1990 Mitsubishi Mirage

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

72/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 41 complaints with NHTSA about the 1990 Mitsubishi Mirage, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Seat belts	19	46%
Engine and engine cooling	8	20%
Electrical system	3	7%
Power train	3	7%
Visibility	2	5%
Engine	1	2%
Structure	1	2%
Electrical system	1	2%
Seats	1	2%
Suspension	1	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED SPORADICALLY AT INITIAL START-UP OR WHEN DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR TH
NHTSA complaint: Engine

ECU FAILURE, THEN MPI CONTROL RELAY, THEN DISTRIBUTOR CAP, COIL & ROTOR, THEN NEW DISTRIBUTOR. *NL
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

THE ONLY DOOR THAT WILL OPEN NORMALLY IS THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL ONLY OPEN FROM INSIDE, AND BOTH PASSENGER REAR DOORS WON'T OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS VERY UNSAFE IF YOU
NHTSA complaint: Structure

WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL GEAR WAS ON DRIVE, THEN JUMPED INTO REVERSE, MAKING VEHICLE ROLL BACKWARD, HAPPENED TWICE.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Power train

ENGINE FIRE DUE TO POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *MJS
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

THERE IS A STRUCTURAL DEFECT WITHIN THE SECOND ENGINE CYLINDER--LOST COMPRESSION LEADING TO FAILURE 3 TIMES, 3RD TIME CYLINDER CRACKED. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *ML
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

WHEN DRIVING AT VARIES SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL/DIE OUT FOR NO REASON. WOULD RESTART VEHICLE & IT WOULD STALL AGAIN. TOOK TO DEALER. MECHANIC GAVE IT A TUNE UP. THE STALLING STILL EXISTS AFTER TUNE UP. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

EXPERIENCED UNPREDICTABLE COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY.
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1990 Mitsubishi Mirage. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Seat belts:front:buckle assembly 95V103004

THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.

Risk: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Fix: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES A

The seven scores

Reliability raw	86	excellent
Longevity est.	79	good
Maintenance	87	excellent
Depreciation	54	average
Performance	39	below average
Efficiency	51	average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 50% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 54% of compact cars
Running costs: better than 73% of compact cars
Value retention: better than 19% of compact cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 86: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 79: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1990 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 87: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1990 Mitsubishi Mirage?

Owners have filed 41 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and seat belts is the most reported area with 19 of them (46%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1990 Mitsubishi Mirage reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 86/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 1990 Mitsubishi Mirage last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1990 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1990 Mitsubishi Mirage?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 72/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.