IllustrationCONSUMER WAS SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN SHE WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AT APPROX 40-45MPH. THE AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY, BUT THE DRIVER SIDE EXPLODED. *AK
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 reportsOVERHEAD DOME LIGHT AND SRS LIGHT COME ON. GAS GUAGE FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY, NOT SHOWING CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL. VEHICLE WANDERS UNEXPECTEDLY CARBON BUILD UP CAUSES VEHICLE TO STALL. SPEEDOMETER SHOWS DIFFERENT SPEED THAN ACTUALLY DOING; WHEELS VIBRATES; WAS TOLD TIRES CUPPING.
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 60 MPH, CONSUMER DROVE OFF THE ROAD ON THE GRAVEL AREA AND DROVE OVER A LITTLE DISH, TEMPORARILY LOSING CONTROL OF VEHICLE. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT A REASON. *AK
VEHICLE SLID ON MUD NO COLLISION WITH OTHER VEHICLE OR OBSTACLE, FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG.
DURING IMPACT THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO SUSTAIN BURNS TO THE SKIN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *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.