IllustrationTHE VEHICLE'S BRAKES FAILED. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSED THERE WAS A DELAY BEFORE THE BRAKES ENGAGED. THIS CONDITION CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *NM AS A RESULT OF THE BRAKE FAILURE THE DRIVER HIT A PILLAR. THE DRIVER AND TWO PASSENGER'S WERE INJURED. *NM
1998 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: 7 of 43 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.
- Air Bags. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports2 fire reports7 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
8 reports1998 MITSUBISH MIRAGE HAD TO HAVE THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS DONE 2 TIMES IN 10,000 MILES. *AK
[SEE ODI ID: 705306, MY PROBLEM IS IDENTICAL] THE FRONT BRAKE DISCS ARE WOEFULLY INADEQUATE FOR THIS CAR AND I BELIEVE A MANUFACTURING DESIGN DEFECT. WE HAD TO TURN THE ROTORS TWICE AFTER BUYING IT, WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD (36,000 MILES). MITSUBISHI SAYS IT IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I HAVE REPLACED THE ROTORS. THEY WARPED…
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[SEE ODI ID: 705306, MY PROBLEM IS IDENTICAL] THE FRONT BRAKE DISCS ARE WOEFULLY INADEQUATE FOR THIS CAR AND I BELIEVE A MANUFACTURING DESIGN DEFECT. WE HAD TO TURN THE ROTORS TWICE AFTER BUYING IT, WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD (36,000 MILES). MITSUBISHI SAYS IT IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I HAVE REPLACED THE ROTORS. THEY WARPED AGAIN AND THE NEW ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED ONCE AND ARE MAKING NOISE AGAIN, AND THE CAR SHAKES DURING BRAKING, INDICATING THEY NEED TO BE TURNED YET AGAIN. DURING HIGH SPEEDS, IF I APPLY BRAKES, THE CAR VIBRATES BADLY, AND IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN IF I HAD TO BRAKE SUDDENLY. THE DISC ROTORS WEAR OUT VERY FAST, AND ARE TOO THIN AND WARP EASILY.*AK
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE WHEELS LOCKED UP AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO HYDROPLANE ON WET GROUND. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. *AK
FRONT BRAKE DISC PADS WEAR OUT AT A VERY HIGH RATE. ALSO, THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TIME THIS YEAR ROTORS WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THIS TIME THEY CONNOT BE TURNED AGAIN. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON FOR THE DISC PAD LIFE TO BE THIS SHORT. I HAVE A TWO-YEAR OLD VEHICLE, AND BOUGHT THIS CAR TO REPLACE A CAR THAT WAS HAVING PROBLE…
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FRONT BRAKE DISC PADS WEAR OUT AT A VERY HIGH RATE. ALSO, THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TIME THIS YEAR ROTORS WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THIS TIME THEY CONNOT BE TURNED AGAIN. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON FOR THE DISC PAD LIFE TO BE THIS SHORT. I HAVE A TWO-YEAR OLD VEHICLE, AND BOUGHT THIS CAR TO REPLACE A CAR THAT WAS HAVING PROBLEMS. THIS CAR IS WORSE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NO HELD AT ALL STATING BRAKES ARE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. YOU WOULD THINK THE DEALERSHIP MIGHT REALIZE THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR QUALITY SINCE THE PAD LIFE IS SO SHORT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKES WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, AND VEHICLE DIDN'T STOP. VEHICLE SKIDED ABOUT 60 FEET AND COLLIDED WITH VEHICLE IN FRONT. IT CAME TO A STOP, AND THE AIR BAGS ON DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 98V059000 BRAKES:HYDRAULICAL:POWER ASSIST:CHECK VALVE, 1998 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE I TRIED TO COMMUNICATE WITH MITSIBISHI MOTOR SALES OF CARIBBEAN (DISTRIBUTOR IN PUERTO RICO) AND THEY TOLD ME THAT YOU SEND ME A NOTIFICATION ABOUT THE PROBLEM. AT THIS TIME, I'VE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION FROM YOU OR FROM THE D…
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NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 98V059000 BRAKES:HYDRAULICAL:POWER ASSIST:CHECK VALVE, 1998 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE I TRIED TO COMMUNICATE WITH MITSIBISHI MOTOR SALES OF CARIBBEAN (DISTRIBUTOR IN PUERTO RICO) AND THEY TOLD ME THAT YOU SEND ME A NOTIFICATION ABOUT THE PROBLEM. AT THIS TIME, I'VE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION FROM YOU OR FROM THE DISTRIBUTOR. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT SHOUD I DO TO MAKE THE RECLAMATION. THANK YOU.
WHEN ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED VEHICLE BEGINS TO BRAKE WITHOUT OUT BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED AND VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP FOR SEVERAL FEET WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED WHILE BACKING UP.
Official recalls
200V311001 · 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.
97V179000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Oct 14, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A POORLY MANUFACTURED VACUUM CHECK VALVE IN THE VACUUM HOSE BETWEEN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THE VACUUM BOOSTER CHECK VALVE CAN STICK TO THE VALVE BODY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN REDUCTION OR LOSS OF VACUUM BOOST, REDUCING BRAKE EFFICIENCY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE VACUUM HOSE.
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.