1995 Mitsubishi Mirage Problems
- Complaints
- 70filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 151,679miles, 2 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 1995 Mitsubishi Mirage (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of this model year most often describe airbags that did not deploy in a collision, followed by brake trouble, electrical faults, and air-conditioning and belt problems. The reports run from the mid-1990s through recent years and almost none record a mileage, so the complaints are spread across a long life rather than concentrated at one point. Several owners mention repeated dealer visits without a lasting fix, which fits a small, aging car.
- Air bags
Airbags that did not deploy in a crash
- 35 complaints (50%)
- median 123,468 mi at 13.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
- 32 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–2014
Complaints describe frontal impacts at roughly 25 to 50 mph in which neither the driver nor the passenger airbag went off, and in several of them the occupant hit the windshield or the steering wheel. Some owners say the dealer could not reproduce the problem, and one report says the airbag light indicated the system was active even though nothing deployed. A further complaint describes the airbag warning light coming on with no diagnosis or repair recorded. Filed from the mid-1990s onward with almost no mileage listed; the crashes described happened at ordinary road and highway speeds.
What to check: Ask whether the airbag warning light comes on at start-up and whether the system has ever been scanned for stored fault codes. Be cautious about a car with a history of repaired front-end collision damage.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“While stopping on washington blvd consumer was struck from the rear. Back end of vehicle and back seat hit steering wheel, and consumer sustained serious face and chest injuries. Also, air bags failed to deploy. Consumer indicated if airbags would have deployed, the injuries would not have been so severe.”
NHTSA complaint #860930, filed 2000-04“While going about 25-30 MPH a dog ran out in front of consumer. Driver applied brakes but they failed, causing loss control, vehicle hit a parked car and neither air bag deployed. Consumer was injured and sustained about $6000.00 worth of damage to automobile. Dup 0f 516531, added on 25-feb-98.”
NHTSA complaint #811010, filed 1997-04 - Electrical system
Stuck ignition key and sudden electrical shutdowns
Mentioned in 5 of 36 sampled complaints
Complaints describe the ignition key jamming so the car could not be switched off without disconnecting the battery, and the engine cutting out or losing all power while driving. Another owner reports a distributor replacement after a sudden shutdown, and one describes a horn positioned where dirt and moisture reached it. Two reports involve tail-light wiring and bulb grounding that overheated or melted the housing and, in one case, made the car stall when the lights were on. Filed between the mid-1990s and early 2000s, with no mileage recorded in any of them.
What to check: Turn the key through its full range and make sure the engine shuts off cleanly, then check the horn and every exterior light. Ask the seller whether the car has ever stalled or lost power while driving.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Key stuck in ignition switch and could not be removed. Had to disconnect battery because could not turn the vehicle off. Brake light came on while driving to work and took to dealer, and was told that front brake pads were worn, rotors resurfaced.”
NHTSA complaint #813006, filed 1997-09“While driving, vehicle lost oil, dealer replaced leaking cylinder head gasket. On another occasion, vehicle lost all power, suddenly shutting off. Dealer replaced distributor to correct condition.”
NHTSA complaint #8008402, filed 2002-04 - Brakes
Brakes that fail to stop and repeat pad wear
- 7 complaints (10%)
- typically at 1.9 yrs old
- 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 1995–1997
Owners describe the brake pedal going down without stopping the car, in one case with the pads coming off and the car hitting another vehicle and an embankment. Another complaint describes an ABS warning lamp and repeated pad and rotor wear on a car that went back to the dealer many times, including a master cylinder replacement. One report pairs a brake warning light with worn front pads and resurfaced rotors. Reported mostly in the late 1990s with no mileage given, during ordinary braking from city and highway speeds.
What to check: Have the brakes inspected on a lift rather than judging them on a short test drive, and ask for service records showing how often pads, rotors and brake fluid have been changed.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Started braking for red light, brakes failed to stop, brake pads flew off, 1st time hit vehicle, 2nd time embankment, at dealer for 3rd time, problem repaired again, will provide parts and all invoices.”
NHTSA complaint #806278, filed 1996-12“Abs brake failure, continues to wear disc pads amd rotors, in for repairs 9 times, replaced master cynider, causing loss of effectiveness and brake lockup.”
NHTSA complaint #808497, filed 1997-02 - Engine cooling
A/C blowing hot and slipping accessory belt
Mentioned in 4 of 36 sampled complaints
Owners report the air conditioning blowing hot air after a compressor clip or clutch failure, and a fan belt that kept slipping even after the dealer adjusted it. One complaint describes a leaking cylinder head gasket that let the engine lose oil, along with a distributor replacement after a shutdown. Another owner mentions the engine surging at highway speed. Reported between the late 1990s and mid-2000s, with mileage not recorded in these complaints.
What to check: Check that the A/C blows cold at idle as well as on the move, look for a glazed or slipping accessory belt, and check for oil seepage around the head gasket and the smell of coolant.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Fan belt slips, dealer fix and it still slips- read in newspaper where this is a commom problem for this year and make due to improperly tighten crank shaft pully. Wanted to add my input to this problem as it said that there could be a possible recall for this. Also, engine has a tendence to surge as you are driving at highway speeds.”
NHTSA complaint #729570, filed 2000-08“No deployment of driver/passenger's air bags during a collision. Also, distributor housing not operating properly/ air conditioner clutch went out/carpet on floorboard will not stay attached, and arm rest cracked and broke off.”
NHTSA complaint #781156, filed 1998-10
Buying note. The airbag and brake reports are the two things worth investigating before money changes hands: ask for any airbag or ABS fault history and have the brakes inspected properly. Beyond that, expect ordinary upkeep on a car of this age, with A/C and belt repairs among the likely costs.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 36 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 70 consumer complaints for the 1995 Mitsubishi Mirage. 2 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 151,679 miles. Of all complaints, 36 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 27 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 14 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 bags35 50%
- Electrical system8 11%
- Brakes7 10%
- Engine cooling6 8.6%
- Suspension5 7.1%
- Exterior lighting3 4.3%
- Other or unknown3 4.3%
- Seat belts3 4.3%
- Seats3 4.3%
- Equipment2 2.9%
Also reported: Body and structure (2), Transmission and drivetrain (2), Steering (1), Tires (1), Vehicle speed control (1).
Example complaints
Air bags: “The contact owns a 1995 Mitsubishi Mirage. The contact was involved in a crash with another vehicle. His vehicle was completely destroyed. The air bags failed to deploy; however, the air bag light indicated that they were activated. The contact has a copy of the police report. He has not notified the manufacturer. The speed and powertrain were unknown. The current and failure mileages were 123,468.”
NHTSA complaint #10209762, filed 2007-11, 123,468 milesElectrical system: “Design location of the horn was inside a vertical metal shaft pointing toward the driver with a baffle underside to keep out road dirt, consumer relocated due to poor performance.”
NHTSA complaint #542931, filed 1998-12Mileage when problems were reported
0% of the 2 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 123,468 and 179,890 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 1995 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 | 25 | $2,700 |
| Mirage FWD | 1.8L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 22 | 27 | 24 | $2,800 |
| Mirage FWD | 1.8L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 21 | 27 | 23 | $2,900 |
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 1995 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.
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. 14 on record; the latest 10 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.
- 10170074Aug 28, 2015Transmission and drivetrain, Wheels, Engine cooling…. This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
- 10170070Jul 29, 2015Equipment. This TSB contains troubleshooting steps for diagnosis of various customer complaints relating to the audio system speakers in Mitsubishi vehicles equipped with original equipment audio components.
- 10170071Jul 22, 2015Transmission and drivetrain, Fuel system, Suspension…. This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
- 10170099Mar 5, 2013Equipment. This is an index of Tech Talk newsletter articles released in 2012.
- 10170096Mar 5, 2013Wheels, Transmission and drivetrain, Steering, Electrical…. This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
- 10170100Feb 6, 2013Fuel system, Electrical system, Transmission and…. This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
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 1995 Mitsubishi Mirage?
Owners of this model year most often describe airbags that did not deploy in a collision, followed by brake trouble, electrical faults, and air-conditioning and belt problems. The issues reported most often: Airbags that did not deploy in a crash; Stuck ignition key and sudden electrical shutdowns; Brakes that fail to stop and repeat pad wear.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1995 Mitsubishi Mirage have?
NHTSA recorded 70 consumer complaints for the 1995 Mitsubishi Mirage as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1995 Mitsubishi Mirage is reported most often?
Air bags is named most often, in 35 complaints (50% of the total), followed by electrical system with 8.
Has the 1995 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 1995 Mitsubishi Mirage get?
The EPA rates the 1995 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 1995 Mitsubishi Mirage reported?
Among the 2 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 151,679 miles and the middle half falls between 123,468 and 179,890 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.