Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Air bags9
- Service brakes, hydraulic8
- Power train6
- Engine and engine cooling5
- Latches/locks/linkages3
- Structure3
- Unknown or other3
- Visibility3
- Seats2
- Tires2
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
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage failed the safety check 3.64% of the time — 112% more often than the average 1998 passenger car (1.71%). Median odometer at inspection: 141,911 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In New Zealand
116 1998 cars are on the New Zealand register; 93% arrived as used imports, 5% 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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A POORLY MANUFACTURED VACUUM CHECK VALVE IN THE VACUUM HOSE BETWEEN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THE VACUUM BOOSTER CHECK VALVE CAN STICK TO THE VALVE BODY.
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 1998 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 |
| 619836 | MITSUBISHI MOTORS DEALERS WHO HAVE THE MEDIC SYSTEM CAN REPROGRAM THE RED ROM PACK USED FOR REFLASHING VARIOUS VEHICLE'S PCMS. *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 |
| 615993 | THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS PROPER CAMSHAFT AND CAMSHAFT OIL SEAL PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 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 |
| 609767 | CORRECTIONS TO THE HEATED OXYGEN SENSOR RESISTANCE VALUES AND CHECKING PROCEDURES VOLUME 1 SERVECE MANUAL. YD |
| 609764 | CODE NO. P0340 CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION, TROUBLESHOOTING PROCEDURES VOLUME 1 SERVICE MANUALS. YD |
| 6088733 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE ENGINE SURGE AT 45-50 MPH AND / OR ENGINE SAG DURING COLD START. *TT |
| 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 |
| 604259 | THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS SNOW TIRE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CERTAIN CARS AND SPORT-UTILITY VEHICLES. *TT |
| 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 |
| 54034 | PREVENTING DUST FROM ENTERING THE INTERIOR. *YC |
| 54030 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE SUNROOF AND RELATED BODY PANEL CHANGES. *YC |
| 10211530 | This Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers to explain the difference between normal dew condensation, which is a natural phenomenon, and water penetration caused by improper sealing or a defective/broken part. |
| 10199125 | This Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers informing them a shock absorber oil leak may result in replacement of absorbers unnecessarily when trace amounts of oil are noted to have adhered to the shock absorber. |
| 10180775 | Technical Information Notice to dealerships. Due to the increased occurrence of Mirage/Mirage G4 vehicles exhibiting faulty air conditioning systems caused by low/high refrigerant levels; MMNA would like to remind all Dealer Service Personnel of the correct procedures when submitting warranty claims of this distinction. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)