1992 Mitsubishi Mirage problems
The Mitsubishi Mirage is a range of cars produced by the Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi from 1978 until 2003 and again since 2012. The hatchback models produced between 1978 and 2003 were classified as subcompact cars, while the sedan and station wagon models, marketed prominently as the Mitsubishi Lancer, were the compact offerings. The liftback introduced in 1988 complemented the sedan as an additional compact offering, and the coupé of 1991 fitted in with the subcompact range. The current Mirage model is a subcompact hatchback and sedan and it replaces the Mitsubishi Colt sold between 2002 and 2012.
Nameplate history
The Mirage has a complicated marketing history, with a varied and much convoluted naming convention that differed substantially depending on the market. Mitsubishi used the Mirage name for all five generations in Japan, with all but the first series badged as such in the United States. However, other markets often utilized the name Mitsubishi Colt and sedan variants of the Mirage have been widely sold as the Mitsubishi Lancer—including in Japan where the two retailed alongside one another. In Japan, the Mirage was sold at a specific retail chain called Car Plaza.
In the United States and Canada, the first four generations were sold through a venture with Chrysler as the Dodge Colt and the similar Plymouth-badged Champ and Colt. Later, the venture brought the Eagle Vista and Summit branded models which sold alongside the aforementioned. Confusingly, Chrysler has also offered an unrelated Dodge Lancer at various stages between the 1950s and 1980s. However, when DaimlerChrysler briefly controlled Mitsubishi through the DaimlerChrysler-Mitsubishi alliance from 2000 through to 2004, the license to the "Lancer" name was relinquished to Mitsubishi for usage in North America. Thus, after the fifth and final generation Mirage, replacement models in North America have adopted the new name.
Mitsubishi introduced replacements for the fifth series of Mirage, starting in 2000 with a new generation of Lancer—now larger, having moved up to the compact segment. Then in 2002, a subcompact five-door hatchback badged Colt globally became available. By 2003, the Mirage and its derivatives had been completely phased out of mainstream Japanese production. For the 2002-era Colt's replacement in 2012, Mitsubishi decided to resurrect the Mirage name internationally for a new sixth generation model.
With the rising popularity of boxy subcompact SUVs in Japan, the Mirage nameplate was used on a domestic market-only model called the Mirage Dingo, from 1999. The Dingo was facelifted in 2001 and canceled in 2003. However, New Zealand sold a very different Mirage from 2002—a rebadged Dutch-manufactured Mitsubishi Space Star labeled Mirage Space Star. This vehicle was not very popular and was discontinued in 2003.
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Common 1992 Mitsubishi Mirage problems
Based on complaints from owners, the Mitsubishi Mirage 1992 has experienced several common problems. Here is a detailed list of these issues:
- Premature Brake Wear: Owners of the 1992 Mitsubishi Mirage have reported premature wear on the front brakes. This issue can lead to symptoms like vibrations when braking, loud squeals, or grinding noises. The overuse of the front brakes by the braking system is a primary cause of this problem. To address this, owners may need to replace the front brake pads more frequently than the car's original maintenance schedule recommends. The cost of replacing the front brake pads can range from $221 to $262 each time.
- Transmission Shifting Difficulty: Another common complaint is related to the transmission having difficulty shifting, especially in older or higher mileage Mirages. This issue is typically caused by binding between the transmission synchronizer components, affecting the transmission's ability to shift smoothly. Owners have found that adding an additive to the transmission fluid can help resolve this problem. If the additive does not work, purchasing a new synchronizer kit from Mitsubishi may be necessary to prevent further damage to the transmission.
- Interior Accessories Compatibility: Some owners have reported compatibility issues with the built-in Mitsubishi Multi Entertainment System Bluetooth and newer smartphones. The Bluetooth connection may fail to stay connected to newer phones, leading to difficulties in reconnecting once disconnected. A common solution to this problem is resetting the CPU by disconnecting the battery for ten seconds. However, this issue may reoccur over time, requiring repeated resets.
- TPMS Sensor Malfunction: The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) sensors in the 1992 Mitsubishi Mirage have been a source of concern for owners. When these sensors stop working, it is crucial to replace them promptly to maintain tire condition and prevent potential safety hazards like blowouts. Replacing a malfunctioning TPMS sensor can cost an average of $207 to $257.
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Failure: Owners have reported issues with the ESC failing in the 1992 Mitsubishi Mirage. When the ESC malfunctions, it can lead to drifting and instability in handling at both high and low speeds, posing safety risks. To address ESC failure, owners need to have the vehicle's engine computer module reprogrammed and recalibrated by a Mitsubishi dealership, licensed repair facility, or ASE Certified mechanic. The cost of this reprogramming typically ranges from $80 to $150.
These common problems with the 1992 Mitsubishi Mirage highlight the importance of regular maintenance and prompt attention to issues to ensure the vehicle's optimal performance and safety.
What is the common problem of Mitsubishi Mirage?
Common Issues With the Mitsubishi Mirage
No start to the failed distributor. Front brake wear troubles. Airbags that do not deploy as expected. Shifting issues with the manual transmission.
What is the weakness of Mitsubishi Mirage?
However, the weak, vibrating, and incredibly noisy three-cylinder engine provides sluggish acceleration, handling is clumsy, and the cabin is depressingly low-rent. Further lowering its standing is its poor score in the IIHS small-overlap crash test. The Mirage began as a small car with a jumpy, uncomfortable ride.
What is the mileage of a 1992 Mitsubishi Mirage?
Fuel Economy
| City | 23 mpg |
|---|---|
| Highway | 29 mpg |
| Combined | 25 mpg |
Is the Mitsubishi Mirage reliable?
The Mitsubishi Mirage Reliability Rating is 4.5 out of 5.0, which ranks it 7th out of 21 for subcompact cars.
1992 Mitsubishi Mirage car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Mitsubishi Mirage problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Seat belts problems
- Engine and engine cooling problems
- Latches/locks/linkages problems
- Service brakes problems
- Hydraulic problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1992 Mitsubishi Mirage vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1992 Mitsubishi Mirage complaints
The NHTSA has received 16 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1992 Mitsubishi Mirage.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2005-12-23
- VIN: JA3CA46C9PU
- Components: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
- Summary: WE ARE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE AUTOMATIC SAFETY HARNESS. IT WAS NOT WORKING WHEN WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I CHECKED ON THE WEB AND FOUND THE FOLLOWING RECALL: 97V063001 THAT IS LISTED AS A RECALL FOR WHAT LOOKS LIKE OUR PROBLEM. I CALLED A LOCAL DEALER AND THEY DID NOT FIND ANY RECALL ON OUR CAR, A 1992 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE LS, VIN NUMBER: [XXX] . THE REFERENCED NUMBER ABOVE LOOKS LIKE A RECALL TO ME. I WENT AND TESTED THE SWITCH MYSELF AND FOUND THE SWITCH DID NOT WORK ELECTRICALLY. WHEN I UNPLUGGED THE SWITCH AND MANUALLY SHORTED THE CONNECTORS THE SAFETY HARNESS WILL GO BACK AND FORTH. THIS TELLS ME THAT THE PROBLEM LISTED IS THE CORRECT PROBLEM. WE NEED THIS FIXED AND I FEEL IT IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT WITH A RECALL NOT NOTED BY THE LOCAL DEALER. HOW DO I GET IT FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER? *NM UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2003-08-26
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE STALLED, FORCING CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. TOWED VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. IT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,EXTERIOR LIGHTING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2001-04-23
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Summary: CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45MPH ON HIGHWAY WHEN SHE APPLIED BRAKES , AND WARNING LIGHT DIDN'T COME ON. SHE HAD TO VEER OFF ONTO SHOULDERS OF ROAD. BRAKES WERE GONE.*AK
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2001-04-01
- VIN: ADD
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: BOTH FRONT SEATBELTS INTERMITTENTLY LOCK UP TOO TIGHTLY UPON ENTRY INTO VEHICLE. *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2001-01-07
- VIN: NOT AVAILAB
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: WHEN DRIVING 10-15MPH AND UPON APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT VEHICLE CUT OFF WITH NO WARNING, CAUSING LOSS OF ALL POWER. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER NOTICED THAT COMPUTER MALFUNCTIONED, WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-04-21
- VIN: JA3CU24A9NU
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OF OIL LEAKAGE ENGINE LOCKED
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-04-21
- VIN: JA3CU24A9NU
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OF OIL LEAKAGE ENGINE LOCKED
SUSPENSION PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Components: SUSPENSION
- Summary: SUPPORT BEAM 0N DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE JUST BROKE OFF AND COLLAPSED ON ITS OWN. DEALER SAID IT NEEDS TO BE REWELDED. *AK
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 4A3CU26A6NE
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: MOTORIZED SHOULDER HARNESS DISENGAGES IF DOOR IS OPENED WHILE DRIVING.
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR SOMETIMES TIGHTENS UP AND WOULDN'T RELEASE . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1992-01-01
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: EA96-015 ACTIVE, SHOULDER BELT FAILURE, INTERMITTENTLY WILL OVER RETRACT AND BELT WILL TWIST INTO THE TRACK, ALSO PARTIALLY RETRACTS. *AK
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-05-01
- VIN: 4A3CU26A1NE
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: DRIVER'S SIDE MOTORIZED SHOULDER HARNESS FAILED ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASSIONS TO MOVE UPWARD AND RESTRAIN DRIVER. *SD
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1994-09-01
- VIN: 4A3CU26A6NE
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: SEAT BELT FAILS TO RETRACT.
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 4A3CU36A0NE
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: PASSENGERS PASSIVE RESTRAINT WILL CEASE TO ENGAGE MIDWAY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT FAILURE, WHEN MOTORIZED SHOULDER HARNESS WON'T DISCONNECT ON DRIVER/PASS. TT
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: JA3PU24A5NU
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: THERE ARE BAD GAS FUMES IN CAR LIKE EXHAUST CONSUMER AND PASSENGER GET BAD HEAD ACHES SEND CAR TO DEALER ABOUT THREE TIME CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM . TT
1992 Mitsubishi Mirage recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 1992 Mitsubishi Mirage.
- Manufacturer: MITSUBISHI AMERICA
- Components: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
- Summary: EXCESS LUBRICATION CAN CAUSE THE RUBBER DOOR LATCH SWITCH COVER TO DEFORM, AND THE DOOR LATCH SWITCH TO MALFUNCTION, SO THAT THE SHOULDER BELT ANCHORAGE WOULD REMAIN AT THE A-PILLAR WHEN THE DOOR WAS CLOSED.
- Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.
- Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DOOR LATCH SWITCH.
Negative 1992 Mitsubishi Mirage car reviews
Positive 1992 Mitsubishi Mirage car reviews
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Your car sounds amazing! It was a part of your life for over 24 years and ran strong for over 190,000 miles, mostly in the city. It never failed to start, never overheated, and never leaked any oil. You took great care of it, getting regular oil changes, tune-ups, and keeping the coolant and brake fluid levels up. Your mechanic even said it was easy to work on! It's impressive that it held up so well in accidents, even when hit from behind at high speeds. It's clear that your Mirage was a little tank that kept you safe. It's a shame that someone who wasn't certified worked on it and made a mistake. Thank you for sharing your story with us!I'm almost positive that if I had not done that, I would have gotten at least 50-75,000 miles out of that car. I can't speak for anyone else's experience, but mine was excellent!
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The car is great!
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1992 Mitsubishi Mirage problems:
Q&A: 1999 Mitsubishi Mirage - Common Issues, Troubleshooting ...
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Get 1992 Mitsubishi Mirage repair and maintenance costs, common problems, recalls, and more. Find certified Mitsubishi mechanics near you.
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Apr 22, 2009 ... I have a mitsubishi mirage 2000 1.5L coupe. My problem is that when i accelerate my engine feels like it is bogging out - Answered by a ...
Mitsubishi Mirage Problems and Complaints - 10 Issues
Top Mitsubishi Mirage Problems · No start to to failed distributor · Front brake wear issues · Airbags may not deploy as expected · Manual Transmission Shifting ...
2014 Mitsubishi Mirage Problems | Kelley Blue Book
Common Problems. Near Los Angeles, CA. 90001 ... 2014 Mirage Common Problems Q&A ... 1992 Mitsubishi Mirage. Pricing for Common 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage Repairs & ...
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Are you having problems with your 1992 Mitsubishi Mirage?
Kristian Murray 2024-08-28
What a lovely little car! It's been such a reliable companion for ten years, making our daily commutes a breeze. We've hardly had to do any maintenance on it, and it's never needed any major repairs. It's been a great investment!
Darryl Kohler 2024-05-15
I hope you're doing well! I just wanted to let you know that I've had very few problems with this car. It's been incredibly dependable.
Brody Kilback 2024-05-05
Hey there! Have you ever experienced the thrill of driving around and feeling water splash up onto your feet? Well, you can! Although, I must admit, the Mirage I purchased hasn't been the best car out there. It has had a few problems, mostly water-related. The sunroof and floorboards leak, and I'm also having some exhaust problems that cause fumes to come back into the car. But don't worry, I'll be getting rid of it soon. How about you? Have you had any similar experiences with your car?