A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Feb 1995peak 3Nov 2013
NHTSA investigations into the 1990 Mitsubishi Mirage
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA96015Opened 28 Jun 1996Closed 12 Jun 1997SEAT BELTS
AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT FAILURE
THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ALLEGEDLY MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILS
PE96006Opened 19 Jan 1996Closed 28 Jun 1996SEAT BELTS
AUTO SHOULDER BELT FAILURE
EA95004Opened 10 Mar 1995Closed 1 Aug 1995SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
TAKATA SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE
Recalls on the 1990 Mitsubishi Mirage
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
United States — NHTSA
95V103004
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
Risk: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Cleveland, OHFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FIRE DUE TO POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *MJS
NHTSA complaint #553101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Shreveport, LACrash3 injured
SEAT BELTS
AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS FAILED TO HOLD DRIVER AND PASSENGERS UPRIGHT IN ACCIDENT, CAUSING SEVERE INJURIES. *DSH
NHTSA complaint #487094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Delmont, PAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
THE WIRING HARNESS BEHIND THE HEAD LIGHT CAUSE A FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #968526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 20,000 milesFranklin, OH
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED SPORADICALLY AT INITIAL START-UP OR WHEN DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000. ## VIN PASSED ## MITSUBISHI MIRAGE 1990 ##
NHTSA complaint #10552763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Santa Cruz, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ECU FAILURE, THEN MPI CONTROL RELAY, THEN DISTRIBUTOR CAP, COIL & ROTOR, THEN NEW DISTRIBUTOR.
NHTSA complaint #10016887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Burbank, IL
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE ONLY DOOR THAT WILL OPEN NORMALLY IS THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL ONLY OPEN FROM INSIDE, AND BOTH PASSENGER REAR DOORS WON'T OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS VERY UNSAFE IF YOU NEED TO EXIT QUICKLY IN AN EMERGENCY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFOMATION. TS
NHTSA complaint #8022915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Phoenix, AZ
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL GEAR WAS ON DRIVE, THEN JUMPED INTO REVERSE, MAKING VEHICLE ROLL BACKWARD, HAPPENED TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #882916 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cleveland, OHFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FIRE DUE TO POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *MJS
NHTSA complaint #553101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Miami, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
CAR ALSO CUTS OFF IF THE AIR IS ON
NHTSA complaint #709810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Maitland, FL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) REPLACED DUE TO VEHICLE STALLING. CONSUMER ALSO COMPLAINS OF NOT HAVING A WARNING INDICATOR TO NOTIFY DRIVER OF FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #523759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Maitland, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) REPLACED DUE TO VEHICLE STALLING. CONSUMER ALSO COMPLAINS OF NOT HAVING A WARNING INDICATOR TO NOTIFY DRIVER OF FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #523759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sunrise, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THERE IS A STRUCTURAL DEFECT WITHIN THE SECOND ENGINE CYLINDER--LOST COMPRESSION LEADING TO FAILURE 3 TIMES, 3RD TIME CYLINDER CRACKED. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA complaint #830443 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Maitland, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
EXPERIENCED UNPREDICTABLE COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY.
NHTSA complaint #523759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Clear Water, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHEN DRIVING AT VARIES SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL/DIE OUT FOR NO REASON. WOULD RESTART VEHICLE & IT WOULD STALL AGAIN. TOOK TO DEALER. MECHANIC GAVE IT A TUNE UP. THE STALLING STILL EXISTS AFTER TUNE UP.
NHTSA complaint #818915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vacaville, CA
SEAT BELTS
BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELTS ARE INOPERATIVE DUE TO THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT NOT RETRACTING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #815290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lebanon, MO
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
THE DRIVER'S SEAT LEANS BACK WHILE LOCKED. MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #813603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Whitinsville, MA
SEAT BELTS
THE AUTOMATIC PASSENGER'S RESTRAINT BELT NEVER RELEASES ITSELF FROM THE LOCK MODE, WHEN CONSUMER GETS INTO VEHICLE AND STARTS THE IGNITION THE BELT DOES NOT ADJUST. INSTEAD, THE BELT IS SQEEZING OCCUPANT ACROSS CHEST AREA SO TIGHT THAT IT'S HURTS.
NHTSA complaint #810305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mount Sina, NY
SEAT BELTS
MOTORBELT AT TIMES FAILS TO RELEASE, ALSO FAILS TO LOCK AT TIMES AND IS TOO TIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #485728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Abilene, TX
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVERS SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE.
NHTSA complaint #486975 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Duncansville, TX
SEAT BELTS
EA96-015 ACTIVE, PASSIVE RESTRAINT FAILURE, SHOULDER BELT ON PASSENGER WILL OVERTIGHTEN AND WILL NOT RELEASE.
NHTSA complaint #802454 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FT Mitchell, KY
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT THE PASSENGER SHOULDER BELT MALFUNCTIONED.
NHTSA complaint #802024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FT Mitchell, KY
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER BELT IS INOPERABLE.
NHTSA complaint #802025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Miami, FL
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL PUMP FAILED, MAKING STARTING THE VEHICLE IMPOSSIBLE.
NHTSA complaint #504314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Miami, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT, MAKING STARTING THE VEHICLE IMPOSSIBLE.
NHTSA complaint #504314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brooklyn, NY
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR SOMTIMES STOPS WORKING, OPEN HALF WAY . PLEASE DESCRIBE .
NHTSA complaint #986182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
White Plaine, NY
SEAT BELTS
DRIVER/PASS. SHOULDER BELTS INOPERATIVE, MOTORIZED BELT WON'T DISENGAGE, MUST MANUALLY RELEASE TO GET OUT OF BELT.
NHTSA complaint #985750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lacrosse, WI
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
FAILURE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR, SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT.
NHTSA complaint #984178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Toms River, NJ
SEAT BELTS
BOTH DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S PASSIVE RESTRAINTS TIGHTENED WHILE ALREADY ENGAGED, MORE FREQUENT W/DRIVERS SIDE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #983494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.