1999 Mitsubishi MIRAGE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
51 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
59,430 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 51 complaints (17.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 16 | 31.4% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 9.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 7.8% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 5.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments | 9 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 3 |
Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments: 9; Air Bags:Frontal: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 39 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 | 17 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2004 | 9 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
2000: 17; 2001: 9; 2002: 4; 2003: 9; 2004: 9; 2005: 2; 2008: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 10008265 · 2003-02-28 (February 28, 2003)
FAULTY BRAKES-IN DEC,2002, HAD TO HIT BRAKES WHEN VEHICLE PULLED IN FRONT OF ME. I IMMEDIATELY LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE-NO STEERING- AND CAR SPUN SEVERAL TIMES. APPEARED BRAKES LOCKED UP EVEN THOUGH I HAVE ABS SYSTEM. *JB 2/2003-SAME THING. WAS COUPLE LENGTHS BEHIND VEHICLE WHEN CAR IN FRONT SUDDENLY PULLED TO LEFT LANE BECAUSE A VEH HAD ALMOST STOPPED IN ROAD. WHEN I PUSHED ON BRAKES, THEY AGAIN LOCKED UP WITH NO STEERING CONTROL CAUSING ME TO HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME EVEN THOUGH I WAS TRYING TO STEER VEHICLE OFF INTO EMER LANE. WAS GOING A…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008265 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074527 · 2004-05-31 (May 31, 2004)
BRAKING PRODUCES SQUEAKING AND RUBBING SOUNDS EVEN AFTER ROTORS WERE TURNED & REPLACED. MULTIPLE PAD REPLACEMENTS OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST 3 YEARS. THE REPEATED RUBBING AND SQUEAKING SOUNDS OCCUR EVEN AFTER BRAKE SERVICE AFTER LESS THAN 1500 MILES. *AK TRANSMISSION: CAR IS "SLOW" TO ACCELERATE AND SOMETIMES STALES UPON ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS FROM 0 TO 40 MILES/HOUR. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON....O2 SENSOR(S) REPLACED.....CATALYTIC CONVERTER PROBLEM??????? THE CAR PASSED ITS EMMISSION CONTROL INSPECTION.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10074527 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026448 · 2003-07-02 (July 2, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING DRIVER SUDDENLY LOST ALL STEERING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER STATED PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10026448 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046861 · 2003-11-13 (November 13, 2003)
I OWN A 1999 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE DE, WHICH I PURCHASED 3/8/02; IT HAS A 1.5 LITER ENGINE AND AN AUTOMATIC 4 SPEED TRANSMISSION. WITHIN DAYS, I NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED ABNORMALLY FROM THE 1ST TO THE 2ND GEARS WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD. THIS ABNORMALITY CAN BE DESCRIBED AS A HESITATION OR SLIPPING AT SOME TIMES, OR A POPPING, LIKE GUNFIRE, AT OTHERS. AGAIN, THIS SHIFTING SENSATION IS MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER FROM WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED OF THIS PROBLEM ON 3/19/02. THEY TEST DROVE THE VEHI…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046861 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10122515 · 2005-05-31 (May 31, 2005)
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 INTERSECTIONS. HAVE NOT YET IDENTIFIED CAUSE. WAS REAR ENDED DO TO THIS DEFECT
Owner-reported narrative. 90,135 miles reported. Look up ODI 10122515 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 730825 · 2000-09-08 (September 8, 2000)
THE CAR HAS MAJOR LOSS OF POWER WHEN ACCELERATING, THE TRANSMISSION SKIPS GEARS WHEN YOU START GOING ,THE BRAKES ARE BAD AFTER ONLY 7,000 MILES
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 730825 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 725038 · 2000-07-06 (July 6, 2000)
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT HAS BE SOLVED BY REPLACING OXYGEN SENSOR (3 TIMES) AND CATALLYTIC CONVERTER (1 TIME). BATTERY FAILED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. DEALER UNABLE TO IDENTIFY ROOT CAUSE OF PROBLEM. I AM CONSIDERING LEMON LAW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 725038 at NHTSA ↗