RoadVitals

1988 Mitsubishi Mirage

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Mar 27, 2003
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest May 24, 1995
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
3
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
5
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 8 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1988 Mitsubishi Mirage, most frequently naming the engine, seat belts and brakes categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 3 NHTSA investigations name it; and 4 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine337.5%
  • Seat belts337.5%
  • Brakes112.5%
  • Interior & seats112.5%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
95V103004

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

May 24, 1995
658,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
The risk: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.
MITSUBISHI AMERICAView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA95004ClosedEngineering Analysis

TAKATA SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE

Opened Mar 10, 1995
Closed Aug 1, 1995

There is no summary currently available

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLYLed to recall 95V103004
EA93017ClosedEngineering Analysis

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

Opened Jun 23, 1993
Closed Nov 30, 1993

There is no summary currently available

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
PE88003ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

Opened Oct 13, 1987
Closed Jan 21, 1988

NO SAFETY DEFECT TREND HAS BEEN DETECTED.===

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed Mar 27, 2003
Fire reported

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *NLM *NLM

NHTSA ID
10011654
Engine
Filed Oct 17, 2002
Fire reported

CONSUMER STATED THAT ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *YH

NHTSA ID
567883
Interior & seats
Filed Sep 28, 2001

HOOD LATCH IS IS A ROUND PROTRUSTION THAT FITS INTO HOLE ON BODY OF CAR. ROUND PROTRUSION IS HELD IN PLACE BY SMALL FLAT SIDED PIECE OF METAL THAT SLIDES BACK AND FORTH INSTEAD OF BY POSITIVE CLAMPING ACTION. WHEN THE SPRING OR WHATEVER KEEPS THE SLIDING PIECE AGAINST THE PROTRUSION IS BROKEN OR WEAKENED, THE HOOD FLIES UP OBSCURING THE DRIVER'S VISION. THIS IS SCARY AT NIGHT ON A WINDY ROAD.*AK

NHTSA ID
752690
Incident
Sep 15, 2001
Brakes
Filed Dec 30, 1996
Fire reported

POSSIBLE SECONDARY AIR SUPPLY REED VALVES FAILURE ,PER RECALL NOTICE, RESULTED IN VEHICLE FIRE, NOTICE NOT RECIEVED.

NHTSA ID
513254
Incident
Jul 4, 1996
Engine
Filed Jul 30, 1996
Fire reported

ENGINE FIRE. *DH

NHTSA ID
506836
Incident
Jul 4, 1988
Seat belts
Filed Mar 12, 1996

BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT REAR SEATBELT BUCKLES DO NOT LOCK IN PLACE. *AK

NHTSA ID
980608
Incident
Dec 1, 1994
Seat belts
Filed Oct 11, 1995
Crash reported1 injury reported

CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE CAME LOOSE DRIVER WENT FORWARD CAR WAS TOTALED . TT

NHTSA ID
973270
Incident
Oct 5, 1995
Seat belts
Filed Feb 21, 1995

EXPERIENCES INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF BOTH REAR LAP BELTS, WHEN SEATBELT BUCKLES BECOME STUCK IN LOCKED POSITION. TT

NHTSA ID
960265

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TT253

EQUIPMENT

This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.

TSB-19-00-008

EQUIPMENT

This is a Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers. This bulletin supersedes TSB-18-00-003, issued April, 2018, to add updated information for Carrying Capacity Reduced Label.

TT237

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.

TSB-13-42A-002

STRUCTURE

This Technical Service Bulletin updates the door adjustment procedure in the Body Section of the applicable service manuals.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mitsubishi Mirage by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2024300—
2023000—
2022200—
2021100—
2020100—
2019500—
2018101053.6
2017152053.2
2016110—
2015392056.7
2014443059.3
2013000—
2002540—
2001315059.0
2000355057.6
1999576057.3
1998435060.6
1997744055.4
1996281054.0
1995701055.3
1994601363.6
1993733254.5
1992151239.8
1991381355.0
1990331351.6
1989613—
1988Viewing813—
1987313—
1986113—
1985002—
1984001—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.