Complaints
40
Crashes
14
Fires
1
Injuries
9
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#111 complaints
Air Bags:Frontal
Avg mileage:83 mi
Crash-related:11
#22 complaints
Airbags
#32 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 11 | 11 | — | 83 mi | |
| Airbags | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Brake Master Cylinder | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Other Equipment | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Manual Transmission | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Macpherson Strut | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield | 1 | — | — | — |
Air Bags:Frontal
11
complaints
Crashes
11
Fires
—
Avg Miles
83
Airbags
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brake Master Cylinder
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheel Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Other Equipment
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Manual Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Door
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Macpherson Strut
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Mitsubishi Mirage Years
1996 Mitsubishi Mirage — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage has 40 NHTSA complaints, 14 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Air Bags:Frontal with 11 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage?
Top reported problems: Air Bags:Frontal (11 complaints, avg 83 mi); Airbags (2 complaints); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline (2 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 83 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage?
NHTSA complaints for the 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage include 14 crash-related reports, 1 fire reports, 9 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Mitsubishi Mirage reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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