Mitsubishi Mirage Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Mitsubishi Mirage model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2016 drew the fewest (1) and the 1997 the most (74).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 1 | Air bags | — | — |
| 2020 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 0 | Service brakes | 4★ | 36–39 |
| 2021 Among the fewest complaints |
2 | 0 | Air bags | 4★ | 36–39 |
| 2022 | 2 | 0 | Electrical system | 4★ | 36–39 |
| 2024 Still collecting reports |
3 | 0 | Forward collision avoidance | 4★ | 39 |
| 2002 | 5 | 1 | Air bags | — | 25–30 |
| 2019 | 5 | 0 | Air bags | 4★ | 36–39 |
| 2018 | 10 | 1 | Air bags | 4★ | 36–39 |
| 2017 | 15 | 2 | Air bags | 4★ | 36–39 |
| 1996 | 28 | 0 | Air bags | — | 25–31 |
| 2001 | 31 | 2 | Vehicle speed control | — | 25–30 |
| 2000 | 35 | 2 | Electrical system | — | 25–31 |
| 2015 | 39 | 2 | Service brakes | 4★ | 36–39 |
| 1998 | 43 | 2 | Air bags | — | 25–31 |
| 2014 | 44 | 3 | Air bags | — | 36–39 |
| 1999 | 57 | 3 | Service brakes | — | 25–31 |
| 1994 | 60 | 0 | Air bags | — | 26–31 |
| 1995 Among the most complaints |
70 | 0 | Air bags | — | 23–31 |
| 1993 Among the most complaints |
73 | 2 | Seat belts | — | 26–31 |
| 1997 Among the most complaints |
74 | 1 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 26–31 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Mitsubishi Mirage years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
1997 Mitsubishi Mirage: 74 complaints
Most-reported: Engine and engine cooling 18 (24%); Air bags 15 (20%); Power train 15 (20%).
Reports mention 13 crashes, 1 fire, 11 injuries. 1 recall campaign listed.
1993 Mitsubishi Mirage: 73 complaints
Most-reported: Seat belts 56 (77%); Engine and engine cooling 7 (10%); Seats 4 (5%).
Reports mention 2 crashes, 1 injury. 2 recall campaigns listed.
1995 Mitsubishi Mirage: 70 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 35 (50%); Electrical system 8 (11%); Service brakes 7 (10%).
Reports mention 36 crashes, 1 fire, 27 injuries. 0 recall campaigns listed.
The Mitsubishi Mirage years with the fewest complaints
2016 Mitsubishi Mirage: 1 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 1 (100%); Exterior lighting 1 (100%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 3 injuries. 1 recall campaign listed.
2020 Mitsubishi Mirage: 1 complaints
Most-reported: Service brakes 1 (100%).
0 recall campaigns listed.
2021 Mitsubishi Mirage: 2 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 2 (100%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 1 injury. 0 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Mitsubishi Mirage owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2019 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2018 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 2017 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 40,000 |
| 2016 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2015 | 39 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 15,000 |
| 2014 | 44 | 14 | 1 | 19 | 2 | 19,000 |
| 2002 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2001 | 31 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 67,000 |
| 2000 | 35 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 60,000 |
| 1999 | 57 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 64,859 |
| 1998 | 43 | 12 | 2 | 11 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 74 | 13 | 1 | 11 | 0 | — |
| 1996 | 28 | 11 | 1 | 7 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 70 | 36 | 1 | 27 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | 60 | 21 | 2 | 23 | 3 | — |
| 1993 | 73 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Mitsubishi Mirage recalls
- INTERIOR SYSTEMS:ACTIVE RESTRAINTS:BELT BUCKLES (1986–1991 model years; 658,000 vehicles across all models; filed May 1995; 95V103004)
- MITSUBISHI AMERICA/CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT (1997–1999 model years; 210,000 vehicles across all models; filed Oct 2000; 00V311001)
- MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN/FMVSS 208/AIR BAG LABEL (1999–2002 model years; 100,432 vehicles across all models; filed Sep 2004; 04V428000)
- Air Bags May Not Deploy in a Crash (2014–2018 model years; 83,555 vehicles across all models; filed Oct 2017; 17V686000)
- Air Bag Deployment may be Delayed due to Corrosion (2014–2015 model years; 55,899 vehicles across all models; filed Dec 2015; 15V815000)
All 11 Mitsubishi Mirage recall campaigns · Mitsubishi Mirage problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Mitsubishi Mirage years FAQ
Which Mitsubishi Mirage year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2016 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (1). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Mitsubishi Mirage years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 1997, 1993 and 1995 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the air bags. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Mitsubishi Mirage problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the air bags (157 of 598 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Mitsubishi Mirage have?
NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns covering the Mitsubishi Mirage. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Mitsubishi Mirage recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.