1996 Mitsubishi Mirage Problems: Airbags (28 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage is Airbags (36% of 28 owner reports). There are 1 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Airbags — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 28 complaints · 1 recalls

What problems show up on the 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage?

10 of 28 filings named Airbags (36% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Transmission / driveline (3 reports).

This snapshot lists no safety recalls for this year. That is not a clean bill of health. Still check the VIN at nhtsa.gov.

The 1995 has 70 reports on file; this year has 28. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 1 campaigns on file below.
  2. Airbags. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed.
  3. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  4. Brakes. Have a shop check pads, rotors, fluid and whether the pedal feels firm.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Airbags. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Airbags 10 complaints · 35.7% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 11
  • Fires 1
  • Injuries 7
  • Deaths 0
All Mitsubishi Mirage years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Airbags (AIR BAGS) appears in 10 of 28 owner complaints (35.7%) in this vehicle snapshot. Airbags (AIR BAGS): 10 complaints, 35.7% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 8 crash reports 10 · 35.7% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 3 complaints, 10.7% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 3 · 10.7% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 3 complaints, 10.7% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 1 crash reports 3 · 10.7% Seat belts (SEAT BELTS): 2 complaints, 7.1% of reports Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 1 crash reports 2 · 7.1% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 2 complaints, 7.1% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 2 · 7.1% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 1 complaints, 3.6% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 1 · 3.6% Engine (ENGINE): 1 complaints, 3.6% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 1 fire reports 1 · 3.6% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 1 complaints, 3.6% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 1 crash reports 1 · 3.6% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 26 complaints, 92.9% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 11 crash reports 1 fire reports 26 · 92.9% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 10 35.7% 8 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 3 10.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 3 10.7% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 2 7.1% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 2 7.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 1 3.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 1 3.6% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 1 3.6% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 26 92.9% 11 crashes · 1 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 1996; the first recall shown was reported in Jul 2006. 1996-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 1996-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 1996-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 1996-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 1997-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 1997-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 1997-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 1998-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 1998-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 1999-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2000-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2000-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2000-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2001-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2001-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2002-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2004-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jan 1996 Jul 2006 Recall campaign 06E065000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E065000
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
1996-Q1 Owner reports 3
1996-Q2 Owner reports 1
1996-Q3 Owner reports 2
1996-Q4 Owner reports 2
1997-Q1 Owner reports 2
1997-Q2 Owner reports 2
1997-Q3 Owner reports 5
1998-Q2 Owner reports 2
1998-Q3 Owner reports 1
1999-Q3 Owner reports 1
2000-Q1 Owner reports 1
2000-Q3 Owner reports 1
2000-Q4 Owner reports 1
2001-Q1 Owner reports 1
2001-Q4 Owner reports 1
2002-Q1 Owner reports 1
2004-Q1 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 06E065000
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (1)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

  1. Recall campaign 06E065000

    Safety recall 06E065000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 10 of 28 complaints · page 1 of 2
2004-01-15Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10071159
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR FROM DAY ONE. IT HAS ALWAYS USED OIL, HAVING TO ADD MORE OIL ALL THE TIME EVEN THOUGH I DUE AN OIL CHANGE ON REGULAR BASIS. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO RUN LOW ON OIL, AND THE OIL DOES NOT COME ON UNTIL AS THE MECHANICS SAY "ITS BONE DRY". THE AIR CONDITION BELT SQUEAKED FROM DAY ONE, THEN JUST QUIT WORKING. THE WATER PUMP HAS NOW WENT OUT TWICE!!! THE FIRST TIME THE THERMOSTAT ALSO WAS NOT WORKING, WHICH CAUSED ME TO HAVE A MAJOR MECHANICAL BILL...NO WARNING WHILE OUT OF STATE!!! THE WINDSHIELD HAS ALWAYS FOGGED UP NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO TO ELIMINATE IT, WHICH HAS CAUSED ME NEAR COLLISIONS NUMEROUS TIMES. THE WINDOWS SOON BECAME OFF TRACK FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND NOW LEAK WATER. BALL JOINTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THIS CAR BASICALLY WAS A LEMON. I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW, MY FIRST NEW CAR AND MY LAST FROM MITSUBISHI.
2002-01-17Airbags (AIR BAGS)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 564003
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING AN ACCIDENT. YH
2001-11-05Airbags (AIR BAGS)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 898770
CrashFireInjuryDeath
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISON IN WHICH THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. AS A RESULT THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO NECK AND BACK. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *NLM
2001-03-09Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 882556
CrashFireInjuryDeath
WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED THEY WENT TO FLOOR. BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER REPAIRED. *AK
2000-10-12Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 872818
CrashFireInjuryDeath
1996, MITSUBISHI LANCER; WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. MITSUBISHI CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK
2000-08-24Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 868541
CrashFireInjuryDeath
DRIVER'S SEAT HAS COME APART FROM THE REST OF VEHICLE POSSIBLY DUE TO A BOLT OR METAL STRESS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
2000-03-31Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 720850
CrashFireInjuryDeath
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
1999-07-27Airbags (AIR BAGS)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 843525
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE SRS AIR BAG LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH CONSOLE INFORMATION CENTER AND HAS NOT GONE BACK OFF, IT HAS BEEN ON FOR AT LEAST 2 WEEKS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
1998-07-09Airbags (AIR BAGS)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 825230
CrashFireInjuryDeath
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING STILL AT A STOP LIGHT IT WAS HIT FROM THE REAR, AND THE PASSENGER'S AND DRIVER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS ONE INJURY. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. AN INSURANCE CLAIM WAS FILED. *AK
1998-05-27Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 823681
CrashFireInjuryDeath
WHILE DRIVING AT 30MPH THE HOOD FLEW OPEN AND SMASHED THE WINDSHIELD. DEALER SAYS THE LATCH BROKE. *AK

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage?

Owners named Airbags most often — 10 of 28 reports (36%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage?

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall campaigns. This snapshot lists none, which is not a clean bill of health. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources