MITSUBISHI MIRAGE · model year

1994 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE

69 NHTSA complaints, 26 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1994MITSUBISHIMIRAGE carries 69 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 26 crashes, 3 fires, 28 injuries, and 5 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1994 MIRAGE is air bags:frontal with 22 filings, followed by air bags (8) and power train:automatic transmission (4). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 14 investigation files overlapping the 1994 MIRAGE. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

69
Complaints
26
Crashes
3
Fires
28
Injuries
5
Deaths

Total Complaints

69 filings

Crashes Reported

26 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL22
AIR BAGS8
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE4
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING1
STEERING:LINKAGES:ARM:IDLER AND ATTACHMENT1
WHEELS1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS1
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS1
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS1

Recent Complaints

20141016ENGINE

THE MITSUBISHI MIRAGE 1994 S 4 DOORS 1.5L THE VALVES GUIDES DAMAGE THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVES. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

20140714CrashFireFatalSERVICE BRAKES

MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING HOME ONE NIGHT FROM A FRIENDS BIRTHDAY. AT APPROX. 1:20AM I WAS DRIVING NORTH IN NEWARK POMPTON TURNPIKE LOCATED IN WAYNE, NJ 07470. MY HUSBAND LIFTED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE (THE REASON IS UNKNOWN) AND THE CAR INSTANTLY STARTED SPINNING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD. WITHIN SECOND THE BRAKES RELEASED AND SENT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AIRBORNE HEAD ON INTO A UTILITY POLE RESULTING IN THE INSTANT DEATH OF MY HUSBAND BECAUSE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY HUSBANDS CAUSE OF DEATH WAS MULTIPLE FORCE BLUNT TRAUMA TO UPPER TORSO I MYSELF WAS 17 WEEKS PREGNANT THIS ACCIDENT ALSO LED TO THE RESULT OF DEATH TO MY UNBORN CHILD. I ALSO WAS PINNED UNDER THE DASHBOARD AND RECEIVED MULTIPLE BILATERAL FRACTURES AND INTERNAL INJURIES. I WAS INDUCED TO A COMA FOR 1 MONTHS BEFORE I WORK UP NOW I DEAL WITH MANY LEG PROBLEMS AND TITANIUM RODS, SCREWS, AND PINS IN BOTH LEGS FOR REST OF MY LIFE. *TR

20140714CrashFireFatalAIR BAGS

MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING HOME ONE NIGHT FROM A FRIENDS BIRTHDAY. AT APPROX. 1:20AM I WAS DRIVING NORTH IN NEWARK POMPTON TURNPIKE LOCATED IN WAYNE, NJ 07470. MY HUSBAND LIFTED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE (THE REASON IS UNKNOWN) AND THE CAR INSTANTLY STARTED SPINNING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD. WITHIN SECOND THE BRAKES RELEASED AND SENT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AIRBORNE HEAD ON INTO A UTILITY POLE RESULTING IN THE INSTANT DEATH OF MY HUSBAND BECAUSE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY HUSBANDS CAUSE OF DEATH WAS MULTIPLE FORCE BLUNT TRAUMA TO UPPER TORSO I MYSELF WAS 17 WEEKS PREGNANT THIS ACCIDENT ALSO LED TO THE RESULT OF DEATH TO MY UNBORN CHILD. I ALSO WAS PINNED UNDER THE DASHBOARD AND RECEIVED MULTIPLE BILATERAL FRACTURES AND INTERNAL INJURIES. I WAS INDUCED TO A COMA FOR 1 MONTHS BEFORE I WORK UP NOW I DEAL WITH MANY LEG PROBLEMS AND TITANIUM RODS, SCREWS, AND PINS IN BOTH LEGS FOR REST OF MY LIFE. *TR

20140402CrashFireFatalAIR BAGS

DRIVER LOST CONTROL AFTER THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENABLED, CAR FREEWHEELED AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO UTILITY POLE. DRIVE CRUSHED UP DASHBOARD WITH SEVERE LIFE THREATENING INJURIES IN CRITICAL CONDITION. PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND SEATBELT DID NOT RETRACT IN RESULT MY HUSBAND WAS KILLED IMMEDIATELY. *TR

20070805ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

20 AMP FUSE BLOWS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AND CUTS OFF ENGINE CAUSING THE CAR TO DIE ON THE ROAD EVERY TIME. THIS HAPPENED FOUR (4) TIMES IN THE PAST THREE (3) MONTHS AND HAS BEEN REPORTED TO NHTSA TWICE ALREADY - SEE LIST OF COMPLAINTS FOR MITUSBISHI MIRAGE 1994, ALSO SEE VEHICLE OWNER QUESTIONNAIRE (VOQ) FORM ATTACHED TO EACH OF THE PREVIOUS REPORTS POSTED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. THE FIRST SIX (6) INCIDENT REPORTS ON THE SAME 20 AMP FUSE PROBLEM HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO NHTSA - SEE COMPLAINT PAGE. THE FIRST REPORTED INCIDENT WITH THE FUSE OCCURRED ON 04/28/97 WHICH WAS WITHIN THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY TERM, BUT MITSUBISHI IGNORED IT. OTHER FUSE BLOWING INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED SINCE THE FIRST SIX INCIDENTS WERE REPORTED TO NHTSA. THE LATEST FUSE BLOWING INCIDENT WAS ON 08/03/2007 ON THE 101 FWY NEAR CAMARILLO, CA. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY WITH WESTLAKE MOTORS, THOUSAND OAKS, CA FOR THE NEVER-ENDING FUSE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM SINCE 1997. ALL THEY DO IS CHANG

Mileage: 93,016

20040627ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

(1)THE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED (2)A SPRING FROM THE SWITCH FROZE THE STEERING SO THAT ONLY 5 DEGREE OF STEERING IN EITHER DIRECTION WAS POSSIBLE ALMOST LEADING TO A CRASH (3)THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS TO BE REPLACED AND A NEW TUMBLER IS NEEDED. *JB

Mileage: 120,600

20031130AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

MY BOYFRIEND AND I WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, WHEN I HAD TO COME TO A QUICK STOP. I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES AND MY AIRBAG ENABLED, WHEN I WAS ABLE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED I WAS 5FT AWAY FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I SUFFERED A BURN AND BRUISES UNDER MY CHIN ALONG WITH BRUISES ON MY ARM AND SORENESS ON MY CHEST. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING AND THERE WAS NO IMPACT! I HAVE STOPPED WORSE THEN THAT BEFORE. IS THIS CONSIDERED A MANUFACTER DEFECT? *AK

Mileage: 134,765

20030519SUSPENSION:REAR

WHEN THE CONSUMER BACKED OUT OF A DRIVEWAY THE REAR SWAY BAR BROKE. A MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND SUGGESTED THAT THE CONSUMER NOT DRIVE IT. *NLM

20020705ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING AT 20,000 MILES. CONSUMER HAD GASKET REPLACED, AND IT IS LEAKING AGAIN AT 47000 MILES. VEHICLE IS CONSTANTLY LOSING OIL. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ORIGINAL HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 40000 MILES, NOW THE REPLACEMENT IS FAILING AT 65000 MILES. *SLC

20020225POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION WAS GOING OUT AND JOLTING FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND GOT WORSE AND WORSE THEN NOW ONLY GOES IN REVERSE. *AK (TIRESIZE: 14)

20020221POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHEN APPLYING ACCELERATOR VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND THEN JUMP FORWARD OUT OF GEAR. CURRENTLY TRANSMISSION IS INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WILL ONLY GO INTO REVERSE GEAR. *AK

20020221VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

WHEN APPLYING ACCELERATOR VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND THEN JUMP FORWARD OUT OF GEAR. CURRENTLY TRANSMISSION IS INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE WILL ONLY GO INTO REVERSE GEAR. *AK

20020221ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHEN AT A STOP VEHICLE WILL STALL, AND CUT OFF. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

20020221UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WHEN AT A STOP VEHICLE WILL STALL, AND CUT OFF. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

20010917SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AND APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, NO BRAKING ACTION. DEALER REPLACED FRONT BRAKE LINE ON PASSENGER'S SIDE. TODAY, WHILE DRIVING 40MPH CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, NO BRAKING ACTION. DEALER REPLACED FRONT BRAKE LINE ON DRIVER SIDE. *AK

20010905AIR BAGS

WHILE DRIVING DOWN HWY AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR UNKNOWN REASON.*AK

20010605ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

ONCE THE CAR IF TURNED OFF AND I TRY TO TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION IT WON'T COME OUT. SEVERAL TIMES I HAD TO LEAVE MY KEY IN THE IGNITION OVER NIGHT BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET IT OUT. SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET SOMEONE TO HELP ME (FINANCEE & MY FATHER) BUT IT IS REALLY GETTING TO BE A BIG HEADACHE. IATANCE FROM I CALLED A MITSUBISHI DEALER ABOUT THE PROBLEM.*AK

20010404AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, NO BUMP/POT HOLE, ETC. DEALER NOTIFIED AND CONTACTED MANUFACTURER WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO PAY HALF ON REPAIRS. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

20010226EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

LIGHTS TEND TO GO OUT AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT STOPED SEVERAL TIMES BY LOCAL PD. *AK

20010125CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Compare 1994MITSUBISHIMIRAGE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1994 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE have?
The 1994 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE has 69 NHTSA complaints, 26 crashes, 3 fires, 28 injuries, and 5 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE?
The most-complained component for the 1994 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 22 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1994 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.