1993 Mitsubishi Mirage Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year report the automatic (motorized) shoulder belt system far more than anything else; these cars use belts that move along a track in the door pillar and along the door jamb when the door opens and closes. Complaints describe the cable jumping out of its guide rail, the belt jamming or failing to retract, and latch or motor problems, and many note that the belt failed again after recall work had been done. Engine stalling and camshaft/timing belt failures make up most of the non-belt reports, typically on cars past 60,000 miles.

1. 1
   Seat belts

   Automatic shoulder belt cable leaves track and jams

   Mentioned in 18 of 48 sampled complaints

   The motorized shoulder belt on this model runs on a cable in a guide rail at the door; owners report the cable coming out of the rail or chamber so that the belt sticks in one spot, fails to retract, or will not move forward or back. Several describe a clicking or clunking noise from the belt motor before it stops working, and some mention a gray cable hanging out of the track. Many say the same problem returned after recall 97V073001 was performed and that the dealer declined to redo the work, citing warranty limits or saying the case was closed. Reported across the life of the car, from the 1990s through the 2000s, with no clear mileage pattern in the sample.

   Recall 97V073001

   What to check: Open and close each door and watch the belt travel the full length of the track; ask for documentation showing whether recall 97V073001 was completed and whether it has been redone since.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have had left front driver side seatbelt retractor fail 3 times once in 1998,2000 &2003. The car has the automatic seatbelts so when you close the door the seatbelt is suppose to retract back behind the seat or along the door jam in each of my incidences I closed the door and the seat belt retractor cable comes out of the rail that runs along the top of the door jam and gets stuck half way to or not at all. It is a recall I believe and I had it replaced for the recall 2 times and now im going to a 3rd time. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10030618, filed 2003-08, 73,000 miles

   “The cable on the driver's side automatic shoulder belt dropped out of the chamber and the shoulder belt anchorage became stuck. I have previously taken my 1993 Mitsubishi Mirage in to the dealer for recall NHTSA campaign number: 97v073001. The problem that this recall was designed to fix is exactly the problem that I am having. The dealer will not cover the repairs because of the 12 month, 12,000 mile warenty has expired on the recall. The problem has not been fixed and I feel I could be at risk.”

   NHTSA complaint #724642, filed 2000-06
2. 2
   Seat belts

   Shoulder belt stuck, won't latch, or won't release

   • 27 complaints (37%)
   • median 105,742 mi at 11.4 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2006

   Owners describe belts that lock in the open position, will not fasten, or stay latched and will not release from the retractor, leaving a seat unusable. A few say the belt choked or trapped the driver and had to be freed with the emergency release. On some cars the problem is on the passenger side, which several owners point out was not covered by the recall that addressed the driver's side. Described throughout the 1990s and early 2000s across a wide mileage range in the sample.

   Recall 97V073001

   What to check: Sit in both front seats and run the belt through its full travel and latch cycle several times; check the passenger side separately, since complaints suggest it was not always covered by recall work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Automatic seat belt on driver's side came off the hinges, causing the driver not to be properly restrained. The seat belt motor was replaced last year for the same problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10057994, filed 2004-03, 60,000 miles

   “The consumer was having problems with NHTSA recall 97v073000/ manufacturer's recall sr97. Later, automatic shoulder belt retractor on driver side didn't retract. It stayed in a restraint postion. Dealer felt it was another component that was causing guiderail to be inoperative.”

   NHTSA complaint #876059, filed 2000-12
3. 3
   Seat belts

   Belt motor or retractor fails

   Mentioned in 5 of 48 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the motorized belt retractor or motor quitting, the belt assembly coming off its hinges, or the mechanism breaking so the belt no longer restrains the occupant. Owners report paying several hundred dollars for the part and labor, and some note repeated replacements over the years. Appears in complaints from the mid-1990s onward, including cars past 60,000 and 73,000 miles.

   Recall 97V073001

   What to check: Ask if the belt motor, retractor, or track assembly has been replaced and keep the receipts; check that the belt moves under its own power with the door.

4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Engine stalls and quits while driving

   Mentioned in 4 of 48 sampled complaints

   Owners report the check engine light coming on shortly before the engine cuts out, sometimes restarting after a short wait only to stall again. In other complaints the car died without warning and would not restart, and dealers variously attributed it to the fuel pump, the throttle control, or the ECM, with one owner reporting the ECM replaced to resolve it. Reported on cars with roughly 100,000 miles and up in the sample, generally during ordinary driving.

   What to check: Ask whether the ECM, fuel pump, or throttle-related parts have been replaced, and have a shop scan for stored fault codes and check for a consistent idle and restart.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 16 year old daughter was driving her car late on friday night and it stalled out in a rural area. We had it towed to our mechanical and thinking it was the fuel pump. He informed me that the cam shaft had split. He said that this is very unusual. Upon further research I have learned that Mitsubishi has been aware of the fact that with the Mirage there can be a problem with stalling due to an engine shaft defect. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10017102, filed 2003-05, 103,000 miles

   “Car wouldn't start. Broken for 1 1/2 years. Dealer said it is a short in the ECM throttle control. Also said originally that it was fuel pump. Supposed to preform recall on seatbelts, but it had not been preformed after 2 weeks in the shop. Car is now working, but only after ECM was completely replaced. Seatbelt still not working.”

   NHTSA complaint #749424, filed 2001-07
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Camshaft or timing belt failure

   Mentioned in 4 of 48 sampled complaints

   Several complaints describe the camshaft breaking or splitting, in some cases shortly after a timing belt replacement and in others as a sudden stall while driving. Owners report repair bills in the hundreds to low thousands of dollars, and note that the manufacturer did not offer assistance given the age and mileage. Reported on cars between about 55,000 and 103,000 miles in the sample.

   What to check: Ask for records showing when the timing belt was last changed and by whom, and have a mechanic listen for valve-train noise and confirm the belt and tensioner condition before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I had a timing belt install , one week later my car stop in the middle of the highway, so I call Mitsubishi and they told me that my timing belt probably came off. …”

   NHTSA complaint #733265, filed 2000-10

   “While consumer was driving camshaft failed two weeks prior to having vehicle in shop for a timing belt failure. Dealership was aware of problem. It took $1400.00. ( see odi # 733265).”

   NHTSA complaint #874060, filed 2000-10

Buying note. The automatic shoulder belt system is the dominant concern reported for this model year, and several owners say problems returned after recall repairs, so records of recall 97V073001 and any later belt work matter more than mileage. Engine stalling and camshaft or timing belt failures also appear in the sample, so a pre-purchase inspection covering the belt track, stored fault codes, and timing belt history is worth the cost.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 48 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.