1990 Mitsubishi Mirage — 1.5L

The 1990 Mitsubishi Mirage recorded 41 complaints, 2 recalls, 4 investigations and 11 technical service bulletins, which is comparable to the 1991 figures and slightly above the low point seen in 1992 (16 complaints, 1 recall). From 1993 through 1999 the model year‑to‑year complaint and recall counts fluctuated markedly, peaking at 88 complaints and 3 recalls in 1997 before declining again to 12 complaints and 4 recalls by 2002. Thus, the 1990 model sits at the beginning of a generation‑wide trend of moderate‑to‑high variability rather than at an extreme outlier. Because its complaint and recall levels are not notably worse than many subsequent years and are similar to the adjacent 1991 year, the data does not indicate a distinct reliability problem specific to 1990. Consequently, a 1990 Mirage can be considered a reasonable purchase candidate, provided a thorough mechanical inspection is performed to verify individual vehicle condition.