1990 Mitsubishi Mirage
Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1990 Mitsubishi Mirage is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 2 on record.
1990 Mitsubishi Mirage at a glance
Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.
1990 Mitsubishi Mirage recalls 1
THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
Fix: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SU…
Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.
1990 Mitsubishi Mirage common problems
The most-reported problem areas across all 41 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.
1990 Mitsubishi Mirage MPG & running costs
Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 5 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.
Estimated 5-year cost to own
A rough guide to what running a 1990 Mitsubishi Mirage costs over five years and 75,000 miles.
How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.
Investigations & service bulletins
NHTSA defect investigations 4
AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT FAILURE Closed
THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ALLEGEDLY MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILS
NHTSA #EA96015 · Seat Belts · opened Jun 1996 · closed Jun 1997AUTO SHOULDER BELT FAILURE Closed
NHTSA #PE96006 · Seat Belts · opened Jan 1996 · closed Jun 1996TAKATA SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE Closed
NHTSA #EA95004 · Seat Belts · opened Mar 1995 · closed Aug 1995TAKATA SEAT BLT BCKLS FAIL Closed
NHTSA #PE94080 · Seat Belts · opened Nov 1994 · closed Mar 1995An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.
Manufacturer service bulletins 11
Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 11.
Tech Talk is a service newsletter that was sent out to dealers. It covers various topics and reviews the previous months publications.
Bulletin TT267 · Apr 2022This Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers to provide instructions and Material Safety Data Sheets for Biosol 100 use.
Bulletin TSB-21-00-010 · Equipment · Apr 2021This Technical Information Notice was sent to dealers reminding them of the importance of customer satisfaction.
Bulletin TIN-21-00-003 · Equipment · Mar 2021Tech Talk is a service newsletter that was sent out to dealers. It covers various topics and reviews the previous months publications.
Bulletin TT-20-00-002 · Electrical System, Equipment · Aug 2020This Technical Information Notice was sent to dealers informing that MMNA has recently received information from Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) about the effects of the Waterborne (WB) paint process on Mitsubishi vehicles.
Bulletin TIN-20-42A-001 · Structure, Equipment · Aug 2020This Technical Service Bulletin informs dealers they may find a stain or cloudy spot on the body panels after removing the transportation film.due to improper installation of the film.This TSB instructs the dealers of the repair procedure for removal of the st…
Bulletin TSB-20-42A-005 · Structure, Equipment, Equipment Adaptive/mobility · Aug 2020This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
Bulletin TT253 · Equipment · Nov 2019This is a Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers. This bulletin supersedes TSB-18-00-003, issued April, 2018, to add updated information for Carrying Capacity Reduced Label.
Bulletin TSB-19-00-008 · Equipment · Jul 2019This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
Bulletin TT237 · Equipment · Feb 2018This Technical Service Bulletin updates the door adjustment procedure in the Body Section of the applicable service manuals.
Bulletin TSB-13-42A-002 · Structure · Jan 2013Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the MIRAGE. Model-year data, not specific to one car.
About the Mitsubishi Mirage
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.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.