Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage, and it carries 5 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 5 | 14% |
| Structure | 3 | 8% |
| Power train | 3 | 8% |
| Steering | 3 | 8% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 6% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 6% |
| Suspension | 2 | 6% |
| Seat belts | 2 | 6% |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
I am the original owner of this vehicle. During the last state inspection I was told and shown the cross member bar is starting to rust. In researching cross member bars with Mitsubishi this seems to be an ongoing proble
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
MY NAME IS [XXX]. AND I AM REQUIRING ABOUT THE SAFER CAR RECALL.. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
MY ENTIRE BACK TAIL LIGHTS, SIDE LIGHTS, AND DASH LIGHTS FAILED AND DUE TO THIS ANOTHER DRIVER BUMPED MY VEHICLE BECAUSE MY LIGHTS WENT TOTALLY OUT AS I WAS DRIVING AND I COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING ON THE DASH AND IT WAS NIG
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE FR380 TIRES, SIZE 175/65R14. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE DRIVER SIDE
NHTSA complaint: Tires
ODOMETER, GAS, TEMPERATURE GAUGES STOPPED FUNCTIONING... YOU DON'T KNOW HOW FAST YOU GOING YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MORE GAS LEFT IN YOUR TANK... ON JUN 8, 2007 I'M ON MY WAY HOME THE LEVEL ON MY GAS STUCK ON HALF I THOUG
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I OWN A 2000 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE THAT I BOUGHT NEW OFF THE LOT. I NOTICED IT HAD TROUBLE SHUTTING SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND IT HAD A LOUD SQUEAK. ABOUT A YEAR LATER THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HAD THE SAME ISSUE FOR A FEW MONTHS
NHTSA complaint: Structure
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS 2000 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE. THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HINGES BROKE. THE DOOR HINGE DROPPED, AND THE DOOR SIMPLY FELL OFF. THESE TWO OCCURRENCES HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS. T
NHTSA complaint: Structure
THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HINGE HAS COLLAPSED, BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ALIGNED. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR IS BEGINNING TO DO THE SAME THING. AT THIS TIME NO ONE CAN SIT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE.*AK THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF
NHTSA complaint: Structure
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2000 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. 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.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 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: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
| Reliability raw | 80 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 77 | 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 36 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 5 of them (14%). There are 5 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 80/100 (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 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2000 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 70/100. 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.