1999 Mitsubishi Mirage Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about cracked or sagging door hinges, brakes that fail to stop the car, and engine stalls or shutoffs while driving. Several crash reports say the airbags did not deploy, and a crankshaft pulley bolt problem tied to recalls is also reported. Mileage is rarely given, so the complaints say little about how these problems change with use.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Cracked or sagging door hinges

   • 10 complaints (18%)
   • median 41,921 mi at 4.2 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2004

   Owners describe cracked, bent, or sagging door hinges, often at the lower hinge, with doors that drop when opened, do not close fully, or keep the interior light on. Some say a dealer replaced hinges but the crack returned, and others were told the repair was not covered under warranty. An inspection reportedly found the doors were working as designed, while a dealer attributed a bent door to strong wind or forceful opening, which the owner disputed. Where mileage is given, it ranges from about 23,000 to 87,000 miles; many door complaints do not list mileage.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check each door for cracked, bent, or rusted hinges, and see whether the door closes fully and the door ajar light goes out. Ask whether a hinge repair or door adjustment was done, since a service bulletin describes an updated door adjustment procedure.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was given a 1999 Mitsubishi Mirage by my insurance company after an accident in my 1997 Mirage. When I received the car, the passenger side door was difficult to open. Over time, the door became increasingly difficult to close and it eventually became misaligned, dropping when it was opened. In july 2002, the door became unusable because it could not be opened far enough for a passenger to enter. I took it to a dealership, where I was told that the hinge had rusted shut due to underuse and that I would have to take it to a body shop. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10095816, filed 2004-10, 23,000 miles

   “The passenger side door of my 1999 Mirage Mitsubishi is falling from its bottom hinge. The bottom hinge is cracked and broken. When I open the door it falls in a slant towrd the floor. It will not close properly. Because it is a ajar my interior light is always on. I have been told this is not covered under warranty.”

   NHTSA complaint #10066318, filed 2004-04
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake pedal sinks to floor or brakes fail to stop

   • 12 complaints (21%)
   • typically at 1.8 yrs old
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2003

   Owners describe the brake pedal going to the floor, a lack of braking even after repeated pad replacements, and brakes that failed to stop the car. Some report longer stopping distances, a skid after the anti-lock brakes locked, and in one case a burned brake boot and a fire that a mechanic reportedly linked to debris. An owner says the dealer was too busy to inspect the car and declined a loaner while it waited. Mileage is rarely listed; the descriptions include city stops at red lights, highway driving, and a car that was only 34 days old.

   What to check: On a test drive, check the pedal feel and stopping distance, and ask whether the brake system was inspected after any repeat pad replacements. Ask for written repair records covering the calipers, brake lines, and ABS, if any were serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Faulty brakes-in dec,2002, had to hit brakes when vehicle pulled in front of me. I immediately lost control of vehicle-no steering- and car spun several times. Appeared brakes locked up even though I have ABS system. 2/2003-same thing. Was couple lengths behind vehicle when car in front suddenly pulled to left lane because a veh had almost stopped in road. When I pushed on brakes, they again locked up with no steering control causing me to hit vehicle in front of me even though I was trying to steer vehicle off into emer lane. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10008265, filed 2003-02

   “Brakes make a high-pitched squeaking sound when I brake. The car requires alot of braking time & distance to stop - it doesn't stop quickly. The car has died on 4 occasions. Three times were at red lights, the fourth I was going about 35 miles an hour. I notifed the nearest dealer (in norco california). The manager of the repair shop had me bring the car in (an hour drive) & then said he was too busy to look at my car when I arrived. I asked if I could leave it & take a replacement or rental car until he had time to inspect the car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #750765, filed 2001-08
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Engine stalls or shuts off while driving

   • 7 complaints (12%)
   • median 90,135 mi at 6.6 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2005

   Owners describe the engine shutting off or stalling without warning, including at highway speed, when stopping, and when pulling away from a green light. One describes a stall at about 45 to 50 mph that led to the vehicle flipping over an overpass, with injuries reported. Some dealers could not identify or reproduce the problem, and in one case the owner says the manufacturer's engineers were needed before the car was reprogrammed. Mileage is rarely listed; where it is given, it is about 90,000 miles, and descriptions include highway speeds and stops at traffic lights.

   What to check: Ask the seller for repair records showing a computer or engine-control update was done, and have a scan tool check for stored trouble codes. On a test drive, watch for stalling, hesitation when stopping, or a check-engine light that comes on.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Transmission computer feeds a too lean gasoline mixture causing the car to run rough when accelerating when engine is cold. It runs like an older car would that needed spark plugs. It has stalled out once from this problem and every morning it is a struggle for the car to back up the small incline in my driveway. I am afraid that when I am trying to turn left in traffic it will stop in the middle of the road. I am very careful when I do pull out. …”

   NHTSA complaint #710908, filed 1999-09

   “Engine stalls without warning and shuts off. The defect is intermittent and does not give a check engine alarm. As a consequence you may end up without power when passing to other vehicles or going accross intersections. Have not yet identified cause. Was rear ended do to this defect”

   NHTSA complaint #10122515, filed 2005-05, 90,135 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbags did not deploy in crashes

   • 9 complaints (16%)
   • median 137,500 mi at 7.6 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2008

   Owners describe crashes, including frontal, rear, side, and broadside impacts, in which the airbags did not deploy. Some reports describe injuries, and several say the vehicle was totaled after the crash. An owner says the dealership knew of the problem but did not resolve it, and another says the manufacturer gave a runaround when contacted. Where mileage is given, it ranges from about 75,000 to 200,000 miles; the crash speeds given are about 20 to 40 mph.

   What to check: Confirm the airbag warning light comes on at startup and goes out, and have a shop scan the airbag system for stored fault codes before buying. Ask the seller for any crash and repair history for the vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving at a 30 MPH consumer's vehicle was involved in a rear end collision. Upon impact, front air bags did not deploy. Consumer managed to pull over, and had the vehicle towed. Consumer sustained minor injuries. Dealership was aware of the problem, but did not resolve it.”

   NHTSA complaint #10084002, filed 2004-08, 75,000 miles

   “While holding brake pedal enigine suddenly accelerated into a pole. This has happened twice. Second time a garage door was hit. Air bags did not deploy in either incident. There was a recall ( 00v311001) for possible loose crank shaft pulley bolt and the dealer reinstalled it.”

   NHTSA complaint #878480, filed 2001-01
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Crankshaft pulley bolt loosened or broke

   • 6 complaints (11%)
   • median 35,000 mi at 5.0 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2003

   Owners describe a crankshaft pulley bolt that loosened or broke, with the pulley and belt falling away, a coolant leak, head gasket damage, or sudden loss of power or steering in some reports. Some say they were not told the vehicle was under recall, or received the notice long after it was sold. Some say the dealer told them they would have to pay and seek reimbursement, or that the warranty would not cover the repair. The complaints mostly do not list mileage; where it is given, it is about 35,000 miles.

   Recall 00V311001Recall 01V340001

   What to check: Ask whether recall 00V311001 or 01V340001 was completed for the VIN, using the NHTSA recall lookup or the seller's records. If a bolt replacement is claimed, ask for the invoice, since complaints describe disputes over who paid for it.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Recall 00v311000/crankshaft pulley bolt: recall notice received and contacted marietta Mitsubishi in marietta, georgia; phone # 770/953-4660 for appointment. Dealer informed that consumer was responsible to pay for repairs, and be reimbursed through manufacturer. Asking NHTSA to look into this matter. Please feel free to provide any further details on this matter.”

   NHTSA complaint #875046, filed 2000-11

   “Purchased 1999 Mirage from thompson ford and was not notified that the vehicle was on a recall. Automobile was purchased in november 2000. Subsequently , pulley bolt completely broke and the entire pulley and belt fell out. This was the first incident, exact days unknown, however month and year are accurate. In april 2003, vehicle stopped. Was informed by thompson ford that the vehicle wsa not under warranty only to find out approximately 10 days later that it was. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10028677, filed 2003-07

Buying note. For a used purchase, check whether the crankshaft pulley bolt recalls (00V311001 or 01V340001) were completed, and inspect the door hinges and brake pedal feel on a test drive. Ask for repair records covering any stalling or airbag warning light work, since some complaints describe repeat repairs.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 51 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.