There was a time when Mitsubishis had absolutely ruled the market but things aren’t exactly in that fashion now. The manufacturer still offers several incredible cars like the 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage which is introduced as a brand-new car for the market. Although it is a cut-price hatchback that is meant for city use, they have provided a lot of features that make it unique. On the reliability front, the car has reported only 44 complaints and was recalled 3 times. Some of these complaints are regarding Mitsubishi Mirage engine problems, transmission problems, airbag-related problems, and so on. Prices start at an MSRP of $13,390, which makes it quite affordable for most people. That said, it has to compete against other value for money pics like the Chevrolet Spark, the Mazda 2 Sport, and the Honda Fit.
2014 Mitsubishi Mirage User Complaints and Problems
Mechanical problems:
- Some owners have complained that there is an abnormal sound when starting up the vehicle. This then dies down when you start driving.
- There have been reports of excessive vibration from the engine as well as brakes being cut off.
- One of the common Mitsubishi Mirage transmission problems is that the car refuses to be in the right gear at times and also delays shifting. Sometimes it fails to respond to driver input requesting acceleration. The transmission can shudder when idling.
- There have been a few complaints about the brakes of the car as well including them not responding at all to driver input. In other cases, they produce loud sounds while coming to a stop. Complete brake failure is very common in these cars.
- The suspension system of this car has a common fault that because of the lack of adjustability that makes the car out of alignment and the problem cannot be solved. This can cause bad handling characteristics as well as excessive tire wear.
Electrical system problems:
- Some cars have had the issue of a fire erupting due to electrical problems.
- There have been complaints about the radio randomly shutting down while driving especially during cold weather. It then powers back up after a few minutes.
Interior problems:
- There were multiple cars with the issue of the front driver seat being loose despite being bought new. The seats also have a control bar that sticks out against the person’s ankles and can break the ankles in the event of a rear-end crash.
Safety problems:
- Multiple owners have reported that the airbags failed to deploy during collisions. In other cases, the airbag warning light comes on in many cars. This seems to be the most common complaint regarding the car but the manufacturer has taken the issue up with a recall.
- The seatbelts have the issue of not locking into place and popping out of the buckle.
2014 Mitsubishi Mirage Recalls
|
S. No. |
Date |
NHTSA Campaign Number |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
October 30, 2017 |
17V686000 |
Airbags may not deploy in a crash |
The supplemental restraint system can misinterpret vibrations and disable the airbags from deploying |
Dealers will reprogram the SRS-ECU software |
|
2 |
December 4, 2015 |
15V815000 |
Airbag deployment may be delayed due to corrosion |
The corrosion of a connector could delay deployment of the front airbags |
Dealers will inspect the affected connectors and replace them if necessary |
|
3 |
September 23, 2015 |
15V594000 |
Delayed airbag deployment due to impact sensor |
The impact sensor may have increased assistance and the frontal airbag may have a delayed deployment |
Dealers will replace the affected impact sensors |
Should you buy the 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage?
The Mitsubishi Mirage is hands-down one of the most practical cars in the segment due to its impressive fuel efficiency, excellent warranty coverage, and a long list of standard features. It is also quite good on the reliability front, and since the airbag issue was taken care of, we can trust the car to be safe. Although there are a few Mitsubishi Mirage CVT problems, as well as the common complaint of engine screech during startup, the problems are largely solved as of now and the car can be considered a reliable one. Because the subcompact hatchback segment does not have a lot of intense competition and the demands for a car in this price range are not too high, we feel that the Mirage will be a good pick.
