Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 58 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Mitsubishi Mirage, and it carries 6 recalls. 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.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 11 | 19% |
| Structure | 9 | 16% |
| Service brakes | 9 | 16% |
| Air bags | 6 | 10% |
| Power train | 3 | 5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 3% |
| Steering | 2 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
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 INTERSECTION
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
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
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
I WAS GIVEN A 1999 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY AFTER AN ACCIDENT IN MY 1997 MIRAGE. WHEN I RECEIVED THE CAR, THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WAS DIFFICULT TO OPEN. OVER TIME, THE DOOR BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICUL
NHTSA complaint: Structure
A CRACK DEVELOPED ON THE LOWER HINGE OF THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER DOOR HINGES, BUT THE CRACK RECURRED.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Structure
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 INJURI
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HINGE PROBLEM. DOOR WAS INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO OPEN OR CLOSE FOR APPROX. 4 MO. LAST MONTH, THE DOOR WOULDN'T CLOSE ENOUGH TO TURN OFF THE DOOR AJAR INDICATOR OR CABIN LIGHT. FINALLY, THE DOOR BECAME
NHTSA complaint: Structure
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 T
NHTSA complaint: Structure
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 1999 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.
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.
Risk: THE CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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 CRANKSHA
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BOLT SECURING THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY CAN BECOME LOOSE AND THE PULLEY COULD FALL OFF THE VEHICLE.
Risk: THE CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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. COMPON
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.
Risk: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Fix: 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 NATI
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
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: 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.
| Reliability raw | 84 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 78 | good |
| Maintenance | 87 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 54 | average |
| Performance | 39 | below average |
| Efficiency | 50 | average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 58 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 11 of them (19%). There are 6 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 84/100 (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.
AVOIR scores its longevity 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1999 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 71/100. 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.