Most common 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage problems
Share of the 28 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mitsubishi Mirage complaints by model year
Best Mirage years: 2019, 2018, 2017. Years to avoid: 1997, 1995, 1999. Compare all years →
What 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage owners say
Air bags
Consumer's vehicle was involved in a front end collison in which the front driver's side and passenger's side airbags failed to deploy. As a result the driver sustained injuries to neck and back. The dealer and manufacturer have not been contacted.
While the vehicle was sitting still at a stop light it was hit from the rear, and the passenger's and driver's air bags did not deploy. There was one injury. The dealer cannot duplicate the problem. An insurance claim was filed.
Transmission & drivetrain
I've had problems with the car from day one. It has always used oil, having to add more oil all the time even though I due an oil change on regular basis. This has caused me to run low on oil, and the oil does not come on until as the mechanics say "its bone dry". The air condition belt squeaked from day one, then just quit working. The water pump has now went out twice!!! The first time the thermostat also was not working, which caused me to have a major mechanical bill...no warning while out of state!!! The windshield has always fogged up no matter what you do to eliminate it, which has caused me near collisions numerous times. The windows soon became off track for no apparent reason and now leak water. Ball joints have been replaced. This car basically was a lemon. I purchased this car brand new, my first new car and my last from Mitsubishi.
When the vehicle is put into gear, the vehicle starts humping, (like a manual trans.) then cuts off just when is on parking lot or on street driven about 25 MPH.
Brakes
Driver experiences loss of braking while driving on the hwy which which lead to an accident, excessive wear on the front brakes pads after 8K miles.
Driving the vehicle and the brakes lock up. This has happened several times, and the dealer changed the master cylinder but the vehicle still has the same problem.
1996 Mitsubishi Mirage engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 28 / 35 / 31 |
| 1.5L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | FWD | 24 / 29 / 26 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 23 / 30 / 25 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 23 / 30 / 25 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage a good car?
Based on 28 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 Mirage rates average: 27% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Mirage at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage?
The air bags — 12 complaints, 43% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (4) and brakes (3).
How many recalls does the 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mitsubishi Mirage?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2019, 2018 and 2017. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1997, 1995 and 1999. See the full Mitsubishi Mirage years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 0 miles; 100% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.