1994 Mitsubishi Mirage Problems
- Complaints
- 60filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 106,808miles, 4 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns 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
- 26 mpgcombined, 1.5L 4-cyl FWD · 24 city / 29 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1994 Mitsubishi Mirage (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of this model year most often write in about airbags: either deployment in low-speed or no-impact situations, or no deployment in a collision. A smaller group of complaints involves the seat belts not retracting or locking, and engine stalling or sudden shutdown. Many reports come from vehicles well past 100,000 miles, and several describe failures happening repeatedly over months.
- Air bags
Airbag deploys without a crash or in a minor bump
- 17 complaints (28%)
- median 134,765 mi at 10.1 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
- 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–2003
Owners describe the driver's air bag firing during ordinary driving, over potholes or rough gravel, or when braking hard, with no impact. In other reports it went off in very low-speed contact, such as a 2-5 mph rear ender, and mechanics told owners it should not have. Several owners mention cuts, bruises and burns from the deployment, and one says the manufacturer offered to pay part of the repair. Reports span the vehicle's life with no single mileage pattern; several describe deployments at low speeds such as 2-5 mph or during braking.
What to check: There is no recall listed for this model year in the data, so ask whether the airbag system has been inspected or serviced and whether the airbag warning lamp behaves normally on start-up.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“My boyfriend and I were driving down the road, when I had to come to a quick stop. I slammed on my brakes and my airbag enabled, when I was able to see what happened I was 5ft away from the car in front of me. I suffered a burn and bruises under my chin along with bruises on my arm and soreness on my chest. I did not hit anything and there was no impact! I have stopped worse then that before. Is this considered a manufacter defect?”
NHTSA complaint #10048856, filed 2003-11, 134,765 miles“Was approaching light. Another vehicle in front suddenly stopped. Mirage rear ended vehicle at approximately 5mph. Air bags deployed. No damage done to bumper. Had 2 mechanics check air bags & both said air bags should not have deployed. Resulting in 1 injury. Emergency room treatment.”
NHTSA complaint #826625, filed 1998-08 - Air bags
Airbag does not deploy in a collision
- 12 complaints (20%)
- typically at 3.6 yrs old
- 12 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–2014
Some owners report that neither the driver nor passenger air bag fired in a frontal or side impact, including a reported 25 mph frontal crash and an intersection collision. In one account the passenger side did not deploy in a head-on crash into a pole. Injuries are described in several of these reports. These reports are tied to specific collisions rather than a mileage range, and cover impacts from moderate speed upward.
What to check: Ask for any service history on the airbag system and confirm the airbag warning light comes on briefly and then goes out when the car is started.
An excerpt from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Driver lost control after the emergency brake was enabled, car freewheeled and crashed head on into utility pole. Drive crushed up dashboard with severe life threatening injuries in critical condition. Passenger side airbag did not deploy and seatbelt did not retract in result my husband was killed immediately.”
NHTSA complaint #10576586, filed 2014-04 - Seat belts
Seat belt will not retract or lock
Mentioned in 5 of 34 sampled complaints
Owners describe the driver's shoulder belt failing to retract, or the belt staying loose and not locking during a sudden stop. In one report the retractor mechanism jammed and left the belt inoperable, and in another the belt was so loose it dragged on the ground when getting out. One owner says the dealer replaced the seat belt assembly. Mileage is not stated in most of these reports; the complaints cover both older and higher-mileage cars.
What to check: Pull each belt out fully and let it retract, and check that it locks when tugged sharply; ask whether any belt assemblies have been replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Consumer expericening a problem with the driver's side seat belt retractor, shoulder belt will not retract; in addition, upon making a sudden stop, the belt does not lock. Consumer notes the belts are to0 loose. Dealer has replaced the seat belt assembly.”
NHTSA complaint #809994, filed 1997-03“When driving down the highway vehicle stalled or cut off. Consumer had to put oil in and it would start back up. Also, front seat belt is too loose, it touches the ground when getting out of vehicle. Brake pads failed.”
NHTSA complaint #868381, filed 2000-08 - Engine cooling
Engine stalls or shuts off while driving
- 6 complaints (10%)
- median 93,016 mi at 13.9 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1998–2007
Owners report the engine dying suddenly with no warning while driving or at a stop, sometimes repeatedly over months and with the check engine light staying on. In one account a 20 amp fuse blew while driving and cut the engine each time. Several say they added oil before the car would restart, and one describes a leaking head gasket with oil loss and a repeat failure after replacement. Reports range from moderate mileage upward; the head gasket account cites failures around 40,000 and 65,000 miles.
What to check: Check the oil level and look for leaks or a sweet smell around the head gasket area, and ask whether stalling or fuse-blowing has been diagnosed.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“20 amp fuse blows without warning while driving and cuts off engine causing the car to die on the road every time. This happened four (4) times in the past three (3) months and has been reported to NHTSA twice already - see list of complaints for mitusbishi Mirage 1994, also see vehicle owner questionnaire (voq) form attached to each of the previous reports posted on the NHTSA website. The first six (6) incident reports on the same 20 amp fuse problem have been reported to NHTSA - see complaint page. …”
NHTSA complaint #10198559, filed 2007-08, 93,016 miles“Head gasket is leaking at 20,000 miles. Consumer had gasket replaced, and it is leaking again at 47000 miles. Vehicle is constantly losing oil. Consumer states that the original head gasket failed at 40000 miles, now the replacement is failing at 65000 miles.”
NHTSA complaint #8013331, filed 2002-07
Buying note. Given the number of airbag and seat belt reports, it is worth confirming the restraint system works and asking for any related service history before buying. Also check oil level and look for leaks, and test the ignition key and electrical accessories, since stalling and switch problems appear in the complaints.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 34 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.
NHTSA recorded 60 consumer complaints for the 1994 Mitsubishi Mirage. 4 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 106,808 miles. Of all complaints, 21 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 23 an injury, 3 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 5 technical service bulletins for this model year.
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.
- Air bags30 50%
- Seat belts7 12%
- Engine cooling6 10%
- Brakes5 8.3%
- Electrical system5 8.3%
- Exterior lighting2 3.3%
- Wheels2 3.3%
- Engine1 1.7%
- Other or unknown1 1.7%
Also reported: Steering (1), Body and structure (1), Suspension (1), Vehicle speed control (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).
Example complaints
Air bags: “Vehicle experienced an inadvertent air bag deployment while driving at 30 MPH, no bump/pot hole, etc. Dealer notified and contacted manufacturer who informed consumer that they were willing to pay half on repairs. Feel free to provide any further details on this matter.”
NHTSA complaint #885045, filed 2001-04Seat belts: “Motorized shoulder belt is stuck within the retracting mechanism, causing the seat belt to become inoperable. Cause unknown. Please give any further details.”
NHTSA complaint #834356, filed 1999-02Brakes: “While driving 45 MPH and applying brakes pedal went to floor, no braking action. Dealer replaced front brake line on passenger's side. Today, while driving 40mph consumer applied brakes, pedal went to floor, no braking action. Dealer replaced front brake line on driver side.”
NHTSA complaint #896399, filed 2001-09Mileage when problems were reported
0% of the 4 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 93,016 and 120,600 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1994 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 | 5-speed manual | 28 | 35 | 31 | $2,150 |
| Mirage FWD | 1.5L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 24 | 29 | 26 | $2,600 |
| Mirage FWD | 1.8L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 23 | 30 | 26 | $2,600 |
| Mirage FWD | 1.8L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 23 | 30 | 26 | $2,600 |
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
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1994 Mitsubishi Mirage in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
- EA96015Automatic shoulder belt failureClosed · Jun 28, 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. 5 on record; the latest 5 are shown.
- 10211530Apr 7, 2022Other or unknown, Exterior lighting. This Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers to explain the difference between normal dew condensation, which is a natural phenomenon, and water penetration caused by improper sealing or a…
- 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
What are the most common problems with the 1994 Mitsubishi Mirage?
Owners of this model year most often write in about airbags: either deployment in low-speed or no-impact situations, or no deployment in a collision. The issues reported most often: Airbag deploys without a crash or in a minor bump; Airbag does not deploy in a collision; Seat belt will not retract or lock.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1994 Mitsubishi Mirage have?
NHTSA recorded 60 consumer complaints for the 1994 Mitsubishi Mirage as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1994 Mitsubishi Mirage is reported most often?
Air bags is named most often, in 30 complaints (50% of the total), followed by seat belts with 7.
Has the 1994 Mitsubishi Mirage been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1994 Mitsubishi Mirage get?
The EPA rates the 1994 Mitsubishi Mirage (Mirage, 1.5L 4-cyl) at 26 mpg combined, 24 city and 29 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,600 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1994 Mitsubishi Mirage reported?
Among the 4 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 106,808 miles and the middle half falls between 93,016 and 120,600 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. 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.