2000 Mitsubishi Mirage Problems and Recalls (33 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage is Electrical (15% of 33 owner reports). There are 5 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Electrical — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 33 complaints · 5 recalls

What problems show up on the 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage?

5 of 33 filings named Electrical (15% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Engine (4 reports).

There are 5 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Engine and Lights. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 1999 has 57 reports on file; this year has 33. 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 2000 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 5 campaigns on file below.
  2. Electrical. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on.
  3. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  4. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Electrical. 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: Electrical 5 complaints · 15.2% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 8
  • Fires 1
  • Injuries 3
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 1999 →
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 Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) appears in 5 of 33 owner complaints (15.2%) in this vehicle snapshot. Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 5 complaints, 15.2% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 1 fire reports 5 · 15.2% Engine (ENGINE): 4 complaints, 12.1% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 1 crash reports 4 · 12.1% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 3 complaints, 9.1% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 3 · 9.1% Seat belts (SEAT BELTS): 3 complaints, 9.1% of reports Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 3 crash reports 3 · 9.1% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 3 complaints, 9.1% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 3 · 9.1% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 3 complaints, 9.1% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 3 · 9.1% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 2 complaints, 6.1% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 2 crash reports 2 · 6.1% Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING): 2 complaints, 6.1% of reports Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 2 · 6.1% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 2 complaints, 6.1% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 1 crash reports 2 · 6.1% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 29 complaints, 87.9% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 7 crash reports 1 fire reports 29 · 87.9% 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)
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 5 15.2% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 4 12.1% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 3 9.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 3 9.1% 3 crashes · 0 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 3 9.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 3 9.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 2 6.1% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 2 6.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 2 6.1% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 29 87.9% 7 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 Jul 2000; the first recall shown was reported in Nov 2001. 2000-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2000-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2001-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2001-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2001-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2001-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2002-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2002-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2002-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2002-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2003-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2003-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2004-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2004-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2004-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2005-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2005-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2005-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2025-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jul 2000 Jan 2025 Recall campaign 01V340001 ◆ Recall campaign 01V340001 Recall campaign 04V428000 ◆ Recall campaign 04V428000 Recall campaign 06E026000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E026000 Recall campaign 09E012000 ◆ Recall campaign 09E012000 Recall campaign 09E025000 ◆ Recall campaign 09E025000
  • Campaign 01V340001 was reported 434 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 04V428000 was reported 1,465 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 09E025000 was reported 1,589 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2000-Q3 Owner reports 2
2000-Q4 Owner reports 2
2001-Q1 Owner reports 2
2001-Q2 Owner reports 1
2001-Q3 Owner reports 1
2001-Q4 Owner reports 2
2002-Q1 Owner reports 1
2002-Q2 Owner reports 3
2002-Q3 Owner reports 2
2002-Q4 Owner reports 1
2003-Q2 Owner reports 2
2003-Q4 Owner reports 1
2004-Q1 Owner reports 1
2004-Q2 Owner reports 1
2004-Q3 Owner reports 1
2005-Q1 Owner reports 3
2005-Q2 Owner reports 1
2005-Q4 Owner reports 1
2007-Q2 Owner reports 1
2007-Q3 Owner reports 1
2013-Q2 Owner reports 1
2015-Q2 Owner reports 1
2025-Q1 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 01V340001
Recall campaign 1 04V428000
Recall campaign 1 06E026000
Recall campaign 1 09E012000
Recall campaign 1 09E025000
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (5)

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

In short, these campaigns were filed about Engine and Lights.

  1. Recall campaign 01V340001

    Engine

    Report date
    Component:
    Engine (ENGINE)
    Consequence:
    THE CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES TO INSURE THAT THE BOLT IS TIGHTENED. FOR THOSE BOLTS NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED, THE BOLT AND PULLEY WILL BE REMOVED AND INSPECTED FOR ANY INDICATION OF DAMAGE. COMPONENTS SHOWING ANY SIGNS OF DAMAGE WILL BE REPLACED AND THE BOLT TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER TORQUE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 26, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AMERICA AT 1-888-648-7820.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 04V428000

    Safety recall 04V428000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
    Remedy:
    MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL CURRENT 2000-2004 NATIVA OWNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. THE NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIVA OWNERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL OR MAY 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 06E026000

    Safety recall 06E026000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 09E012000

    Safety recall 09E012000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Recall campaign 09E025000

    Lights

    Report date
    Component:
    Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
    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.
    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 8 of 33 complaints · page 1 of 2
2025-01-07Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11634710
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I am the original owner of this vehicle. During the last state inspection I was told and shown the cross member bar is starting to rust. In researching cross member bars with Mitsubishi this seems to be an ongoing problem with their vehicles. I would like them to replace this part on my vehicle, too, since there is a current recall on cross member bars on later vehicles and models.
2015-05-23Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 10721131
CrashFireInjuryDeath
MY NAME IS [XXX]. AND I AM REQUIRING ABOUT THE SAFER CAR RECALL.. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
2013-04-15Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING)
NHTSA ODI 10508341
CrashFireInjuryDeath
MY ENTIRE BACK TAIL LIGHTS, SIDE LIGHTS, AND DASH LIGHTS FAILED AND DUE TO THIS ANOTHER DRIVER BUMPED MY VEHICLE BECAUSE MY LIGHTS WENT TOTALLY OUT AS I WAS DRIVING AND I COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING ON THE DASH AND IT WAS NIGHT TIME WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THEY WORKED BEFORE I ENTERED MY VEHICLE. MY HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM AS WELL SINCE THE INCIDENT AND I CANNOT ADJUST THEM FROM INSIDE. *TR
2007-07-29Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10197773
CrashFireInjuryDeath
ODOMETER, GAS, TEMPERATURE GAUGES STOPPED FUNCTIONING... YOU DON'T KNOW HOW FAST YOU GOING YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MORE GAS LEFT IN YOUR TANK... ON JUN 8, 2007 I'M ON MY WAY HOME THE LEVEL ON MY GAS STUCK ON HALF I THOUGH IT'S REALLY HALF FULL BUT ITS NOT & I RAN OUT OF GAS ABOUT LESS THAN A MILE AWAY FROM MY HOME. WHAT IF IT HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY. *JB
2007-05-27Body / frame (STRUCTURE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10191807
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I OWN A 2000 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE THAT I BOUGHT NEW OFF THE LOT. I NOTICED IT HAD TROUBLE SHUTTING SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND IT HAD A LOUD SQUEAK. ABOUT A YEAR LATER THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HAD THE SAME ISSUE FOR A FEW MONTHS IN THE WINTER BUT STOPPED IN THE SUMMER. THIS WINTER (2006/2007) THE PASSENGER DOOR STARTED ACTING UP ONCE AGAIN. IT WASN'T UNTIL AROUND EASTER THAT I WAS WITH MY DAUGHTER SHOPPING AND AFTER 3 OR 4 STOPS THE DOOR WOULDN'T CLOSE. IT HAD DROPPED ABOUT 1 INCH SO IT NO LONGER LINED UP. WHEN WE GOT HOME I CHECKED THE HINGES. THE DOOR HAD CRACKED AROUND THE CONNECTION POINT SO THE DOOR IS PULLING AWAY FROM THE HINGE. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO 3 DIFFERENT BODY SHOPS AND THEY ALL CONFIRMED IT IS RUST THAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH. I HAD TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT SEVERAL WEEKS AGO AND THEY TOOK PICTURES BUT HAVE NEVER CONTACTED ME BACK. THEY SAID THAT ALTHOUGH I WAS WITHIN THE NUMBER OF YEARS FOR THE CORROSION COVERAGE I WAS OVER THE ALLOWED MILES. ANYBODY WILL SAY THE NUMBER OF MILES HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. RUST HAPPENS OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. IN FACT I HAVE SEEN OTHER CAR COMPANIES THAT HAVE A TIME LIMIT FOR THE CORROSION YET UNLIMITED MILES. IF MITSUBISHI HAD THIS IT WOULD STILL BE UNDER WARRANTY. THE ESTIMATED COST IS ANYWHERE FROM 1000.00 TO 1500.00 DEPENDING ON IF IT CAN BE REPAIRED OR HAS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE TRIED TO CALL THE MITSUBISHI CUSTOMER RELATIONS BUT WHEN I PRESS THE NUMBER TO CONNECT TO THE COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT NOTHING HAPPENS AND EVENTUALLY A VOICE COMES ON THAT SAYS "IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A CALL, PLEASE HANG UP AND DIAL AGAIN". I AM CONCERNED TO LET MY KIDS RIDE IN THE CAR AND EVEN IF NO ONE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT IF FOR ANY REASON THE DOOR FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING IT COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. AT THIS TIME I AM AFRAID THE DRIVERS DOOR IS FOLLOWING THE SAME PATH YET JUST HASN'T SHOWN IT YET. *TR
2005-10-11Body / frame (STRUCTURE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10139263
CrashFireInjuryDeath
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS 2000 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE. THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HINGES BROKE. THE DOOR HINGE DROPPED, AND THE DOOR SIMPLY FELL OFF. THESE TWO OCCURRENCES HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS. THE DOORS WERE HARD TO OPEN ,AND THE CONTACT HAD TO LIFT THE DOORS TO CLOSE THEM PROPERLY WITH NORMAL USE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. THE HINGES WERE REPLACED BY THE CONTACT AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED ABOUT A WEEK AGO. NO REPAIRS OR CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CONTACT HAS NOT LOCATED A NEW SET OF HINGES. THE CONTACT HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK
2005-04-27Body / frame (STRUCTURE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10107183
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HINGE HAS COLLAPSED, BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ALIGNED. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR IS BEGINNING TO DO THE SAME THING. AT THIS TIME NO ONE CAN SIT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE.*AK THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF BOTH DOORS IS CONSISTENT WITH AVERAGE / NORMAL USE. PASSENGER SIDE DOOR CAN NOT BE CLOSED FROM THE INSIDE AS IT NEED TO BE LIFTED AND CLOSED AT THE SAME TIME. *EH.......*AK *JB *BF
2005-03-04Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10112499
CrashFireInjuryDeath
MY CAR WAS HAVING A STARTING ISSUE FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF. I TOOK IT TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER (NEMET), MITSUBISHI, PEP BOYS, AND SEARS. EVEYONE TOLD ME THE CAR WAS FINE. YET, THE CAR CONTINED TO NOT START 3 DAYS A WEEK. RECELTY I AM TOLD IT IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WHICH AFTER RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO SMOKE AND IGNITE. I TOLD THIS TO MITSUBISHI (CORPORATION AND STAR DEALERSHIP) AND BOTH TOLD ME ALL THEY COULD DO IS PUT ME IN TO ANOTHER CAR WHICH MENT ANOTHER 5 YEAR PAY OFF. I AM ATA LOSS WITH WAHT TO DO.*AK

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage?

Owners named Electrical most often — 5 of 33 reports (15%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage?

NHTSA lists 5 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Engine and Lights. 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 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on. 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