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: 16 of 31 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.
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
31 reports
20,500 miles · Feb 17, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury
2001 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE INVOLVED IN HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH 1994 FORD EXPLORER. BOTH VEHICLES ESTIMATED TO BE TRAVELING 35 MILES PER HOUR. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN 2001 MITSUBISHI. VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. ADJUSTERS FOR BOTH INSURANCE COMPANIES INVOLVED COMMENTED THAT THEY WERE SURPRISED THAT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONTAC…
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2001 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE INVOLVED IN HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH 1994 FORD EXPLORER. BOTH VEHICLES ESTIMATED TO BE TRAVELING 35 MILES PER HOUR. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN 2001 MITSUBISHI. VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. ADJUSTERS FOR BOTH INSURANCE COMPANIES INVOLVED COMMENTED THAT THEY WERE SURPRISED THAT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONTACTED MITSUBISHI BECAUSE OF MY CONCERN THAT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ASKED IF THEY COULD HAVE REPRESENTATIVE INSPECT VEHICLE. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THERE WAS PROBABLY TOO LITTLE IMPACT TO DEPLOY AIR BAGS. WHEN I EXPLAINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS THEY SAID I COULD DO WHATEVER I WANTED AT MY OWN EXPENSE AND THEY WOULD SEND ME A BROCHURE ON AIR BAGS.
NHTSA ODI #10007650
Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2003
Unknown Or Other
COMPLAINT TYPE INVOLVES A PAINT DEFECT. I PURCHASED A NEW 2001 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE FROM PATRIOT FORD - MITSUBISHI IN BECKLEY, WV. I BOUGHT IT IN DECEMBER 2000. THE FOURTH DAY I HAD THE CAR I BRUSHED SNOW OF THE HOOD AND PAINT CAME OFF WITH IT. FOR THE NEXT FIVE MONTHS PAINT CAME OFF MOSTLY WHEN IT WAS WASHED. THE DEALERSHIP…
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COMPLAINT TYPE INVOLVES A PAINT DEFECT. I PURCHASED A NEW 2001 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE FROM PATRIOT FORD - MITSUBISHI IN BECKLEY, WV. I BOUGHT IT IN DECEMBER 2000. THE FOURTH DAY I HAD THE CAR I BRUSHED SNOW OF THE HOOD AND PAINT CAME OFF WITH IT. FOR THE NEXT FIVE MONTHS PAINT CAME OFF MOSTLY WHEN IT WAS WASHED. THE DEALERSHIP OFFERED TO PAY FOR PAINTING ONLY PART OF THE CAR. THIS WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO PAY FOR A TOTAL PAINT JOB ALTHOUGH I DON'T KNOW WHY A BRAND NEW CAR SHOULD NEED ANY PART OF IT PAINTED BUT I COUNTINUED TO GET THE RUN AROUND FOR ANOTHER FOUR MONTHS AT WHICH A LONG AWAITED MITSUBISHI REPRESENTED INSECTED THE CAR AND OFFERED TO PAY 30% OF A TOTAL PAINT JOB. I REFUSED STILL NOT BEING ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHY A NEW CAR WOULD NEED A PAINT JOB. I TOOK IT TO AUTO BODY SHOPS IN THE AREA AND WAS TOLD A FEW TIMES IT WAS ROAD DEBRIE CAUSING THE PAINT TO FLAKE OFF. THE SHOPS TOLD ME THEY WORKED WITH PATRIOT FORD. I HAD A LAWYER FOR A PERIOD OF TIME WHO COULD NOT MAKE ANY HEADWAY WITH THE MITUSUBISHI MANUFACTURER. AFTER MUCH FRUSTRATION I FANALLY DROPPED THE MATTER BUT HAVE RECENTLY DECIDED TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT. ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME WITH THE MATTER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
NHTSA ODI #10007597
Mileage unknown · Dec 19, 2002
Power Train
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP GEARS CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
NHTSA ODI #10001235
38,000 miles · Oct 9, 2002
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury
WHILE BRAKING THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS SEVERAL TIMES. A PIECE OF THE AXLE HAS PUNCTURED THE TIRES CAUSING BLOWOUTS AND FLAT TIRES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *MR *NLM
NHTSA ODI #8020527
Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL HESITATE AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8014991
Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL HESITATE AND SURGE FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8014989
Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2002
Air BagsCrash
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 50 MPH AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8014676
Mileage unknown · May 23, 2002
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
WHEN APPLYING VERY LITTLE PRESSURE TO THE GAS PEDAL (SUCH AS WHEN LEAVING OR ENTERING A PARKING SPACE) THE CAR ACCELERATES AND SURGES FORWARD OR BACKWARD DEPENDING ON WHICH GEAR IT IS IN. THIS DEFECT IN MY CAR HAS CAUSED AN ACCIDENT THAT HAS RESULTED IN COSTLY DAMAGE AND AN INCREASED PREMIUM ON MY INSURANCE POLICY. DRIVING THIS …
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WHEN APPLYING VERY LITTLE PRESSURE TO THE GAS PEDAL (SUCH AS WHEN LEAVING OR ENTERING A PARKING SPACE) THE CAR ACCELERATES AND SURGES FORWARD OR BACKWARD DEPENDING ON WHICH GEAR IT IS IN. THIS DEFECT IN MY CAR HAS CAUSED AN ACCIDENT THAT HAS RESULTED IN COSTLY DAMAGE AND AN INCREASED PREMIUM ON MY INSURANCE POLICY. DRIVING THIS CAR NOW IS EXTREMELY STRESSFUL FOR ME FOR THE OBVIOUS REASON THAT THIS MALFUNCTION WILL CERTAINLY HAPPEN AGAIN.*JB
NHTSA ODI #762215
Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 2002
Air BagsSeat BeltsSeatsCrashInjury
VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY SEMI TRAVELING 20 MILES PER HOUR, SEAT BELTS FAILED TO HOLD DRIVER AND PASSENGER IN PLACE, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, DRIVER SUFFERED BACK, CHEST, KNEE AND ANKLE INJURIES, PASSENGER INJURIED SPINITIS TENDON, BUCKET SEATS COLLAPSED BACKWARDS TOUCHING REAR BENCH SEATS. *TT
NHTSA ODI #564808
Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline
WHILE COMING TO A STOP ENGINE STALLED, VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY DEALER BUT NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. VEHICLE HAS STALLED 2 MORE TIMES AT FIRST START.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER TOLD HIM WATER IN GAS MAKES THE VEHICLE TO STALL.*YH
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH REMOVABLE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS AFFIXED TO THE DASH AND TO THE SUNVISOR DO NOT MEET THE SIZE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Remedy: MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL CURRENT 2000-2004 NATIVA OWNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. THE NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIVA OWNERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL OR MAY 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. 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: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES TO INSURE THAT THE BOLT IS TIGHTENED. FOR THOSE BOLTS NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED, THE BOLT AND PULLEY WILL BE REMOVED AND INSPECTED FOR ANY INDICATION OF DAMAGE. COMPONENTS SHOWING ANY SIGNS OF DAMAGE WILL BE REPLACED AND THE BOLT TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER TORQUE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 26, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AMERICA AT 1-888-648-7820.
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.
2001 Mitsubishi Mirage Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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