IllustrationVEHICLE HIT A DRAIN IN THE YARD AT 5 MPH AND BOTH FRONTAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER CAN'T FIND REASON FOR PROBLEM. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK MECHANIC WROTE THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OR REAR OF THE VEHICLE TO MAKE THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY. *PH *JB
1997 Mitsubishi Mirage
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Mirage years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 6 of 74 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
13 crash reports1 fire reports9 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
15 reportsWHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. NO INJURIES. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE $ 4500.00. *AK *YH
THE RADIOS RECEPTION IS POOR DUE TO A LOOSE CONNECTION. NLM
WHILE AT A RED LIGHT ANOTHER CAR REAR ENDED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. CONSUMER THEN HIT THE CAR IN FRONT, TOTALLING VEHICLE. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 65 MPH, HAD A VERY BAD TIRE BLOWOUT. FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRES, AND BACK DRIVER'S SIDE TIRES BLEWOUT, CAR HIT A CONCRETE WALL, AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND INFLATED. HOWEVER, PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT DID NOT INFLATE. CONSUMER FELT SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED IN THIS…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 65 MPH, HAD A VERY BAD TIRE BLOWOUT. FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRES, AND BACK DRIVER'S SIDE TIRES BLEWOUT, CAR HIT A CONCRETE WALL, AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND INFLATED. HOWEVER, PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT DID NOT INFLATE. CONSUMER FELT SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED IN THIS TYPE OF SITUATION. *AK
HAD A SIDE IMPACT NEAR THE GAS TANK. WHILE DRIVER WAS COMING OUT OF THE VEHICLE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSING INJURIES TO THE DRIVER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
DRIVER HIT A DEER WITH A 65 MPH IMPACT , DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING NECK/ LOWER BACK, AND FACE INJURIES TO DRIVER, EVEN WITH SEATBELT WORN. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT THE SPEEDS OF 60-65MPH VEHICLE STRUCK A 180 POUND DEER, CAUSING SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE BACK AND NECK. ALSO, DRIVER'S FACE STRUCK STEERING WHEEL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND SLID DOWN INTO A EMBANKMENT IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT. *AK
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END CRASH THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO HIT HEAD ON WINDSHIELD, AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT RESULTED IN SCRAPES AND BRUISING. REPORTED BY DEBBIE BARKER AT STATE FARM INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK
Official recalls
100V311001 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
Oct 2, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES: MIRAGE MODEL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.5L ENGINES; MONTERO SPORT MODELS EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L ENGINES; AND MONTERO MODELS EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L ENGINES. THE BOLT SECURING THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY CAN BECOME LOOSE AND THE PULLEY COULD FALL OFF THE VEHICLE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: ON THE MIRAGE VEHICLES, THE DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW, IMPROVED CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT ON THE OLDER ENGINES. ON NEW ENGINES WHICH ALREADY HAVE THE IMPROVED BOLT, THE DEALER WILL TIGHTEN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT TO THE CORRECT TORQUE SPECIFICATION. ON THE MONTERO MODELS, DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT TO THE CORRECT TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS. IF THE BOLT IS DAMAGED, IT WILL BE REPLACED.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.