1990 Mitsubishi Mirage Problems
- Complaints
- 33filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 20,000miles, 1 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 25 mpgcombined, 1.5L 4-cyl FWD · 23 city / 26 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1990 Mitsubishi Mirage (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 33 consumer complaints for the 1990 Mitsubishi Mirage. The part named most often is seat belts, with 19 complaints (58% of the total), followed by engine cooling (6) and electrical system (4). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 20,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 4 technical service bulletins for this model year. Seat belts complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the buckle assembly and 2 NHTSA investigations filed under the same part.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Seat belts19 58%
- Engine cooling6 18%
- Electrical system4 12%
- Engine1 3.0%
- Fuel system1 3.0%
- Other or unknown1 3.0%
- Seats1 3.0%
- Body and structure1 3.0%
Example complaints
Seat belts: “The automatic passenger's restraint belt never releases itself from the lock mode, when consumer gets into vehicle and starts the ignition the belt does not adjust. Instead, the belt is sqeezing occupant across chest area so tight that it's hurts.”
NHTSA complaint #810305, filed 1997-03Engine cooling: “When driving at varies speeds, the vehicle would stall/die out for no reason. Would restart vehicle & it would stall again. Took to dealer. Mechanic gave it a tune up. The stalling still exists after tune up.”
NHTSA complaint #818915, filed 1997-10Electrical system: “Electronic control module (ECM) replaced due to vehicle stalling. Consumer also complains of not having a warning indicator to notify driver of failure.”
NHTSA complaint #523759, filed 1997-10Mileage when problems were reported
100% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 20,000 and 20,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1990 Mitsubishi Mirage. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mirage · sedan | not rated | – / 4 | — | — | — |
Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1990 Mitsubishi Mirage version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mirage FWD | 1.5L 4-cyl | 4-speed manual | 27 | 33 | 29 | $2,300 |
| Mirage FWD | 1.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 24 | 31 | 27 | $2,500 |
| Mirage FWD | 1.5L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 23 | 26 | 25 | $2,700 |
| Mirage FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 21 | 26 | 23 | $2,900 |
| Mirage FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 21 | 26 | 23 | $2,900 |
| Mirage Wagon FWD | 1.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 24 | 31 | 27 | $2,500 |
| Mirage Wagon FWD | 1.5L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 23 | 26 | 25 | $2,700 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 95V103004May 24, 1995Seat belts › Front › Buckle assemblyCovers: Mitsubishi Mirage 1986–1991, Mighty MAX 1986–1991, Montero 1986–1991 +7 more
The front safety belt buckle release buttons can break. These red plastic release buttons are marked "press." if a button breaks, pieces can fall into the buckle assembly causing the buckle to operate improperly.
Recall details for the 1990 Mitsubishi Mirage → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
NHTSA investigations
- EA96015Automatic shoulder belt failureClosed · Jun 28, 1996
- PE96006Auto shoulder belt failureClosed · Jan 19, 1996
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 4 on record; the latest 4 are shown.
- 10169006Nov 26, 2019Equipment. This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
- 10163703Jul 30, 2019Equipment. This is a Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers. This bulletin supersedes TSB-18-00-003, issued April, 2018, to add updated information for Carrying Capacity Reduced Label.
- 10130469Feb 26, 2018Equipment. This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
- 10170852Jan 29, 2013Body and structure. This Technical Service Bulletin updates the door adjustment procedure in the Body Section of the applicable service manuals.
Other model years of the Mitsubishi Mirage
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5 | — | 0 | 4 | 39 | — | Not enough data |
| 2018 | 10 | 14,500 | 1 | 4 | 39 | — | Not enough data |
| 2017 | 15 | 40,000 | 2 | 4 | 39 | — | Falling |
| 2015 | 39 | 14,500 | 2 | 4 | 39 | Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years) | Falling |
| 2014 | 44 | 18,500 | 3 | — | 39 | Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years) | Falling |
| 2002 | 5 | 43,304 | 1 | — | 28 | — | Not enough data |
| 2001 | 31 | 63,645 | 2 | — | 28 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 35 | 58,500 | 2 | — | 28 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1999 | 57 | 59,430 | 3 | — | 28 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 43 | 71,250 | 2 | — | 28 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 74 | 97,403 | 1 | — | 28 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 28 | 83 | 0 | — | 26 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 70 | 151,679 | 0 | — | 26 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 60 | 106,808 | 0 | — | 26 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 73 | 102,000 | 2 | — | 27 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 15 | — | 1 | — | 26 | — | Stable |
| 1991 | 38 | 6,500 | 1 | — | 26 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1990 | 33 | 20,000 | 1 | — | 25 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1989 | 6 | — | 1 | — | 28 | — | Not enough data |
| 1988 | 8 | — | 1 | — | 27 | — | Not enough data |
All Mitsubishi Mirage model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1990 Mitsubishi Mirage have?
NHTSA recorded 33 consumer complaints for the 1990 Mitsubishi Mirage as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1990 Mitsubishi Mirage is reported most often?
Seat belts is named most often, in 19 complaints (58% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 6.
Has the 1990 Mitsubishi Mirage been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1990 Mitsubishi Mirage get?
The EPA rates the 1990 Mitsubishi Mirage (Mirage, 1.5L 4-cyl) at 25 mpg combined, 23 city and 26 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,700 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1990 Mitsubishi Mirage reported?
Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 20,000 miles and the middle half falls between 20,000 and 20,000 miles; 100% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.