1997 Mitsubishi MIRAGE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
44 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
97,403 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 44 complaints (20.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 11.4% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 9.1% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 9.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 5 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 5 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 4 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 3 |
| Tires | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 2 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 5; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5; Air Bags:Frontal: 4; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 3; Tires: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 38 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 15 |
| 2001 | 13 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
2000: 15; 2001: 13; 2002: 5; 2003: 5; 2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2007: 2; 2008: 1; 2009: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 721677 · 2000-04-19 (April 19, 2000)
(AT AROUND 57, 000 MILES, WE HAD THE CAR SERVICED 11/30/99. INCLUDED WAS A 60,000 MILE TRANSMISSION CHECK AND SERVICE. ) ON APRIL 10, 2000, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. IT WENT OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL SO MY HUSBAND HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR. HE WAS DRIVING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, SO LUCKILY HE DIDN'T GET INTO AN ACCIDENT OR GET HURT. NOTE: SOME OF THE AUTO INFORMATION AND DEALER INFO IS INCOMPLETE--THE PAPERWORK IS IN THE CAR AT THE MECHANICS, I CAN GET THAT INFO IF YOU NEED. THANK YOU. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 721677 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 724224 · 2000-06-19 (June 19, 2000)
5TH GEAR BROKE WHILE HIGHWAY CRUISING. HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURE INCLUDING HARD SHIFT, RATTLING GEARS AND CLUTCH PROBLEMS. FOUND SHAFT WITHIN TRANSMISSION STRIPPED. GEAR WAS FREE SPINNING ON SHAFT. TRANSMISSION BEGINNING TO DISPLAY SAME SYMPTOMS AGAIN. FAILURE WITH TRANS HAS BEEN ABOUT EVERY 12,000 MILES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 724224 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10192677 · 2007-06-07 (June 7, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, AN UNKNOWN INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT IT WOULD COST $2,200 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE CONTACT DOES NOT KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED. THE # OF CYLINDERS, PURCHASE DATE, AND MILEAGE INFORMATION WERE UNKNOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10192677 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 734606 · 2000-10-18 (October 18, 2000)
VEHICLE STALLS ON STARTUP AND AT HIGHWAY SPEED. ENGINE CUTS OUT AND THEN STARTS BACKUP
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 734606 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 730337 · 2000-09-05 (September 5, 2000)
MY CAR IS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD AND HAS BEEN SERVICED AS SUGGESTED. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY TRANSMISSION GOES OUT. THE MANUFACTURER IS NOW TELLING ME THAT I WILL NEED A NEW ONE. THE CAR IS NOT THAT OLD AND IN MY OPINION I DO NOT FEEL THAT IT SHOULD ALREADY BE IN NEED OF AN OVERHAUL. MY BRAKES ARE ALSO BEGINNING TO FAIL. THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAVE ALREADY BEEN CHANGED TWICE AND NOW ARE BEGINNING TO GRIND AGAIN. AFTER HAVING IT CHECKED MY A MECHANIC, HE SAYS I DO NOT NEED NEW BRAKE PADS BUT THEY CONTINUE TO MAKE A GRINDING NOISE. NO ONE KNOW…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 730337 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8023333 · 2002-11-26 (November 26, 2002)
AFTER PARKING VEHICLE, CONSUMER STATES' THERE WAS BURNING AND SMOKING COMING FROM THE BRAKES. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8023333 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 880391 · 2001-02-12 (February 12, 2001)
BRAKE PEDAL AND STEERING WILL VIBRATE REALLY BADLY AT 40 AND 65 MPH. TOOK TO VEHICLE TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND DEALER STILL HAS NOT FIXED PROBLEM. THIS WAS 5TH TIME IN LAST NINE MONTHS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 880391 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 863458 · 2000-06-13 (June 13, 2000)
HAD A SIDE IMPACT NEAR THE GAS TANK. WHILE DRIVER WAS COMING OUT OF THE VEHICLE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY, CAUSING INJURIES TO THE DRIVER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 863458 at NHTSA ↗