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2017 Mitsubishi Mirage Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage carries 2 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering headlights and air bags. Owners report 4 recurring issue clusters, led by “Gear shifter difficult to move or stuck in park.” Mitsubishi publishes short, conservative intervals: oil every 7,500 miles normal / 3,750 severe, and — unlike many rivals — an explicit CVT fluid replacement schedule rather than a 'lifetime fill' claim. Read the severe-service column honestly: stop-and-go city trips, short hops, and hot climates all qualify, and they describe how most Mirages actually live. The 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty stays intact only with documented on-schedule service.

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2 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Campaign #16V675000 · Sep 19, 2016

Issue: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2017 Mirage vehicles manufactured October 28, 2015, to August 4, 2016 and equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps. The affected vehicles may have been assembled without the headlight horizontal adjustment lockout clips properly secured. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Risk: Without the horizontal adjustment locking clip being secured, the headlight can be adjusted to either reduce the driver's visibility or blind oncoming vehicles. Both conditions can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will secure the horizontal locking clips as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on September 3, 2016. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-16-008.

AIR BAGS

Campaign #17V686000 · Oct 30, 2017

Issue: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Mirage vehicles. The internal acceleration sensor in the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) can misinterpret vibrations such as those from poor road conditions or a flat tire to be a sensor error thereby disabling the air bags from deploying in a crash.

Risk: Air bags that do not deploy as designed in a crash increase the risk of injury.

Fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the SRS-ECU software, free of charge. The recall began on November 10, 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-17-006.

Recall data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage.

Reported to NHTSA

Gear shifter difficult to move or stuck in park

POWER TRAIN

3 NHTSA complaints · 2018-04 → 2020-12

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE G4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11384515
“I BROUGHT MY CAR IN 08/29 2017 NEW..IN 03/15/2018 MY SPEED CONTROL BEGIN TO BE COME HARD TO BE SHIFT IN TO DRIVE AND PARK AND REVERSE WHILE CAR IS IN PARK STATIONARY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11084413

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Airbags failing to deploy in a collision

AIR BAGS

9 NHTSA complaints · 2017-05 → 2023-11

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 MITSUBUSHI MIRAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD A CRASH. THE VEHICLE HIT A DEER DIRECTLY AT 55 MPH AND THE IMPACT PUSHED THE RADIATOR INTO THE ENGINE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WITH”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11217793
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, DROVE OFF THE ROAD, CRASHED, AND FLIPPED THE VEHICLE OVER. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11073275

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Airbag warning light on or recall notice never received

AIR BAGS

5 NHTSA complaints · 2018-01 → 2019-06

“MY AIRBAG LIGHT IN THE DASH IS ALWAYS LIT. THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE $120 JUST TO LOOK AT IT. I'M SEEING OTHER PEOPLE SAY THAT THEIR CAR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND SOME HAVE HAD ACCIDENTS AND THEIR AIR BAGS ARE NOT DEPLOYING. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11061574
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE G4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V330000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11219061

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Sudden loss of power or stalling while driving

ENGINE

5 NHTSA complaints · 2018-07 → 2023-04

“THE VEHICLE WAS SHOWING NO SIGNS INITIALLY THEN AS I ENTERED THE HWY, THE ENGINE LIGHT, BATTERY AND ALL LIGHTS CAME ON. THEN IT STARTED BANGING LOUDLY AND PULLED OVER TO EXIT BUT THEN THE CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND DIED ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HWY. I BARELY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11320443
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK, HESITATE, AND STALL AFTER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (HIGH POINT MITSUBISHI, 2411 NORTH MAIN ST., HIGH POINT, NC)”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11105380

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 7,500 mi

Replace every 7,500 miles normal / 3,750 severe. Mirage's 1.2L three-cylinder holds barely over 3 quarts — small sumps punish stretched intervals. 0W-20 on most recent models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

CVT Fluid

Every 60,000 mi

Mitsubishi schedules CVT fluid replacement — commonly every 60,000 miles normal / 30,000 severe (check your year's table). Use only the specified CVT fluid (J4/CVTF-J4 family); generic ATF destroys the belt-and-pulley unit.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$360–$500

Shop

~$255–$355

DIY

~$80–$180

CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate with every oil change. Light Mirages are easy on tires but the economy-focused OEM rubber wears fast when neglected.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect pads, rotors/drums, and lines at each service — Mirage G4 retains rear drums, which need periodic adjustment checks.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace every 2-3 years per the schedule. Cheap job, big ABS-unit insurance.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Spark Plugs

Every 60,000 mi

Iridium plugs commonly every 60,000 miles on the Mirage's 3A92 and Lancer's 4B11 — verify your year's table, as some engines list up to 105,000.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Engine Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Mitsubishi's schedule replaces the engine air filter every 15,000 miles — shorter than most brands, and a 5-minute DIY on the Mirage.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Drive Belt

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect from 60,000 miles and replace on cracking. The Mirage's single serpentine belt also drives the A/C — a failure strands the car's accessories at once.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Replace every 15,000 miles, behind the glovebox. Often skipped at quick-lube visits — worth checking if airflow feels weak.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Coolant Replacement

Every 60,000 mi

First change around 60,000 miles, then roughly every 30,000-45,000 per the schedule. Mitsubishi long-life coolant or equivalent OAT for your year.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Battery Test & Service

Every 25,000 mi

Test annually after year 3. Small-battery economy cars have little reserve — the first cold snap finds a weak one.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

39 crashes 1990–2024

How the 39 occupant deaths break down

26

driver deaths

13

passenger deaths

39

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2016 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

9

complaints mentioning a crash

0

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage reflects Mitsubishi's published service intervals. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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