1999 Mitsubishi Mirage: problems, recalls and reliability
6 recalls and 57 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine and engine cooling (23% of complaints); the 2001 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall May 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 57 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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.”Owner report · Air Bags · Feb 2008
“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”Owner report · Electrical System · May 2005
“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”Owner report · Air Bags · Feb 2005
Show 7 more owner reports
“While driving at a 30 mph consumer's vehicle was involved in a rear end collision. Upon impact, front air bags did not deploy. Consumer managed to pull over, and had the vehicle towed. Consumer sustained minor injuries. Dealership was aware of the problem, but did not resolve it. *ak”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2004
“While vehicle was parked consumer noticed that both driver and passenger side doors would not line up properly in order to close. Consumer drove the vehicle to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the vehicle was working as designed. *ak”Owner report · Structure · Jun 2004
“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.”Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · May 2004
“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”Owner report · Latches/Locks/Linkages · Apr 2004
“When shutting the passenger door consumer noticed that the door hinges cracked. This was causing the door not to close. *ak”Owner report · Structure · Feb 2004
“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”Owner report · Interior Lighting · Apr 2003
“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”Owner report · Tires · Mar 2003
When filing, owners marked a crash in 14 of these complaints and injuries in 8 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 6 campaigns
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.
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: MIRAGE MODEL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.5L ENGINES; MONTERO SPORT MODELS EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L ENGINES; AND MONTERO MODELS EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L ENGINES. THE BOLT SECURING THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY CAN BECOME LOOSE AND THE PULLEY COULD FALL OFF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: ON THE MIRAGE VEHICLES, THE DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW, IMPROVED CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT ON THE OLDER ENGINES. ON NEW ENGINES WHICH ALREADY HAVE THE IMPROVED BOLT, THE DEALER WILL TIGHTEN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT TO THE CORRECT TORQUE SPECIFICATION. ON THE MONTERO MODELS, DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT TO THE CORRECT TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS. IF THE BOLT IS DAMAGED, IT WILL BE REPLACED.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BOLT SECURING THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY CAN BECOME LOOSE AND THE PULLEY COULD FALL OFF THE VEHICLE.
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.
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
How other years compare
Check your exact Mirage by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Mitsubishi Mirage reliable?
NHTSA has 57 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on record for the 1999 Mitsubishi Mirage. The most complained-about area is engine and engine cooling (23% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1999 Mitsubishi Mirage problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 59,430 miles or less.
Does the 1999 Mitsubishi Mirage have open recalls?
6 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning equipment:other:labels. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.