1994 Mitsubishi Mirage Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1994 Mitsubishi Mirage, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags3044.1%
- Seat belts710.3%
- Engine710.3%
- Brakes68.8%
- Transmission57.4%
- Electrical57.4%
- Other / unspecified22.9%
- Visibility11.5%
- Body & structure11.5%
- Driver assistance11.5%
- Exterior lighting11.5%
- Steering11.5%
- Suspension11.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING HOME ONE NIGHT FROM A FRIENDS BIRTHDAY. AT APPROX. 1:20AM I WAS DRIVING NORTH IN NEWARK POMPTON TURNPIKE LOCATED IN WAYNE, NJ 07470. MY HUSBAND LIFTED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE (THE REASON IS UNKNOWN) AND THE CAR INSTANTLY STARTED SPINNING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD. WITHIN SECOND THE BRAKES RELEASED AND SENT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AIRBORNE HEAD ON INTO A UTILITY POLE RESULTING IN THE INSTANT DEATH OF MY HUSBAND BECAUSE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY HUSBANDS CAUSE OF DEATH WAS MULTIPLE FORCE BLUNT TRAUMA TO UPPER TORSO I MYSELF WAS 17 WEEKS PREGNANT THIS ACCIDENT ALSO LED TO THE RESULT OF DEATH TO MY UNBORN CHILD. I ALSO WAS PINNED UNDER THE DASHBOARD AND RECEIVED MULTIPLE BILATERAL FRACTURES AND INTERNAL INJURIES. I WAS INDUCED TO A COMA FOR 1 MONTHS BEFORE I WORK UP NOW I DEAL WITH MANY LEG PROBLEMS AND TITANIUM RODS, SCREWS, AND PINS IN BOTH LEGS FOR REST OF MY LIFE. *TR
DRIVER LOST CONTROL AFTER THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENABLED, CAR FREEWHEELED AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO UTILITY POLE. DRIVE CRUSHED UP DASHBOARD WITH SEVERE LIFE THREATENING INJURIES IN CRITICAL CONDITION. PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND SEATBELT DID NOT RETRACT IN RESULT MY HUSBAND WAS KILLED IMMEDIATELY. *TR
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE STALLED OR CUT OFF. CONSUMER HAD TO PUT OIL IN AND IT WOULD START BACK UP. ALSO, FRONT SEAT BELT IS TOO LOOSE, IT TOUCHES THE GROUND WHEN GETTING OUT OF VEHICLE.*AK BRAKE PADS FAILED. *YH
DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT ENGAGES IN DRIVER'S SEAT ADJUSTMENT CONTROLS/LEVERS, CAUSING SEAT TO RECLINE WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE MITSUBISHI MIRAGE 1994 S 4 DOORS 1.5L THE VALVES GUIDES DAMAGE THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVES. *TR
HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING AT 20,000 MILES. CONSUMER HAD GASKET REPLACED, AND IT IS LEAKING AGAIN AT 47000 MILES. VEHICLE IS CONSTANTLY LOSING OIL. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ORIGINAL HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 40000 MILES, NOW THE REPLACEMENT IS FAILING AT 65000 MILES. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING HOME ONE NIGHT FROM A FRIENDS BIRTHDAY. AT APPROX. 1:20AM I WAS DRIVING NORTH IN NEWARK POMPTON TURNPIKE LOCATED IN WAYNE, NJ 07470. MY HUSBAND LIFTED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE (THE REASON IS UNKNOWN) AND THE CAR INSTANTLY STARTED SPINNING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD. WITHIN SECOND THE BRAKES RELEASED AND SENT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AIRBORNE HEAD ON INTO A UTILITY POLE RESULTING IN THE INSTANT DEATH OF MY HUSBAND BECAUSE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY HUSBANDS CAUSE OF DEATH WAS MULTIPLE FORCE BLUNT TRAUMA TO UPPER TORSO I MYSELF WAS 17 WEEKS PREGNANT THIS ACCIDENT ALSO LED TO THE RESULT OF DEATH TO MY UNBORN CHILD. I ALSO WAS PINNED UNDER THE DASHBOARD AND RECEIVED MULTIPLE BILATERAL FRACTURES AND INTERNAL INJURIES. I WAS INDUCED TO A COMA FOR 1 MONTHS BEFORE I WORK UP NOW I DEAL WITH MANY LEG PROBLEMS AND TITANIUM RODS, SCREWS, AND PINS IN BOTH LEGS FOR REST OF MY LIFE. *TR
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AND APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, NO BRAKING ACTION. DEALER REPLACED FRONT BRAKE LINE ON PASSENGER'S SIDE. TODAY, WHILE DRIVING 40MPH CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, NO BRAKING ACTION. DEALER REPLACED FRONT BRAKE LINE ON DRIVER SIDE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN APPLYING ACCELERATOR VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND THEN JUMP FORWARD OUT OF GEAR. CURRENTLY TRANSMISSION IS INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WILL ONLY GO INTO REVERSE GEAR. *AK
TRANSMISSION WAS GOING OUT AND JOLTING FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND GOT WORSE AND WORSE THEN NOW ONLY GOES IN REVERSE. *AK (TIRESIZE: 14)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
20 AMP FUSE BLOWS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AND CUTS OFF ENGINE CAUSING THE CAR TO DIE ON THE ROAD EVERY TIME. THIS HAPPENED FOUR (4) TIMES IN THE PAST THREE (3) MONTHS AND HAS BEEN REPORTED TO NHTSA TWICE ALREADY - SEE LIST OF COMPLAINTS FOR MITUSBISHI MIRAGE 1994, ALSO SEE VEHICLE OWNER QUESTIONNAIRE (VOQ) FORM ATTACHED TO EACH OF THE PREVIOUS REPORTS POSTED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. THE FIRST SIX (6) INCIDENT REPORTS ON THE SAME 20 AMP FUSE PROBLEM HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO NHTSA - SEE COMPLAINT PAGE. THE FIRST REPORTED INCIDENT WITH THE FUSE OCCURRED ON 04/28/97 WHICH WAS WITHIN THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY TERM, BUT MITSUBISHI IGNORED IT. OTHER FUSE BLOWING INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED SINCE THE FIRST SIX INCIDENTS WERE REPORTED TO NHTSA. THE LATEST FUSE BLOWING INCIDENT WAS ON 08/03/2007 ON THE 101 FWY NEAR CAMARILLO, CA. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY WITH WESTLAKE MOTORS, THOUSAND OAKS, CA FOR THE NEVER-ENDING FUSE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM SINCE 1997. ALL THEY DO IS CHANGE THE FUSE AND SAY IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AND IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN PRESENTING MORTAL DANGER TO DRIVER AND CAR OCCUPANTS AS WELL AS TO OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. OTHER REPORTS ON THE SAME FUSE PROBLEMS WITH MITSUBISHI WERE FOUND GOOGLING THE INTERNET. THIS IS A MAJOR DEFECT THAT HAS BEEN COVERED UP BY THE MANUFACTURERS AND ITS AGENTS FOR A VERY LONG TIME. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND MAKE MITSUBISHI FIX THIS PROBLEM ONCE AND FOR ALL. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN REFUSING TO CHANGE COMPONENTS (ECU, SENSORS, ELECTRICAL HARNESS, FUSES, ETC.) SINCE 1996 OR TAKE CAR BACK UNDER CALIFORNIA LEMON LAW SINCE CAR OWNERS LACKED REPRESENTATION. PLEASE HELP!! *JB
(1)THE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED (2)A SPRING FROM THE SWITCH FROZE THE STEERING SO THAT ONLY 5 DEGREE OF STEERING IN EITHER DIRECTION WAS POSSIBLE ALMOST LEADING TO A CRASH (3)THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS TO BE REPLACED AND A NEW TUMBLER IS NEEDED. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
ONE WHEEL LUG: NUT MISSING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE MAKES A ROARING SOUND AND ALSO VIBRATES WHEN DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 TO 70 MPH. *AK THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED BUT THE VEHICLE STILLVIBRATES GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. *YH
LEFT REAR WHEEL FAILED TO SEPARATE FROM VEHICLE EVEN WITH LUG NUTS OFF. MANUFACTURER STATES THIS IS COMMON. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
NEEDS TO REPLACE THE MOTOR ON THE POWER WINDOWS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
ALL SEALS ARE MISSING FROM VEHICLE CAUSING LEAKS WITHIN INTERIOR.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN APPLYING ACCELERATOR VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND THEN JUMP FORWARD OUT OF GEAR. CURRENTLY TRANSMISSION IS INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WILL ONLY GO INTO REVERSE GEAR. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
LIGHTS TEND TO GO OUT AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT STOPED SEVERAL TIMES BY LOCAL PD. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN TURNING TO RIGHT IDLER ARM SNAPPED, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN THE CONSUMER BACKED OUT OF A DRIVEWAY THE REAR SWAY BAR BROKE. A MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND SUGGESTED THAT THE CONSUMER NOT DRIVE IT. *NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .