MITSUBISHI MIRAGE · model year

1998 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE

53 NHTSA complaints, 18 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998MITSUBISHIMIRAGE carries 53 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 18 crashes, 2 fires, 14 injuries, and 0 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 1998 MIRAGE is air bags:frontal with 9 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (6) and unknown or other (3). 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 1998 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.

53
Complaints
18
Crashes
2
Fires
14
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

53 filings

Crashes Reported

18 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:FRONTAL9
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION6
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC2
SEATS2
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS2
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP1
AIR BAGS1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER1
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS1

Recent Complaints

20180430TIRES

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND DEFECTIVE TIRE BLEW OUT - NOT SURE OF CAUSE (TREAD SEPARATION, SIDEWALL CRACKS, ETC.) INCIDENT TOSSED PASSENGERS VIOLENTLY ABOUT THE CAR - CAR SLIGHT AIRBORNE DAMAGED WIRES UNDER HOOD OF CAR; CAR TOTALED

Mileage: 146,471

20160722ENGINE

MY MIRAGE HAS LESS THAN 72,000 MILES ON IT. WITHOUT SYMPTOMS OR WARNING, THE CAR OVERHEATED AND DESTROYED TWO HEAD GASKETS AND POSSIBLY BROKE THE PLATE. THAT'S CATASROPHIC DAMAGE! IT'S BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND HARDLY DRIVEN. AT LESS THAN 72,000 MILES IT WILL COST MORE TO REPAIR THAN IT'S WORTH. THERE WAS NO INDICATION WHATSOEVER! IT JUST DIED ON THE FREEWAY, GOING 70 MILES AN HOUR. THE RADIATOR WORKED PERFECTLY! OF COURSE MITSUBISHI JUST TRIED TOV SELL ME A NEW ONE. THEY COULD NOT HAVE CARED LESS.

Mileage: 71,250

20051129STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HINGE PROBLEM. DOOR WAS INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO OPEN OR CLOSE FOR ONE MONTH, THE DOOR WOULDN'T CLOSE ENOUGH TO TURN OFF THE DOOR AJAR INDICATOR. AFTER TAKING IT TO A BODY SHOP, THEY DETERMINED THAT THE HINGE WAS THE PROBLEM. *JB

20050707UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I HAVE A 98 MISTSUBISHI MIRAGE I BEEN TRYING TO PASS EXPECTION SINSE APRIL 15TH MY CAR FAILED 17 TIMES I CONTACTED BAY RIDGE MISTSUBISHI 813-64TH STREET BROOKLYN NEW YORK 718-238-4144 THEY HAD MY CAR FOR 2 WEEKS NOW FIRST THEY SAID I DONT DRIVE THE CAR ENOUGH THEN MAYBE THE COMPUTER IS BROKEN I HAD THE CAR TUNED UP I TAKE GREAT CAR OF MY CAR IT STILL FAILS EXPECTION WHAT SHOULD I DO I HAVE NO CAR

Mileage: 49,168

20050611LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK ON THE JUNE 5 AROUND 6:25 IN THE MORNING DRIVING ABOUT 65 MHP WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE HOOD OF MY CAR (MITSUBISHI MIRAGE 98') FLEW UP INTO THE WINDSHIELD COMPLETLY SMASHING IT AND BLOCKING MY VIEW.AS GLASS WAS SHATTERING INTO MY FACE I MANAGE TO PULL OFF FROM THE CROWDED FREEWAY AND CALL 911 AND THEY ADVISED ME TO STAY IN THE CAR AND WAIT FOR THE POLICE TO ARRIVE, ONLY WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVED AND MY FEAR SUBSIDED WAS THAT I REALIZED HOW MUCH IT HAD DAMAGED MY CAR AND HOW LUCKY I WAS TO WALK AWAY FROM THIS EVENT. THE POLICE OFFICER ON THE SCENE STARTED TO DO A REPORT ON THE ACCIDENT AND TOLD ME THE HOOD LATCH APPEARED TO HAVE BROKEN FROM THE CROSSMEMBER THAT IT WAS ATTACHED TO, THEN WE PROCCIDED TO GET MY CAR TOWED AWAY AND FILE A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE. LOOKING BACK ON TH EVENTS ON THAT MORNING IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT COULD HAVE TURNED TRAGIC AND WANT TO MAKE OTHER OWNERS AWARE THAT THIS VERY WELL COULD HAPPEN TO THEM TOO, I ALSO WANT MITSUB

Mileage: 185,000

20050407LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

I AM AN ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1998 MIRAGE. THIS WINTER MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR BECAME HARD TO OPEN AND CLOSE (STIFF). EVENTUALLY, MY OPEN DOOR LIGHT BECAME PERMANENTLY ACTIVATED. AFTER THAT, THE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE APPROPRIATELY. IT SEEMED IT WAS HANGING DOWN AND BEGAN RUBBING ON THE SIDE OF THE CAR. AT THIS POINT, I WAS GOING TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT WHEN THE DOOR FELL ON ME. I HAD TO USE A JACK TO RAISE AND CLOSE IT. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE DOOR IS COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. I CONTACTED MITSUBISHI. I ASKED IF THEY HAD HEARD OF ANY SUCH INCIDENTS. HE RESPONDED, HE HAD NOT HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE IT BUT REFERRED ME TO MY NEAREST MITSUBISHI DEALER. I TOOK IT IN THE NEXT DAY, BUT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WOULD NOT EVEN LOOK AT MY CAR BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN A SMALL FENDER BENDER 2 YEARS AGO THAT AFFECTED THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF MY BUMPER. I EXPLAINED THIS TO HIM BUT HE WOULD NOT DEAL WITH THE SITUATION. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE DOOR PROBLEM IS IN ANY WA

20041126VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW

WHILE DRIVING 55 - 60 MPH REAR WINDOW SHATTERED AFTER TURNING ON THE DEFOGGER. METALLIC STRIPPING ON THE WINDOW WAS RED BEFORE THE WINDOW SHATTERED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

Mileage: 99,900

20040202CrashFireSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES FAILED. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSED THERE WAS A DELAY BEFORE THE BRAKES ENGAGED. THIS CONDITION CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *NM AS A RESULT OF THE BRAKE FAILURE THE DRIVER HIT A PILLAR. THE DRIVER AND TWO PASSENGER'S WERE INJURED. *NM

Mileage: 46,000

20030902SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

1998 MITSUBISH MIRAGE HAD TO HAVE THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS DONE 2 TIMES IN 10,000 MILES. *AK

20030902SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

1998 MITSUBISH MIRAGE HAD TO HAVE THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS DONE 2 TIMES IN 10,000 MILES. *AK

20030730ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT RECALL 00 V 311 001 DEFECT OCCURRED. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT THE DEALERSHIP HAD CHECK THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY AND INDICATED THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE, AND DIDN'T NEED REPLACEMENT.

Mileage: 30,562

20030513VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

THE CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE IN THE VEHICLE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE WIPER MOTOR BURNED OUT. *NLM

20021114WHEELS

BOTH FRONT TIRES STARTED TO SHAKE, HAD THE TIRES BALANCED, ROTATED, ETC. MECHANIC PUT THEM ON BACK. THEY SHAKE LIKE UNREAL. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR, IT DID NOT DO THIS (BOUGHT USED). IT SEEMED TO HAPPEN OUT OF THE BLUE. DT

20020819LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR FLIES OPEN WHEN DRIVING AFTER IT HAS BEEN SECURLY LOCKED. CONTACTED DEALER.THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM.*AK

20020722CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS

BUMPER RIPPED COMPLETELY OFF IN AN ACCIDENT GOING TEN MPH CAUSEING OTHER DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE COSTING MORE THAN A REGULAR BUMPER ASSEMBLY WOULD

20020719FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

CONSUMER NOTICED FUEL LEAKING. DEALER STATED THAT FUEL TANK HAD RUSTED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AKTHE GAS TANK AND THE ENTIRE FUEL LINE IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT UPON INSPECTION SINCE THE FUEL TANK HAD RUSTED, MITSUBISHI DECIDED THE FUEL TANK WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. *JG

20020607CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER STATES BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED. *YH

20020503POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

SINCE THE THIRD DAY OF PURCHASE, I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND INFORMED THE SALESMAN ALL THE PROBLEMS AND HE SAID THAT THE CAR HAS A NEW INVERT SYSTEM AND IT WILL GET USED TO THE WAY I DRIVE THE CAR. BEFORE THE MONTH OF PURCHASED, THE CAR STOPPED WHILE DRIVEN AND IT HAD TO BE TOWERED TO THE DEALER. THE SERVICE PEOPLE SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE ALARM SYSTEM. THEY CHANGED THE CABLES RELATED TO THE ALARM, BUT AFTER THAT THE CAR I TOOK THE CAR MANY TIMES TO THE SERVICE CENTER. THE CAR SHIFT THE GEARS NO MATTERS THE SPEED. WHILE STOP ON THE RED LIGHT, THE CAR GIVE A BUMP LIKE I HAD BEEN HIT BY THE CAR BEHIND ME. MANY TIMES THE ENGINE STOP WHILE I WAS WAITING THE RED LIGHT TO CHANGE OR DOING A STOP SIGNAL. BESIDES THE CHECK ENGINE LAMP USED TO TURN ON AND ONCE THEY CLEARED THE COMPUTER. THEN WHEN THE CAR WAS ALMOST OUT OF WARRANTY, THEY ADMITTED THAT ALL THE PROBLEMS WERE CAUSED BY THE TRANSMISSION AND PROCEEDED TO FIXED. THIS WAS ON JULY 2001 AND THE CAR STILL GOES W

20020410CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE AT A STANDSTILL, ANOTHER VEHICLE REARENDED MIRAGE. IMPACT PUSHED VEHICLE INTO A VAN. AFTER IMPACTING VAN, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES, HAD EMERGENCY ROOM TREATMENT.*AK *TT

20020308ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MY CAMSHAFT BROKE IN HALF DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS A MAUFACTURERES DEFECT BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD. *AK

Compare 1998MITSUBISHIMIRAGE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE have?
The 1998 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE has 53 NHTSA complaints, 18 crashes, 2 fires, 14 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE?
The most-complained component for the 1998 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 9 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 1998 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.