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Owner report · 1998 model year

1998 Mitsubishi Mirage

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The Verdict

Worst problem area

Airbags & Restraints

Airbags & Restraints leads by volume: 9 of 43 complaints (21%) mention it.

Complaints filed fell from 74 in 1997 to 43 in 1998.

Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology

At a glance

NHTSA complaints
43
Recall campaigns
5
EPA fuel cost per year
$2,000–$2,500
Combined MPG
25–31

Complaints by model year

  1. 281996
  2. 741997
  3. 431998
  4. 571999
  5. 352000

Where owners report problems

  1. Airbags & Restraints9 (21%)
  2. Body, Seats & Latches8 (19%)
  3. Brakes8 (19%)
  4. Engine6 (14%)
  5. Transmission & Drivetrain6 (14%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (9%)
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History

Fuel cost, fuel economy, and complaint history by model-yearScroll sideways to see all 5 years. Fuel figures show the range across trims for years with more than one EPA-rated configuration.
Category19961997199819992000vs. 1998 Subcompact Cars
Annual fuel cost ($)2,000–2,5002,000–2,4002,000–2,5002,000–2,5002,000–2,500
Combined MPG25–3126–3125–3125–3125–31
City / Highway MPG23–28 / 29–3523–28 / 30–3623–28 / 30–3623–28 / 30–3622–28 / 30–36
CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi)287–355287–342287–355287–355287–355
Complaints filed2874435735Not compared
Recalls issued14565Not compared
Crash-involved complaints111312149Not compared
Fire-involved complaints11201Not compared
Injuries reported7111183Not compared
Deaths reported00000Not compared
Configurations compared44444

Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.

Common questions

How many recalls does the 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage have?

5 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.

What is the most common complaint about the 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage?

Airbags & Restraints: 9 of 43 NHTSA complaints (21%) mention it.

What gas mileage does the 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage get?

EPA rates it 25–31 MPG combined across 4 configurations.

How much does it cost to fuel a 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage?

EPA estimates $2,000–$2,500 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.

Similar Vehicles

EPA-Rated Configurations (4)

Every EPA-rated configuration on this page, one row each.A number tagged (low) or (high) is this page’s own cost-table figure of that name, above.
ConfigurationTransmissionCylindersDisplacementDrivetrainFuel TypeVehicle ClassCityHighwayCombinedAnnual Fuel CostCO₂
Configuration 1Automatic 4-spd41.5LFront-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars25 mpg32 mpg28 mpg$2,200317 g/mi
Configuration 2Manual 5-spd41.5LFront-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars28 mpg (high)36 mpg (high)31 mpg (high)$2,000 (low)287 g/mi (low)
Configuration 3Automatic 4-spd41.8LFront-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars23 mpg (low)30 mpg (low)25 mpg (low)$2,500 (high)355 g/mi (high)
Configuration 4Manual 5-spd41.8LFront-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars25 mpg33 mpg28 mpg$2,200317 g/mi

Complaints by Category

Complaints by category, in the same fixed order on every page
CategoryComplaintsCrash-InvolvedFire-InvolvedInjuriesDeaths
Engine60000
Transmission & Drivetrain61000
Fuel System20100
Electrical00000
Brakes82130
Steering00000
Suspension, Wheels & Tires40020
Airbags & Restraints99050
Driver Assistance & Speed Control11000
Body, Seats & Latches83030
Visibility & Lighting30000
Other30000

A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.

Recalls (5)

  • EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

    Campaign 09E025000 · May 11, 2009

    Defect
    DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
    Consequence
    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy
    DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

  • EXTERIOR LIGHTING

    Campaign 09E012000 · Apr 7, 2009

    Defect
    SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
    Consequence
    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy
    SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

  • EXTERIOR LIGHTING

    Campaign 06E026000 · Mar 23, 2006

    Defect
    CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
    Consequence
    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
    Remedy
    PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

  • ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

    Campaign 00V311001 · Oct 2, 2000

    Defect
    VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES: MIRAGE MODEL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.5L ENGINES; MONTERO SPORT MODELS EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L ENGINES; AND MONTERO MODELS EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L ENGINES. THE BOLT SECURING THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY CAN BECOME LOOSE AND THE PULLEY COULD FALL OFF THE VEHICLE.
    Consequence
    THE CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
    Remedy
    ON THE MIRAGE VEHICLES, THE DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW, IMPROVED CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT ON THE OLDER ENGINES. ON NEW ENGINES WHICH ALREADY HAVE THE IMPROVED BOLT, THE DEALER WILL TIGHTEN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT TO THE CORRECT TORQUE SPECIFICATION. ON THE MONTERO MODELS, DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT TO THE CORRECT TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS. IF THE BOLT IS DAMAGED, IT WILL BE REPLACED.

  • SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

    Campaign 97V179000 · Oct 14, 1997

    Defect
    VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A POORLY MANUFACTURED VACUUM CHECK VALVE IN THE VACUUM HOSE BETWEEN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THE VACUUM BOOSTER CHECK VALVE CAN STICK TO THE VALVE BODY.
    Consequence
    THIS CONDITION WOULD RESULT IN REDUCTION OR LOSS OF VACUUM BOOST, REDUCING BRAKE EFFICIENCY.
    Remedy
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE VACUUM HOSE.