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
What owners actually said
74 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 1999
Power Train
VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER 5 TIMES FOR SAME PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION HARD TO SHIFT WHEN COLD. GRINDS BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. DIFFICULT OR UNABLE TO ENGAGE 1ST GEAR SOMETIMES. TRANSMISSION MAKES RATTLING NOISE WHEN IN NEUTRAL. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION OF FIRST TRIP. REDUCED RATTLE SOUND BUT INCREASED SHIFTING DIFFICULTY. DEALE…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER 5 TIMES FOR SAME PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION HARD TO SHIFT WHEN COLD. GRINDS BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. DIFFICULT OR UNABLE TO ENGAGE 1ST GEAR SOMETIMES. TRANSMISSION MAKES RATTLING NOISE WHEN IN NEUTRAL. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION OF FIRST TRIP. REDUCED RATTLE SOUND BUT INCREASED SHIFTING DIFFICULTY. DEALER REPLACED SYNCRONIZERS AND HUB ASSEMBLY ON SECOND TRIP. GRINDING IMPROVED BUT SHIFT DIFFCULTY STILL PRESENT. HAVE TO START CAR IN SECOND OR THIRD GEAR SOMETIMES. CANNOT ENGAGE FIRST GEAR. THIRD AND FOURTH TRIP DEALER FOUND NO NOTICABLE PROBLEM. VEHICLE LOST 5TH GEAR APPROXAMENTLY 3 WEEKS AFTER LAST VISIT TO DEALER FOR SAME PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING APPROXAMENTLY 65 MILES PER HOUR WHEN 5TH GEAR DISENGAGED AND GRINDING NOISES IMMEDIATELY CAME FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE RAPIDLY SLOWED DOWN AND EMERGENCY LANE CHANGE ACCROSS DENSE TRAFFIC WAS REQUIRED. 3RD AND 4TH GEARS WERE STILL USABLE WITHOUT PROBLEMS OR NOISE AND VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE LIMPED TO DEALER. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DEALER HAVING PROBLEM INSPECTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #707183
Mileage unknown · May 21, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKE PADS/ROTORS FAILED PREMATURELY AND CAUSED A GRINDING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. *ET
NHTSA ODI #782369
Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 1999
Air BagsCrash
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
NHTSA ODI #835421
Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 1999
SeatsStructureCrashInjury
DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATS WERE NOT LOCKED OR ANCHORED INTO PLACE WHEN VEHICLE WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED THE SEATS TO GO FORWARD. DRIVER HAD SEAT BELT ON BUT HIT STEERING WHEEL. THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE'S STRUCTURE WENT OUT OF ALIGNMENT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #835183
Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 1998
Power Train
IT IS HARD TO GOO TO THE FIRST GEAR IF STOPED. IT IS ALSO HARD TO CHANGE GEARS AS DRIVING. SOME TIMES IT IS WORSE THEN OTHERS, ESPECIALLY WHEN TRYING TO UPSHIFT WHILE PASSING OTHER CARS.
NHTSA ODI #701367
Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 1998
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury
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
NHTSA ODI #831922
Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 1998
Electrical SystemFire
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT RESULTED IN VEHICLE FIRE.
NHTSA ODI #542399
Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 1998
Air BagsCrashInjury
CONSUMER 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
NHTSA ODI #826548
Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 1998
Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Other
OVERHEAD 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.
NHTSA ODI #826146
Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 1998
Air Bags
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 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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1997 Mitsubishi Mirage Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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