Most common 1999 Mitsubishi Mirage problems
Share of the 57 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 →
1999 Mitsubishi Mirage recalls (3)
Equipment › Other › Labels
Certain passenger vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, 'occupant crash protection.' the bilingual english/spanish removable air bag warning labels affixed to the dash and to the sunvisor do not meet the size requirements of the standard.
Remedy: Mitsubishi caribbean will mail a customer notification letter containing a written description and a graphic of the bi-lingual dashboard air bag warning label.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The bolt securing the crankshaft pulley can become loose and the pulley could fall off the vehicle.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicles to insure that the bolt is tightened. For those bolts not properly tightened, the bolt and pulley will be removed and inspected for any indication of damage.
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…
What 1999 Mitsubishi Mirage owners say
Brakes
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. 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 about 55 and air bags did not even deploy. Had problems with brakes/tires squeaking in 12/2001 & took in for repair. Was told it was a transmission problem & was repaired under warranty but car still clicked during turns.
Was driving 35mph & applied brakes which were going up & down. They failed to stop vehicle. Would shimmy or shake when making turns. Was going down hill, and went into a skid. Crossed double line to the left while trying to go right. Steering was uncontrollable. Another vehicle "t" boned the vehicle on passenger side. Air bags deployed. Vehicle was only 34 days old.
Engine & cooling
While holding brake pedal enigine suddenly accelerated into a pole. This has happened twice. Second time a garage door was hit. Air bags did not deploy in either incident. There was a recall ( 00V311001) for possible loose crank shaft pulley bolt and the dealer reinstalled it.
Purchased 1999 Mirage from thompson Ford and was not notified that the vehicle was on a recall. Automobile was purchased in November 2000. Subsequently , pulley bolt completely broke and the entire pulley and belt fell out. This was the first incident, exact days unknown, however month and year are accurate. In April 2003, vehicle stopped. Was informed by thompson Ford that the vehicle wsa not under warranty only to find out approximately 10 days later that it was. Vehicle was taken to thompson Ford after another mechanic had serviced the vehicle and could not find the problem. Thompson Ford replaced the piston and this did not solve the problem. Vehicle was sent to a authorized dealer where they replaced a valve and sensor, however the vehicle still does not run. …
Body & structure
I was given a 1999 Mitsubishi Mirage by my insurance company after an accident in my 1997 Mirage. When I received the car, the passenger side door was difficult to open. Over time, the door became increasingly difficult to close and it eventually became misaligned, dropping when it was opened. In July 2002, the door became unusable because it could not be opened far enough for a passenger to enter. I took it to a dealership, where I was told that the hinge had rusted shut due to underuse and that I would have to take it to a body shop. When I took it to the body shop, I was told that the dealer was not telling the truth because this was a very common problem with this model of car and that the hinges were defective. The body shop told me to contact Mitsubishi directly. …
Driver's side door hinge problem. Door was increasingly difficult to open or close for approx. 4 mo. Last month, the door wouldn't close enough to turn off the door ajar indicator or cabin light. Finally, the door became misaligned so that closing it wasn't possible anymore and would catch with the car's side panel. After taking it to a body shop, they determined that the hinge was the problem; it was cracked, bent, and was "scraping" against the door, a complete door replacement is needed due to the damage. I believe the passenger's side front door is also showing early signs of damage. Car is no longer under warranty. I decided to report the problem after noticing complaints of a similar nature regarding the 1999 Mirage.
1999 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 1999 Mitsubishi Mirage a good car?
Based on 57 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Mirage rates use caution: 1.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the Mirage at the same age. It is one of the Mirage years we suggest avoiding. 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 1999 Mitsubishi Mirage?
The brakes — 14 complaints, 25% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the engine & cooling (13) and body & structure (10).
How many recalls does the 1999 Mitsubishi Mirage have?
There are 3 recalls for the 1999 Mitsubishi Mirage, the most recent from September 1, 2004 (labels). 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 1999 Mitsubishi Mirage problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 65,000 miles; 42% 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.