1995 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 76 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995 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
Air bags	36	47%
Electrical system	5	7%
Engine and engine cooling	5	7%
Suspension	5	7%
Service brakes	5	7%
Exterior lighting	3	4%
Seats	2	3%
Seat belts	2	3%
Unknown or other	1	1%
Engine and engine cooling	1	1%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE M
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. HIS VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATED THAT TH
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

1. REAR-END COLLISION. THERE WERE NO VISUAL OR MECHANICAL DEFECTS OBSERVED BEFORE OR AFTER THE ACCIDENT. WHEN VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND. WHILE STOPPED, THE SEAT SOUNDED AS THOUGH IT ZIPPED THROUGH THE GEARS IN
NHTSA complaint: Seats

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30-35 MPH THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE YET THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT INJURED. *NLM
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE LOST OIL, DEALER REPLACED LEAKING CYLINDER HEAD GASKET. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER, SUDDENLY SHUTTING OFF. DEALER REPLACED DISTRIBUTOR TO CORRECT CONDITION. *AK *TT
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

FAILURE TO START AND/OR MAINTAIN IDLE IN WET WEATHER. AUTO LURCHES, SPUTTERS. ACCC MECHANIC COULD NOT DIAGNOSE.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. WITHIN SECONDS THE RED PAINT TURNED BLACK IN THE HOOD'S CENTER. AS I ATTEMPTED TO GET TO THE SHOULDER, SMALL DEBRIS WAS FALLING FROM MY
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

THE SCREW HOLDING THE BULB GROUND HAD LOOSENED. IT LEAD TO A PREMATURE BULT FAILURE. AFTER TIGHTENING AND BULB REPLACEMENT, IT IS FINE.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1995 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.

Exterior lighting 06E065000

CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIAT

Risk: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Fix: AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	86	excellent
Longevity est.	79	good
Maintenance	87	excellent
Depreciation	54	average
Performance	39	below average
Efficiency	54	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 1995 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 1995 Mitsubishi Mirage?

Owners have filed 76 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 36 of them (47%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1995 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 1995 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 1995 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1995 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.