AI Damage1989 Mitsubishi Mirage: common problems
Owners of the 1989 Mitsubishi Mirage filed 6 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and seat belts. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 6
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 50% of all complaints
- 2 Seat belts 50% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 17% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 3 complaints (50% of all).
- Seat belts: 3 complaints (50% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (17% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 1.6 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- automatic, 3-speed
- manual, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 6 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Reported engine stalling since 1992. Mechanic found play in crankshaft sproket. Repair authorization was denied by warranty. I have had extensive maintenance done since then resulting in the above mentioned,due to stalling or engine shutting off. The latest repair was the engine coil replacement.
Passenger side belt buckle failure, unable to latch seat belt.
The bolt in the crankshaft keeps coming loose. Please describe. Tt
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 13,278 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 36% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Mirage has 24 complaints (29 years in the data). This year has 6, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other years of this model
- Mirage 19873 sources
- Mirage 19888 sources
- Mirage 199033 sources
- Mirage 199138 sources
- Mirage 199215 sources
- Mirage 199373 sources
- Mirage 199460 sources
- Mirage 199570 sources
- Mirage 199628 sources
- Mirage 199774 sources
- Mirage 199843 sources
- Mirage 199957 sources
- Mirage 200035 sources
- Mirage 200131 sources
- Mirage 20025 sources
- Mirage 201444 sources
- Mirage 201539 sources
- Mirage 201636 sources
- Mirage 201778 sources
- Mirage 201857 sources
- Mirage 201944 sources
- Mirage 202025 sources
- Mirage 202132 sources
- Mirage 202226 sources
- Mirage 202317 sources
- Mirage 202420 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1989 Mitsubishi Mirage?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, seat belts, powertrain. Total complaints: 6. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (50%), stalls while driving (17%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1989 Mitsubishi Mirage?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1989 Mitsubishi Mirage from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1989 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.