPAIRED OR HAS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE TRIED TO CALL THE MITSUBISHI CUSTOMER RELATIONS BUT WHEN I PRESS THE N

Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and Attachments
Filed Oct 11, 200540,000 milesIL

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS 2000 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE. THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HINGES BROKE. THE DOOR HINGE DROPPED, AND THE DOOR SIMPLY FELL OFF. THESE TWO OCCURRENCES HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS. THE DOORS WERE HARD TO OPEN ,AND THE CONTACT HAD TO LIFT THE DOORS TO CLOSE THEM PROPERLY WITH NORMAL USE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. THE HINGES WERE REPLACED BY THE CONTACT AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED ABOUT A WEEK AGO. NO REPAIRS OR CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CONTACT HAS NOT LOCATED A NEW SET OF HINGES. THE CONTACT HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and Attachments
Filed Apr 27, 200557,000 milesMA

THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HINGE HAS COLLAPSED, BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ALIGNED. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR IS BEGINNING TO DO THE SAME THING. AT THIS TIME NO ONE CAN SIT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE.*AK THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF BOTH DOORS IS CONSISTENT WITH AVERAGE / NORMAL USE. PASSENGER SIDE DOOR CAN NOT BE CLOSED FROM THE INSIDE AS IT NEED TO BE LIFTED AND CLOSED AT THE SAME TIME. *EH.......*AK *JB *BF

Electrical System › Wiring
Filed Mar 4, 200540,000 milesNY

MY CAR WAS HAVING A STARTING ISSUE FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF. I TOOK IT TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER (NEMET), MITSUBISHI, PEP BOYS, AND SEARS. EVEYONE TOLD ME THE CAR WAS FINE. YET, THE CAR CONTINED TO NOT START 3 DAYS A WEEK. RECELTY I AM TOLD IT IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WHICH AFTER RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO SMOKE AND IGNITE. I TOLD THIS TO MITSUBISHI (CORPORATION AND STAR DEALERSHIP) AND BOTH TOLD ME ALL THEY COULD DO IS PUT ME IN TO ANOTHER CAR WHICH MENT ANOTHER 5 YEAR PAY OFF. I AM ATA LOSS WITH WAHT TO DO.*AK

Electrical System › Wiring
Filed Feb 1, 2005WI

PROBLEMS WITH POWER TO THE HEADLAMPS. BOTH HEADLAMPS ARE CURRENTLY NOT WORKING, NEITHER HIGH OR LOW BEAMS. I HAVE CHECKED THE POWER GOING TO THE HEADLAMPS, REPLACED THE SWITCH, THE MAIN 40A FUSE, BOTH HEADLAMPS AND THE 10A FUSES ON THE BOX, I TOOK IT TO A DEALER/SHOP RECOMMENDED A FULL DISGNOSTIC CHECK AND POSSIBLY REPLACING WIRING LEADING UP TO THE HEADLAMPS. THIS IS THE 3RD MAJOR CONCERN ON THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED NEW. IN 2001 THE MAIN WIRING BEHIND THE DASH BOARD HAS FUSED TOGETHER CAUSING WIRING FAILURE THROUGHT THE INTIRE VEHICLE. THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT STAYS ON FOR DAYS AT A TIME EVEN WHEN CRUISE IS NOT IN USE. AS WELL I AM CURRENTLY EXPERIENCE A PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR ON THE PASSANGERS SIDE NOT SHUTTING TIGHTLY AND IS SLOWLY COMMING OFF THE FRAME, RESULTING IN THE DOOR LIGHT TO REMAIN ON. *AK

Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under Dash
Filed Jan 3, 2005NY

I FIRST STARTED NOTICING THAT MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERENT COMING ON, BUT WAS UNAWARE THAT MY PARKING LIGHTS WERE ALSO DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THIS. THEN WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY ANOTHER MOTOREST CONTINUOUSLY KEPT FLASHING HIS LILGHTS AT ME FROM BEHIND. NOW IT WAS DARK SO I THOUGHT THAT SOMETHING MAJOR WAS WRONG. I PULLED OVER TO NOTICE THAT MY TAIL LIGHTS WERENT ON AS WELL AS MY PARKING LIGHTS . SO I TOOK MY CAR TO A FRIEND WHO WORKS ON FOREIGN CARS AND HE TESTED EVERYTHING BUT COULDNT FIND A PROBLEM. I AM WONDERING IF THERE HAS EVER BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THIS BEFORE, AND IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT WE OVER LOOKED. IF SO PLEASE CONTACT ME: [email protected] , THANK YOU.*AK

Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under Dash
Filed Sep 24, 200447,000 milesNJ

THE GAUGES ON MY DASHBOARD DON'T WORK ANYMORE. THIS STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AGO OR SO. THEY WOULD START BY FLICKERING A LITTLE BIT AND EVENTUALLY MOVED ON TO NOT WORKING AT ALL. I'VE GONE THROUGH THIS ENTIRE SUMMER WITHOUT THEM WORKING. MY SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK, I CAN'T TELL HOW MANY MILES ARE ON MY DIGITAL ODOMETER, MY GAS GAUGE DOESN'T WORK, THE RPM METER DOESN'T WORK, AND THE TEMP GAUGE IS OUT. THIS PROBLEM HAS ALSO AFFECTED MY HORN. I HAD TO REMOVE THE FUSE TO THE HORN BECAUSE IT WAS STUCK IN A CONSTANT ON POSITION WITH THE HORN BLARING EVERYTIME I WENT TO START THE CAR. I NOTICE THAT THE GAUGES USUALLY DON'T WORK WHEN IT'S WARM OR REALLY HOT OUT. IT TENDS TO WORK ALRIGHT IN THE WINTER MONTHS WHEN IT'S COLDER OUTSIDE. HOWEVER, AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING OR LETTING THE CAR WARM UP, THE GAUGES GO OUT AGAIN. IF ANYONE HAS ANY INFORMATION ON HOW THIS WAS FIXED, WHAT THE PROBLEM ACTUALLY IS, OR HOW MUCH IT COSTS, PLEASE HELP ME OUT. THANKS SO MUCH! *AK

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed May 3, 200457,000 milesWI

WHEN WE PURCHASED OUR VEHICLE WE WERE SO VERY HAPPY BUT THAT IN TIME THAT HAS CHANGED. FOR SOME REASON THE DOORS STARTED TO STIFFEN UP AND WERE GETTING HARD TO OPEN AND CLOSE NO MATTER WHAT WE TRIED DOING. WE WERE GREASING THE HINGES LIKE ANYONE NORMAL PERSON SHOULD AND THEY JUST KEPT GETTING WORSE UNTIL ONE DAY THE DOOR JUST SEEMED TO BE NOT SITTING RIGHT. SO WE LOCKED THAT DOOR AND STOPED USING IT UNTIL WE COULD HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THEN A FEW WEEKS LATER AN OTHER DOOR STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. WE TOOK IN THE CAR AND WAS TOLD THAT THE HINGE WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED BECAUSE IT HAD BROKE. AFTER TALKING TO THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM I WAS TOLD IT WAS COVERED UNDER OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT WHEN I TOOK IT IN TO BE WORKED ON I WAS THEN TOLD IT WASN'T COVERED AND THAT IT WAS MITSUBISHI'S PROBLEM TO FIX IT. AFTER TRYING FOR WEEKS TO GET A HOLD OF SOMEONE I FINALLY DID. I WAS TOLD IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BUT THEY WOULDN'T COVER THE CHARGES. THEY WERE CONCIDERING IT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. WHAT I COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT THEY WERE SAYING NORMAL THATS BULL WHAT FOUR YEAR OLD CAR HAS THERE DOORS FALLING OFF FOR NO REASON. THIS IS HORRIABLE. AND TO TOP IT OFF OUR MOTHER IN LAW BOUGHT THE SAME CAR A FEW WEEKS AFTER WE DID AND IS HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR MY BUTT. THIS IS JUST ONE WAY CUSTOMERS GET RIPPED OFF! *AK

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Jan 15, 200450,000 milesOH

MY VEHICLES PASSENGER AND DRIVER DOORS ARE FALLING OFF THE HINGES. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THE PASSENGER DOOR CANNOT BE USED OR IT WILL FALL COMPLETELY OFF, THE DRIVER DOOR IS GETTING TO THAT POINT, WHILE DRIVING THE DOOR IS ADJURE, I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MITSUBISHI THAT THIS IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR THE DEALER STATES THE SAME(I UNDERSTAND THE DEALER HAS TO FOLLOW MITSU WARRANTY) HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT GIVE THIS TO ME IN WRITING. THIS IS A LEASE WHICH MEANS WHEN I TURN THAT VEHICLE IN THEY WILL CHARGE ME FOR THE DOORS, THE DOORS ARE CAUSING THE SIDE PANELS TO BUCKLE AND IS BENDING THE FENDER. I CAN UNDERSTAND ONE DOOR HAVE PROBLEMS BUT FOR BOTH DOORS, AND TO BE TOLD THAT IT IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ( I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER VEHICLE 4 YEARS OF AGE WITH THEIR DOORS FALLING OFF). ALSO A BOLT BROKE IN THE ENGINE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE STEERING, THIS WAS RECALLED, WHICH I HAD FIXED AND THEN THE BOLT BROKE AND IS NOW SEIZED INTO PLACE - NOT SAFE EITHER. *CB

Electrical System › WiringFire
Filed Oct 17, 200360,000 milesAZ

WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY CONSUMER MADE AN ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HEARD SEVERAL CLICKS COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AFTER TWO UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO START, IT STARTED ON THE THIRD ATTEMPT. BEFORE THE VEHICLE COULD BE PUT IN GEAR CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO REMOVE PASSENGERS FROM VEHICLE BEFORE THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO PINPOINT THE CAUSE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Apr 22, 2003FL

WHEN THE CONSUMER TRIED TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE HIT A STREET DIVIDER AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB

Steering
Filed Apr 3, 2003KY

THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING POWER WHEN A TURN WAS MADE. *JB

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Nov 12, 2002MD

DOES NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE ALL THE TIME AND TAKES QUITE A WHILE TO GET IT TO WORK ALSO IN 2ND HAS PROBLEMS. DT

Suspension › Front
Filed Aug 13, 2002FL

VEHICLE VIBRATES IN THE FRONT. THE VIBRATION GET WORST AT 50-60MPH. STEERING NEEDS BOTH HANDS AT ALL TIMES. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED AND CHANGED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

Suspension › Front › Macpherson Strut
Filed Jul 30, 2002MN

TIRES ARE GETTING BALLED IN FRONT, AND REAR LOOKS FINE. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND THEY STATED THAT FRONT STRUTS WERE LEAKING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle AssemblyCrash1 injured
Filed Jun 21, 2002OR

ATTORNEY IS WRITING ON BEHALF CLIENT WHO WAS INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY PRECIPITATED BY A DEFECTIVE TAKATA SEAT BELT IN A 2000 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE HE RENTED FROM ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR. THE BUCKLE LOCKED SHUT, MAKING THE SEAT BELT UNUSABLE. HOWEVER, THE POLICE REPORT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT. DRIVER SUSTAINED SERIOUS HEAD WOUNDS, AND THERE WAS HEAVY DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *TT

Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under Dash
Filed Jun 5, 2002NC

THE DASHBOARD GAUGES TOTALLY WENT OUT... FIRST, THE GAUGES WOULD POP ON AND OFF RIGHT AFTER I STARTED THE CAR AND PROCEEDED TO WORK OFF AND ON FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. IT COMPLETELY STOPPED COMING ON AFTER ABOUT 4 WEEKS. NOW, I CANNOT TELL MY SPEED, HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE IN THE TANK, HOW MANY MILES THE ODOMETER HAS, OR THE TEMP. EVERY GAUGE ON THE DASH DOES NOT WORK AT ALL--- WHICH IS VERY FRUSTRATING. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF $300. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT A NUMBER OF MITSUBISH MIRAGES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT IN FOR THE SAME REASON AS MINE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON SUCH A FAILURE, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS TRUE OR NOT. ANY HELP IN THIS MATTER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU.*AK

Seat Belts › Front › RetractorCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 3, 2002NH

MITCHELL MEADOWS WAS THE DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE AND SUSTAINED SERIOUS HEAD INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE OF A TAKATA SEATBELT IN A MITSUBISHI. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › GasolineCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 17, 2002TX

WE HAD THE CAR ALIGNED SEVERAL TIMES AFTER THE CONTROL ARM WAS REPLACED ON THE RIGHT SIDE FRONT WHEEL. IT WAS BROKE WHEN CAR WAS PURCHASED. THE CAR STALLED ABOUT 5 DIFFERENT TIMES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I ASKED THE REPAIR DEPARTMENT TO CHECK BUT THEY SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THE RIGHT WINDOW MOTOR WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED. THE ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON 2-13-2001 HAPPENED BECAUSE THE ENGINE STALLED AND WHEN THE CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT MY DAUGHTER WENT OFF THE ROAD AND WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT BEFORE HITTING A TREE AND FENCE AT AROUND 60 MPH THE CAR WAS TOTALLED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. LUCKILY MY DAUGHTER WAS NOT SEVERELY INJURED. SHE SUFFERED SOME CUTS, BRUISING AND BACK PAIN FROM THE ACCIDENT. A PASSENGER WITH HER AT THE TIME WAS SHOOK UP, BUT WAS UNHURT. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED HAD THEY FIXED THE CAR WHEN IT WAS TAKEN IN. I WAS NEVER TOLD THAT THERE HAD BEEN RECALLS ON CARS MADE IN JAPAN WHICH IS WHERE THIS CARS PARTS CAME FROM AND ASSEMBLY TOOK PLACE. I HAVE CONTACED CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY ONLY GIVE ME THE RUN AROUND SAYING THEY WANT PROOF THE CAR FAILED. I WOULD THINK PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE AND OUR STATEMENTS WOULD SAY SOMETHING. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE CAR AND THE AIRBAG AREA.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Dec 20, 2001PA

APPLIED BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR ,CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH RESULTED IN A REAR END COLLISION. BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES WITHIN 14 MONTHS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Nov 29, 2001CA

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON A OFF RAMP AND STARTED TO DOWNSHIFT, APPLIED BRAKES WITH VEHICLE IN RIGHT LANE, AND IT DRIFTED OFF INTO LEFT. CONSUMER STARTED TO STEER, AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *AK CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE, HE COULD NOT, THEN DOWN SHIFTED VEHICLE TO TRY AND SLOW IT DOWN WHICH DID NOT HELP, CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING. *SLC

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist › VacuumCrash
Filed Jul 24, 2001CA

BRAKE ARE REALLY BAD, LOCKS IF PUSHED MORE, IS LIKE THE BOOSTER HAS MORE POWER THAN YOU PUT ON THE PEDAL, THE TRUNK WILL NOT CLOSE WELL, NEED SLAMMING, AND THE STEERING NEED ALLIGNMENT MOST OF THE TIME (TIRESIZE: 14X5)

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 22, 2001WA

STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CARS TRANSMISSION CUTTING IN AND OUT EITHER AT A STOP OR WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET.*AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 23, 2001WA

AFTER BUYING THE CAR, THE FIRST WEEK, THE TRANSMISSION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WOULD CUT OUT. TOOK IT TO THE APPLEWAY MITSUBISHI REPAIR CENTER, AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION, YET ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IT STILL CUTS OUT, USUALLY RIGHT AFTER LEAVING FROM A STOPPED POSITION. THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN HAVE A DEFINITE VIBRATION BETWEEN THE SPEED OF 70 TO 80 MILES PER HOUR, YET THE REPAIR FACILITY SAID THAT THEY HAD TEST DROVE IT AT THOSE SPEEDS AND INFORMED ME THAT IT DID NOT VIBRATE.*AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Feb 27, 2001OR

VEHICLE SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL FROM DRIVE WHILE TRAVELING @ VARIOUS SPEEDS 100% OF THE TIME SHIFTS BY IT'SSELF 50% OF TIME 50% OF TIME W/ SLIGHTEST TOUCH, WHEN CAR SHIFTS OUT OF GREAR YOU LOOSE ALL CONTROL OF VEHICLE & HAVE TO FORCE IT TO GO BACK INTO DRIVE OR LOWER GREAR, THE BUTTON THAT IS SUPOSED TO BE USED TO SHIFT DOESN'T WORK & THE LOCK MECHANISM TO PREVENT SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL/PARK WHILE CAR IS MOVING DOESN'T WORK - IT'S IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION.

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Jan 2, 2001CA

DRIVING SLOW DUE TO SNOW ON ROAD WHEN VEHICLE STARTED TO SKID. HIT AN EMBANKMENT & WENT OVER. HIT A ROCK DEAD CENTER OF VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT WITH ROCK, NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. ALSO, SEAT BELTS ON DRIVER SIDE & RESTRAINING CHILD SEAT IN THE REAR CAME UNBUCKLED. CHILD SEAT FLIPPED OVER TO DRIVER SIDE (NO CHILD). BOTTOM OF BUMPER WAS RIPPED OFF. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Dec 6, 2000MA

AFTER 2000 MILES VEHICLE WAS MAKING NOISE INSIDE OF ENGINE, WHISTLE NOISE. SERVICE STATION ATTENDANT TOLD CONSUMER THAT TRANSMISSION HAD WOREN OUT PARTS ON VEHICLE. MECHHANIC REPLACED. RACERS/ SHOCKS/" O, " RINGS AND GASKET. CONSUMER IS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Radiator Assembly
Filed Oct 27, 2000SC

RADIATOR WAS REPLACED, THE ANTIFREEZE WAS BLOWING ON THE EXHAUST WHICH WAS BLOWING IN CONSUMER'S FACE, CONSUMER WAS COMPLAINING OF A BAD SMELL THAT WAS AFFECTING HER BREATHING. *SLC

Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
Filed Sep 8, 2000NJ

THERE IS A VERY FINE SOUND WHEN I DRIVE AT 55 MPH AND I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS AND HE SAID IT MAYBE THAT BECAUSE THE LICENSE PLATE IS NOT INSTALLED YET. MY OTHER CONCERN IS

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Aug 28, 2000CA

WHEN CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE THE FIRST TIME IT CUT OFF. VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE AND JUST SHUT DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN SHE APPLIED BRAKES PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. ALSO,THERE WAS NO ENGINE. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

All 35 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
2000 — this page35510Routine
199957600Routine
199843520Routine
199774410Routine
199628110Routine
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: May 11, 2009. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.