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.

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 range: $2,500-$3,500

Severe lack of power mergingMedium

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

Repair cost range: n/a

Wheel bearing and suspension noiseLow

Light-duty components that get noisy on rough roads.

Repair cost range: $300-$600

Road noise and thin sound insulationLow

Loud enough at 70 mph to make conversation work.

Repair cost range: n/a

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.

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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.