Mitsubishi Mirage — the 9 years we've written up
2014–2024, side by side: what goes wrong on each, what the fix costs, and what they typically ask. 3 of the 9 carry a high-severity issue.
What this page is
These are the 9 Mitsubishi Mirage model years Kestrel has done the homework on — not every year Mitsubishi built one. A year that isn't listed here isn't a year we're warning you off; it's one we haven't written up yet. Ranking a whole model run would mean telling you about years we've never looked at.
Mitsubishi Mirage by year
How many owner complaints NHTSA holds. A big number usually means a lot were sold; the shape matters more than the total.
Year by year
Front tires reported worn out in about a month, with a wobble and a pull to follow — $350–$700 for a four-wheel alignment with a pair of front tires; more if a control arm or knuckle is bent
Automatic emergency braking that intervenes sometimes and not others — $150–$400 for a camera recalibration; $600–$1,200 if the camera unit is replaced
Continuously variable transmission decides whether this car stays cheap — $3,000–$4,500 to replace the unit; $150–$250 for the fluid service on Mitsubishi's interval
Airbag warning lamp that comes on and stays on, and is expensive to chase — $250–$1,100 depending on whether it is a connector, the clock spring or the control module
Engine cutting out at speed, then refusing to restart at all — $250–$900 for a crank sensor, a relay or a fuel pump
Airbag control unit can switch the restraint system off after a rough road (recall 17V686000) — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed
CVT durability under load — $2,500-$3,500
Airbags that did not deploy, and two recalls aimed at why — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed
Three separate recalls can leave the airbags not deploying — $0 with the recall — verify it was performed
6 of these 9 have no high-severity issue in our write-up. That means we didn't find an expensive recurring fault — not that one cannot exist on the specific vehicle you're looking at.
Looking at one in particular?
This page covers the Mitsubishi Mirage in general. The Kestrel report covers the one you're looking at — the asking price against the market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.
Get My Verdict — $7.99Not 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 that year.
Known issues 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.
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