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Mitsubishi Mirage: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Mitsubishi Mirage problems by model year, from 158 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Years to avoid: 2017 (54%, 7 drivetrain complaints) and 2014 (37%, 11 drivetrain complaints). 2 of the 3 Mitsubishi Mirage years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2015 (16%). 2015 rests on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat it as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2014 (37%) to 2015 (16%), down 21 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2014 drew the most drivetrain complaints (11 of 23 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2021, 2022 and 2023 have fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Mitsubishi Mirage year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 Mirage | elevated | 37% | 11 | 44 | 2/3 | 3 |
| 2015 Mirage | no elevated signal | 16% | 5 | 39 | 3/3 | 2 |
| 2016 Mirage | too few to score | – | 0 | 1 | – | 1 |
| 2017 Mirage | high | 54% | 7 | 28 | 1/3 | 3 |
| 2018 Mirage | too few to score | – | 5 | 21 | – | 2 |
| 2019 Mirage | too few to score | – | 3 | 6 | – | 0 |
| 2020 Mirage | too few to score | – | 2 | 5 | – | 0 |
| 2021 Mirage | too few to score | – | 0 | 4 | – | 0 |
| 2022 Mirage | too few to score | – | 1 | 5 | – | 0 |
| 2023 Mirage | too few to score | – | 1 | 5 | – | 0 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Mitsubishi Mirage years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Mitsubishi Mirage recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns across the Mitsubishi Mirage years we track, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
5 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2015 | 15V594000 | air bags | 2014 |
| Dec 2015 | 15V815000 | electrical system: wiring | 2014–2015 |
| Sep 2016 | 16V675000 | exterior lighting: headlights | 2017 |
| Oct 2017 | 17V686000 | air bags | 2014, 2015, 2017 |
| Apr 2019 | 19V330000 | air bags | 2017 |
What the free pages leave out on the Mitsubishi Mirage
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Mitsubishi Mirage
What are the worst years for the Mitsubishi Mirage?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Mitsubishi Mirage years are the 2017 (54% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2014 (37% of relevant complaints, elevated). 2 of 3 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Mitsubishi Mirage?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Mitsubishi Mirage years are the 2015 (16%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Mitsubishi Mirage have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 3 scored years, 23 of 74 relevant NHTSA complaints (31%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2014 and 2017.
Is the Mitsubishi Mirage reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 2 of 3 Mitsubishi Mirage years we score have an elevated complaint share and 1 do not. Pooled across those years, 31% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Mitsubishi Mirage?
No. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns across the Mitsubishi Mirage years we track, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.