Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Mitsubishi Mirage, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling18
- Power train15
- Air bags15
- Service brakes, hydraulic6
- Seat belts6
- Suspension6
- Vehicle speed control5
- Tires4
- Visibility3
- Equipment2
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 11 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 4 1997 Mirage vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 4 people died inside them. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1997 Mitsubishi Mirage failed the safety check 0.00% of the time — 100% less often than the average 1997 passenger car (1.60%). Median odometer at inspection: 113,439 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
0 cars built in 1997 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 2 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In New Zealand
186 1997 cars are on the New Zealand register; 90% arrived as used imports, 8% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mitsubishi told its dealers about the 1997 Mitsubishi Mirage: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 635121 | SUBJECT REGARDING BALL JOINT END PLAY CHECK PROCEDURES - SERVICE MANUAL REVISION. *TT |
| 622425 | THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS REVISED CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM TROUBLESHOOTING PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 622421 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF SHUDDER, SURGE, AND / OR VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING 35 - 50 MPH AT STEADY THROTTLE. THIS CONDITION MAY BE DUE TO THE BREAKDOWN OF THE SPII A/T FLUID, CREATING A TORQUE CONVERTER DAMPER CLUTCH SHUDDER. *TT |
| 618271 | MITSUBISHI MOTOR SALES OF AMERICA, INC. (MMSA) IS VOLUNTARILY RECALLING AFFECTED VEHICLES FOR A POSSIBLE LOOSE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT. *TT |
| 618209 | INFORMATION ON TRUNK LID RELEASE KITS FOR CONFINEMENT WITHIN TRUNK. *JB |
| 614983 | THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS REVISED DETAILS FOR SUNROOF WATER TEST AND FIT ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURES - SERVICE MANUAL REVISION. *TT |
| 614011 | THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS OBD-II DRIVE CYCLE PROCEDURES AND WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION FOR OBD-II DRIVE CYCLE ON AFFECTED VEHICLES. *TT |
| 612508 | INFORMATION CONTAINING RECOMMENDED FUELS FOR CERTAIN VEHICLES. *TT |
| 609764 | CODE NO. P0340 CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION, TROUBLESHOOTING PROCEDURES VOLUME 1 SERVICE MANUALS. YD |
| 6088731 | THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS RECOMMENDED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION / TRANSAXLE MAINTENANCE INFORMATION. *TT |
| 6088726 | THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS RECOMMENDED MANUAL TRANSMISSION / TRANSAXLE MAINTENANCE INFORMATION. *TT |
| 608067 | SOME VEHICLES (VIN XU046855) EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL WINDOWS MAY EXHIBIT WATER LEAKAGE AND / OR WIND NOISE FROM THE FRONT WINDOW WHEN DRIVING WITH THE WINDOW CLOSED. *TT |
| 602031 | SEVERAL CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED OF A RATTLING NOISE FROM AROUND THE MAIN MUFFLER DURING DRIVING. *YC |
| 602030 | VEHICLE STALLING ON COLD START-UP. *YC |
| 601990 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE LONG COLD START TIMES, SAG DURING WARM-UP, AND STALLING. *TT |
| 601482 | SERVICE MANUAL REVISION ON CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT TORQUE. *YC |
| 601200 | SERVICE MANUAL REVISION ON CORRECTED COMPONENT GROUNDING LOCATION. *YC |
| 600327 | SERVICE MANUAL REVISION ON A/C CLUTCH AIR GAP. *YC |
| 54303 | NEW PROCEDURES FOR ADJUSTING HEADLIGHTS AIM ON VARIOUS VEHICLES. *YC |
| 54299 | SERVICE MANUAL REVISION ON SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) CAUTIONS AND WARNINGS. *YC |
| 52620 | MUT-II SCAN TOOL WARRANTY. *TW |
| 52618 | CONNECTING ROD BEARING IDENTIFICATION COLORS - SERVICE MANUAL REVISION. *TW |
| 52614 | THROTTLE BODY PROCEDURES (ECLIPSE/ECLIPSE SPYDER, MIRAGE, 3000GT) - SERVICE MANUAL REVISION. *TW |
| 52613 | IGNITION COIL RESISTANCE - SERVICE MANUAL REVISION. *TW |
| 52085 | DRIVESHAFT KNOCKING NOISE. *JD |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)