YearToAvoid

2018 Mitsubishi Mirage Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

67/100

#4 most-complained of 10 Mirage years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage has a Complaint Index of 67, ranking 4th worst out of 10 model years, with a Caution verdict. It has 10 complaints, 1 recall, and its top problem area is Airbags, which accounts for 40% of complaints.

Complaints
10
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
3 / 0
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
37.5
35 city / 42 hwy

Top 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags4 (40%)
  2. Engine2 (20%)
  3. Steering2 (20%)
  4. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (20%)
  5. Brakes1 (10%)
  6. Electrical System1 (10%)
  7. Other1 (10%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain1 (10%)

What owners report

  • Frontal airbags failed to deploy during a crash at low speed, in one case after the vehicle rolled over.
  • Airbags failed to deploy in a separate low-speed crash into a fixed object with no injuries reported.
  • The SRS warning light illuminated unexpectedly and stayed on despite the vehicle being properly maintained.
  • Owners describe the vehicle pulling toward the passenger side without warning at various speeds, correcting itself after steering adjustment.
  • The engine stalled repeatedly at highway and turning speeds, including after refueling, with no warning lights illuminated.
  • Front tires wore down rapidly with repeated need for replacement despite rotation and balancing.
2018 Mitsubishi Mirage complaints: complaints filed per month4May 2018Feb 2019Oct 2019Nov 2020Jun 2026
14 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2018 to Jun 2026; peak Oct 2019 (4).

2018 Mitsubishi Mirage recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 17V686000Oct 30, 2017Airbags83,555 vehicles

    Air bags

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

2018 Mitsubishi Mirage fuel economy and fuel cost

City
35 MPG
Highway
42 MPG
Combined
37.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$1,725
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2018 compared with other Mirage years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002014201520162017201820192020202120222024
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016No verdict4411—
2017Avoid7815237.5
2018Caution6710137.5
2019Caution565037.5
2020No verdict01037.5

All Mitsubishi Mirage years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2018 Mirage a Complaint Index of 67, ranking 4th worst among 10 model years, with a Caution verdict. It has fewer complaints (10) than the 2014, 2015, and 2017 Mirage.
Does the 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage have a recall?
Yes, one recall (campaign 17V686000) covers the SRS airbag control unit, which could misinterpret vibration and fail to deploy airbags properly. It affects 2014-2018 Mirage vehicles.
What is the top problem area for the 2018 Mirage?
Airbags are the top problem area, making up 40% of complaints, with 4 complaints and 3 crashes reported, at a median mileage of 10,501 miles.
How does the 2018 Mirage compare to other years?
The 2018 model's Complaint Index of 67 is lower than 2014 (100), 2015 (89), and 2017 (78), but higher than 2019 (56), making it a middle-tier year for reported problems.
What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage?
The 2018 Mirage gets an EPA-rated 37.5 mpg combined (35 city / 42 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,725.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.