Buyer Research

2017 Mitsubishi Mirage — Should You Buy One?

Typical asking price: $5,000–$8,500. This is one of the more reliable vehicles in its class — here's what to watch for anyway.

Kestrel Take

The cheapest way to get 40 mpg with a warranty, and the slowest new car sold in America in its day. It is not good. It is, however, honest about what it is: three cylinders, minimal weight, minimal complexity, and a 10-year powertrain warranty that transfers in limited form.

What we checked

Partly reconciled against public records, 2026-09-11

NHTSA holds 28 owner complaints for the 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage, across 2 recall campaigns.

A big number here usually means a lot of these were sold, not that it is a bad vehicle — popular models collect more complaints for the same rate of trouble. So the total on its own says little. What is worth reading is the shape of it. 50% of them are about one thing — airbags. That much concentration is a genuine pattern rather than background noise, and it is the first thing to check on any example you look at.

2 recall campaigns cover this model year. Recalls are repaired free, for any owner, with no time limit on most safety campaigns — but only if someone books it in. Ask the seller to show it was done, or have any dealer check the VIN; it takes them a couple of minutes and costs nothing.

Not written up yet: electrics and electronics (4 complaints), the engine (4 complaints). Those groups are in the public record and are not covered by the issues below. Treat them as something to ask about, not as absent.

Looked at and set aside: airbags (14) — 14 airbag complaints on file, almost always a recall matter rather than a repair bill; have a dealer check this VIN for open airbag campaigns and confirm any were performed.

Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.

Known Issues for the 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage

Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.

CVT durability under loadMedium

A small CVT in a light car is a better situation than most, but hills and full loads stress it. Fluid service is the whole preventive maintenance story.

Repair cost (estimate): $2,500-$3,500

Source: not yet checked against public records.

Severe lack of power mergingMedium

Not a defect but a genuine safety consideration — 78 horsepower means highway merges require planning.

Repair cost: Not yet priced

Source: not yet checked against public records.

Wheel bearing and suspension noiseLow

Light-duty components that get noisy on rough roads.

Repair cost (estimate): $300-$600

Source: not yet checked against public records.

Road noise and thin sound insulationLow

Loud enough at 70 mph to make conversation work.

Repair cost: Not yet priced

Source: not yet checked against public records.

Walk-Away Red Flags

✗CVT fluid never changed
✗Highway-heavy history — this car is designed for city use
✗Accident damage on a car this light

Good Signs

✓Original owner with remaining 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty
✓City-only driving, low mileage
✓5-speed manual — genuinely more pleasant than the CVT

Found a specific Mitsubishi Mirage?

This page covers what goes wrong on the 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.

Get My Verdict — $7.99

No account required. Delivered to your inbox, usually within minutes.

Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for this year. It stops short of the verdict, because that needs the photos.

Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.