Most common 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage problems
Share of the 43 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 →
1998 Mitsubishi Mirage recalls (2)
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles: mirage model vehicles equipped with 1.5l engines; montero sport models equipped with 3.0l engines; and montero models equipped with 3.0l engines. The bolt securing the crankshaft pulley can become loose and the pulley could fall off the vehicle.
Remedy: On the mirage vehicles, the dealers will install a new, improved crankshaft pulley bolt on the older engines. On new engines which already have the improved bolt, the dealer will tighten the crankshaft pulley bolt to…
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. These vehicles May have a poorly manufactured vacuum check valve in the vacuum hose between the intake manifold and the brake vacuum booster. When the brake pedal is depressed, the vacuum booster check valve can stick to the valve body.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake vacuum hose.
What 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage owners say
Air bags
While driving at 35 MPH rear ended another vehicle. Consumer applied the brakes and the brakes went straight to the floorboard, and vehicle didn't stop. Vehicle skided about 60 feet and collided with vehicle in front. It came to a stop, and the air bags on driver's side and passenger's side didn't deploy.
It pothole causing me to run up on the curb. There was not sufficient impact for my body to be thrown forward, but the airbags deployed anyway. Damage to the car is limited to to a crack on the lower left front ground effect and a cracked transmission pan.
Brakes
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. As a result of the brake failure the driver hit a pillar. The driver and two passenger's were injured.
While driving at 35 MPH rear ended another vehicle. Consumer applied the brakes and the brakes went straight to the floorboard, and vehicle didn't stop. Vehicle skided about 60 feet and collided with vehicle in front. It came to a stop, and the air bags on driver's side and passenger's side didn't deploy.
Engine & cooling
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.
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.
1998 Mitsubishi Mirage engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 28 / 36 / 31 |
| 1.5L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 25 / 32 / 28 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 25 / 33 / 28 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 23 / 30 / 25 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage a good car?
Based on 43 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Mirage rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as 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 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage?
The air bags — 9 complaints, 21% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the brakes (8) and engine & cooling (6).
How many recalls does the 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage, the most recent from October 2, 2000 (engine). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the 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 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 71,000 miles; 43% 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.