1999 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 1999 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
- Brakes1420.9%
- Engine1319.4%
- Body & structure1014.9%
- Airbags913.4%
- Driver assistance57.5%
- Transmission46.0%
- Steering34.5%
- Electrical23.0%
- Interior & seats23.0%
- Suspension23.0%
- Visibility11.5%
- Fuel system11.5%
- Tires & wheels11.5%
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
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKING PRODUCES SQUEAKING AND RUBBING SOUNDS EVEN AFTER ROTORS WERE TURNED & REPLACED. MULTIPLE PAD REPLACEMENTS OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST 3 YEARS. THE REPEATED RUBBING AND SQUEAKING SOUNDS OCCUR EVEN AFTER BRAKE SERVICE AFTER LESS THAN 1500 MILES. *AK TRANSMISSION: CAR IS "SLOW" TO ACCELERATE AND SOMETIMES STALES UPON ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS FROM 0 TO 40 MILES/HOUR. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON....O2 SENSOR(S) REPLACED.....CATALYTIC CONVERTER PROBLEM??????? THE CAR PASSED ITS EMMISSION CONTROL INSPECTION.
FAULTY BRAKES-IN DEC,2002, HAD TO HIT BRAKES WHEN VEHICLE PULLED IN FRONT OF ME. I IMMEDIATELY LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE-NO STEERING- AND CAR SPUN SEVERAL TIMES. APPEARED BRAKES LOCKED UP EVEN THOUGH I HAVE ABS SYSTEM. *JB 2/2003-SAME THING. WAS COUPLE LENGTHS BEHIND VEHICLE WHEN CAR IN FRONT SUDDENLY PULLED TO LEFT LANE BECAUSE A VEH HAD ALMOST STOPPED IN ROAD. WHEN I PUSHED ON BRAKES, THEY AGAIN LOCKED UP WITH NO STEERING CONTROL CAUSING ME TO HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME EVEN THOUGH I WAS TRYING TO STEER VEHICLE OFF INTO EMER LANE. WAS GOING ABOUT 55 AND AIR BAGS DID NOT EVEN DEPLOY. HAD PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES/TIRES SQUEAKING IN 12/2001 & TOOK IN FOR REPAIR. WAS TOLD IT WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM & WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY BUT CAR STILL CLICKED DURING TURNS.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
ENGINE PROBLEM. *AK
PURCHASED 1999 MIRAGE FROM THOMPSON FORD AND WAS NOT NOTIFIED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON A RECALL. AUTOMOBILE WAS PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER 2000. SUBSEQUENTLY , PULLEY BOLT COMPLETELY BROKE AND THE ENTIRE PULLEY AND BELT FELL OUT. THIS WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT, EXACT DAYS UNKNOWN, HOWEVER MONTH AND YEAR ARE ACCURATE. IN APRIL 2003, VEHICLE STOPPED. WAS INFORMED BY THOMPSON FORD THAT THE VEHICLE WSA NOT UNDER WARRANTY ONLY TO FIND OUT APPROXIMATELY 10 DAYS LATER THAT IT WAS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THOMPSON FORD AFTER ANOTHER MECHANIC HAD SERVICED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THOMPSON FORD REPLACED THE PISTON AND THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS SENT TO A AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED A VALVE AND SENSOR, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE STILL DOES NOT RUN. FAILURE OF THOMPSON FORD TO NOTIFY ME OF THE RECALL UPON PURCHASE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR DEATH AS AT THE TIME I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I WAS COMMUTING. I BECAME AWARE OF THE RECALL IN 2002 FOLLOWING THE PULLEY BOLT BREAKING AND COSTING CONSIDERABLE MONIES FOR REPAIRS.*AK
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS GIVEN A 1999 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY AFTER AN ACCIDENT IN MY 1997 MIRAGE. WHEN I RECEIVED THE CAR, THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WAS DIFFICULT TO OPEN. OVER TIME, THE DOOR BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO CLOSE AND IT EVENTUALLY BECAME MISALIGNED, DROPPING WHEN IT WAS OPENED. IN JULY 2002, THE DOOR BECAME UNUSABLE BECAUSE IT COULD NOT BE OPENED FAR ENOUGH FOR A PASSENGER TO ENTER. I TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP, WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT THE HINGE HAD RUSTED SHUT DUE TO UNDERUSE AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A BODY SHOP. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE BODY SHOP, I WAS TOLD THAT THE DEALER WAS NOT TELLING THE TRUTH BECAUSE THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OF CAR AND THAT THE HINGES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE BODY SHOP TOLD ME TO CONTACT MITSUBISHI DIRECTLY. I CALLED MITSUBISHI'S CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AND WAS LITERALLY TOLD "IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, THERE IS NO DEFECT AND IT'S YOUR PROBLEM NOW." I HAVE SINCE BEEN ABLE TO FIND ON YOUR WEBSITE THAT THIS IS IN FACT A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. *AK
A CRACK DEVELOPED ON THE LOWER HINGE OF THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER DOOR HINGES, BUT THE CRACK RECURRED.*AK
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE. WHILE STOPPED, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE FRONT END WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT IS GETTING THE RUN AROUND. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE POWERTRAIN AND FUEL TYPE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 200,000.
1999 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE IN A SERVICE STATION PARKING LOT. THIS INCIDENT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD AND THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *SC *JB
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE HOLDING BRAKE PEDAL ENIGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INTO A POLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. SECOND TIME A GARAGE DOOR WAS HIT. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN EITHER INCIDENT. *AK THERE WAS A RECALL ( 00V311001) FOR POSSIBLE LOOSE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT AND THE DEALER REINSTALLED IT. *YH
WHILE PULLING IN A PARKING SPACE CAR SPEEDED UP AND TOOK OFF. COSUMER'S FOOT WAS ON BRAKE AND PUSHED IT TO FLOORBOARD, CRASHED INTO SEARS WALL, AND NONE OF AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *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
I OWN A 1999 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE DE, WHICH I PURCHASED 3/8/02; IT HAS A 1.5 LITER ENGINE AND AN AUTOMATIC 4 SPEED TRANSMISSION. WITHIN DAYS, I NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED ABNORMALLY FROM THE 1ST TO THE 2ND GEARS WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD. THIS ABNORMALITY CAN BE DESCRIBED AS A HESITATION OR SLIPPING AT SOME TIMES, OR A POPPING, LIKE GUNFIRE, AT OTHERS. AGAIN, THIS SHIFTING SENSATION IS MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER FROM WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED OF THIS PROBLEM ON 3/19/02. THEY TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND INDICATED ON THE REPAIR SLIP THAT THEY WERE UNSURE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT A PROBLEM EXISTED. ON APRIL 5, 2002, I DISCUSSED THIS MATTER AGAIN WITH ROME FORD, WHERE THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED. IN AN ATTEMPT TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION, THEY SENT THE VEHICLE TO OUR LOCAL MITSUBISHI DEALER, PAOLOZZI MITSUBISHI IN MARCY, NY, FOR AN EVALUATION. THE EVALUATION RESULTED IN THE STATEMENT TO ROME FORD THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. ON 2/27/03, I ENCOUNTERED YET ANOTHER UNRELATED PROBLEM WITH THE FAN BELT LOOSENING AND GETTING CHEWED UP BY THE PULLEYS, FOR WHICH I BROUGHT THE CAR DIRECTLY TO PAOLOZZI; FOR THIS, THEY CHARGED ME $119.48 FOR CHECKING THE BELTS AND PULLEYS, AND FOUND THE POWER STEERING PUMP PULLEY MISALIGNED. THEY REMOVED THE PUMP AND BRACKET, REMOUNTED IT AND INSTALLED A NEW BELT. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CHARGED FOR THIS SERVICE, AS THIS PROBLEM IS OUTLINED ON A WEB SITE AS RECALL #00V311001. I MENTIONED THE FAN BELT PROBLEM BECAUSE ON THAT SAME DATE, I AGAIN COMPLAINED ABOUT HOW THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS. I WAS CHARGED $18.00 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC ANALYSIS, FOR WHICH PAOLOZZI STATED ON THE INVOICE THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING IS CONSISTENT WITH SPECIFICATIONS AND THAT NO PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION WERE EVIDENT. TO DATE, THE PROBLEM PERSISTS, AND I AM NEARING THE END OF THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY, AS I NOW HAVE ABOUT 57,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND THE WARRANTY ENDS AT 60,000 MILES. *LA
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT THE SPEED OF 25 MPH, TRANSMISION WENT OUT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *MR
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
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT HAS BE SOLVED BY REPLACING OXYGEN SENSOR (3 TIMES) AND CATALLYTIC CONVERTER (1 TIME). BATTERY FAILED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. DEALER UNABLE TO IDENTIFY ROOT CAUSE OF PROBLEM. I AM CONSIDERING LEMON LAW
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK VEHICLE STEERED TO THE RIGHT BECAUSE OF STEERING PROBLEM. *YH
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
ENGINE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING AND SHUTS OFF. THE DEFECT IS INTERMITTENT AND DOES NOT GIVE A CHECK ENGINE ALARM. AS A CONSEQUENCE YOU MAY END UP WITHOUT POWER WHEN PASSING TO OTHER VEHICLES OR GOING ACCROSS INTERSECTIONS. HAVE NOT YET IDENTIFIED CAUSE. WAS REAR ENDED DO TO THIS DEFECT
WHILE TRAVELING AT 45-50 MPH VEHICLE STALLED AND CAUSED AN OUT OF CONTROL VEHICLE TO FLIP OVER AR OVERPASS AND LAND ON ITS TOP. DRIVER RECEIVED SEVERE BODY INJURIES. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OF MY 1999 MIRAGE MITSUBISHI IS FALLING FROM ITS BOTTOM HINGE. THE BOTTOM HINGE IS CRACKED AND BROKEN. WHEN I OPEN THE DOOR IT FALLS IN A SLANT TOWRD THE FLOOR. IT WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. BECAUSE IT IS A AJAR MY INTERIOR LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK *LA
1999 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HINGE CRACKED. OPENING DOOR DROPS DOWN AND WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. INTERIOR LIGHT AND DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON. DEALER SAYS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. ONLY HAVE 37,800 MILES ON CAR. DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HINGE NOT CRACKED YET. *JB
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
REAR WHEELS WERE TILTED AT THE TOP SO THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE STRUTS AND SPRINGS WITH USED PARTS. THIS DIDN'T RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO PERFORMED A FRONT END REPAIR, ALIGNMENT, AND TIRES. THE SECOND DEALER STATED THE LEFT AND RIGHT TIRES WERE WORN BADLY ON THE INSIDE AND THE VEHICLE NEEDED A REAR END ALIGNMENT. CONSUMER HAS THE OLD PARTS. *PH *JB
REAR SPRING WERE CUT IMPROPERLY,CAUSING THE TIRES TO TURN INWARD. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
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
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE LAMINATION IN BETWEEN THE WINDOW IS DETERIORATING BECAUSE IT STARTED TO BULB IT UP, AND IT GIVES HER A HEADACHE WHEN DRIVING. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
PREPARING TO GO ON A TRIP, I FILLED MY VEHICLE WITH GAS. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES I NOTICE THE VEHICLE BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE THEN SLOW DOWN. I LOOKED OVER AT THE GAS NEEDLE AND IT HAD DROPPED FROM THE FULL MARK TO EMPTY AND THE FUEL LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE, WAITED FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES AND THE GAS HAND RETURNED TO THE FULL POSITION AND THE CAR WAS DRIVABLE AGAIN. THIS HAPPEN THREE TIMES WITHIN AN HOURS PERIOD OF TIME. IN LOOKING AT COMPLAINTS OVER THE INTERNET, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL REPORT PROBLEMS OF THE SAME NATURE ~ REPORTED ON EDMUNDS.COM. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR WHEELS WERE TILTED AT THE TOP SO THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE STRUTS AND SPRINGS WITH USED PARTS. THIS DIDN'T RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO PERFORMED A FRONT END REPAIR, ALIGNMENT, AND TIRES. THE SECOND DEALER STATED THE LEFT AND RIGHT TIRES WERE WORN BADLY ON THE INSIDE AND THE VEHICLE NEEDED A REAR END ALIGNMENT. CONSUMER HAS THE OLD PARTS. *PH *JB
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 .