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1998 Mitsubishi Mirage problems

The most common problem on the 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage is airbags. It has 8.6 times the complaints of a typical Mirage model year.

Typical year8.6x the typical complaints
Owner complaints
43
Recalls
2
Service bulletins
44
Worst area
Airbags
Fuel economy
25-31mpg

The worst 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

  • Airbags
    9
  • Brakes
    8
  • Engine
    6
  • Transmission
    6
  • Body
    3

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Airbags
    9
  • Brakes
    8
  • Engine
    6
  • Transmission
    6
  • Body
    3
  • Locks
    3
  • Visibility
    3
  • Fuel system
    2
  • Seats
    2
  • Tires
    2
  • Wheels
    2
  • Acceleration
    1
  • Seat belts
    1

Recalls 2

Engine and engine cooling: engineReported October 2, 2000 · 210,000 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
The condition can result in a loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
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 the correct torque specification. On the montero models, dealers will tighten the crankshaft pulley bolt to the correct torque specifications. If the bolt is damaged, it will be replaced.

Recall number 00V311001 · Recall details

Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum: hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsReported October 14, 1997 · 31 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
This condition would result in reduction or loss of vacuum boost, reducing brake efficiency.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the brake vacuum hose.

Recall number 97V179000 · Recall details

See all 2 recalls for the 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage

Technical service bulletins for the 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage 44

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 44 bulletins for the 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage

1998 Mitsubishi Mirage fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
1.5L 4‑cylFWD25-2832-3628-31
1.8L 4‑cylFWD23-2530-3325-28

What 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Apr 30, 2018 · Tires · 146,471 miles · GA · 2 injuries

Driving on highway and defective tire blew out - not sure of cause (tread separation, sidewall cracks, etc.) incident tossed passengers violently about the car - car slight airborne damaged wires under hood of car; car totaled

Filed Jul 22, 2016 · Engine · 71,250 miles · CA

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.

Filed Nov 29, 2005 · Body · MI

Passenger side door hinge problem. Door was increasingly difficult to open or close for one month, the door wouldn't close enough to turn off the door ajar indicator. After taking it to a body shop, they determined that the hinge was the problem.

Filed Jul 7, 2005 · 49,168 miles · NY

I have a 98 mistsubishi mirage I been trying to pass expection sinse april 15th my car failed 17 times I contacted bay ridge mistsubishi 813-64th street brooklyn new york 718‑238‑4144 they had my car for 2 weeks now first they said I dont drive the car enough then maybe the computer is broken I had the car tuned up I take great car of my car it still fails expection what should I do I have no car

Filed Jun 11, 2005 · Locks · 185,000 miles · CA · 1 injury

I was on my way to work on the june 5 around 6:25 in the morning driving about 65 mhp when all of the sudden the hood of my car (mitsubishi mirage 98') flew up into the windshield completly smashing it and blocking my view.as glass was shattering into my face I manage to pull off from the crowded freeway and call 911 and they advised me to stay in the car and wait for the police to arrive, only when the police arrived and my fear subsided was that I realized how much it had damaged my car and how lucky I was to walk away from this event. The police officer on the scene started to do a report on the accident and told me the hood latch appeared to have broken from the crossmember that it was attached to, then we proccided to get my car towed away and file a claim with my insurance. Looking back on th events on that morning it was a very dangerous situation that could have turned tragic and want to make other owners aware that this very well could happen to them too, I also want mitsubishi to look into this that based on what I think is a manufactures failure that could cost many peoples lives. I can't seem to imagine that a car that is 7 years old is coming apart. As of today june 10 there is no word on how much is going to cost to fix it but it appears that is going to be a total loss due to the damage it caused to the rest of the car.

Filed Apr 7, 2005 · Locks · IL

I am an original owner of a 1998 mirage. This winter my front passenger side door became hard to open and close (stiff). Eventually, my open door light became permanently activated. After that, the door would not close appropriately. It seemed it was hanging down and began rubbing on the side of the car. At this point, I was going to have it looked at when the door fell on me. I had to use a jack to raise and close it. Needless to say, the door is completely inoperable. I contacted mitsubishi. I asked if they had heard of any such incidents. He responded, he had not heard of anything like it but referred me to my nearest mitsubishi dealer. I took it in the next day, but the service department would not even look at my car because it had been in an accident. I had been involved in a small fender bender 2 years ago that affected the front right side of my bumper. I explained this to him but he would not deal with the situation. I do not believe the door problem is in any way associated. Nothing was done to correct the problem.

Filed Nov 26, 2004 · Visibility · 99,900 miles · NM

While driving 55 - 60 MPH rear window shattered after turning on the defogger. Metallic stripping on the window was red before the window shattered. Dealer was notified.

Filed Feb 2, 2004 · Brakes · 46,000 miles · CA · crash · fire · 3 injuries

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. *nm as a result of the brake failure the driver hit a pillar. The driver and two passenger's were injured.

Filed Sep 2, 2003 · Brakes · OR

1998 mitsubish mirage had to have the brake pads and rotors done 2 times in 10,000 miles.

Filed Jul 30, 2003 · Engine · 30,562 miles · IL

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.

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Questions about the 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage

Is the 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage reliable?

Owners have filed 43 complaints about the 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage, 8.6 times a typical Mirage model year.

What is the most common problem with the 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage?

Airbags, with 9 complaints. Next is brakes (8).

How many recalls does the 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage have?

2 recalls, covering engine and engine cooling and service brakes, hydraulic.

What year does the Mitsubishi Mirage have bad airbags?

The Mitsubishi Mirage model years with the most airbags complaints are 1995 (35 complaints), 1994 (29 complaints) and 1997 (15 complaints).

What gas mileage does the 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage get?

Official estimates for the 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage range from 25 to 31 mpg combined. The most efficient version (1.5L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 25-28 city and 32-36 highway.

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