Problems · NHTSA complaints
1997 Mitsubishi Mirage problems
Owners filed 74 complaints about the 1997 Mitsubishi Mirage with NHTSA between Apr 1997 and Nov 2009. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (17).
Complaints
74
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
13
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
11
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling17
- Air bags15
- Power train14
- Seat belts6
- Vehicle speed control5
- Suspension5
- Service brakes, hydraulic5
- Tires4
- Visibility2
- Electrical system2
- Equipment1
- Child seat1
- Wheels1
- Service brakes, air1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 6, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
6
13
11
15
13
5
5
1
1
0
2
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 6 |
| 1998 | 13 |
| 1999 | 11 |
| 2000 | 15 |
| 2001 | 13 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine and engine cooling
17 reports1 related recall
“I SAW THE RECALL ID 00V311001 BUT I HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR THE FIX OF MY CAR BECAUSE I DIDN'T SAW THE RECALL WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THE MONEY I PAID TO A MECHANIC I SPED $700.00 DOLLARS ON THE REPAIRS I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME THANKS. *TR”
Air bags
15 reports10 crashes
“VEHICLE 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”
Power train
14 reports
“CONSUMER BEEN HAVING PROBLEM WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THAT WILL NOT WORK FORWARD OR IN REVERSE. TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT WAS DUE TO TORQUE CONVERTER. *AK”
Seat belts
6 reports1 crash
“DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT IS INOPERATIVE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK”
Vehicle speed control
5 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE. THE CLIPS THAT SECURES THE FLOOR-MATS TO THE FLOORBOARD HAS FRACTURED. THIS CONDITION CAUSES THE FLOOR-MAT TO SHIFT UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT A REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,831 THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 01/20/10 *BF UPDATED 01/22/10.*JB”
Suspension
5 reports
“LEFT FRONT CONTROL ARM RUSTED THROUGH ON THE CONSUMER'S 1997 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE.*MR *NM”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 6, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.