Mitsubishi›Mirage›1997›1.8L/mitsubishi/mirage/1997/1-8l/

1997 Mitsubishi Mirage — 1.8L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1997 Mirage 1.8L.

Engine 1.8LTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1997 Mitsubishi Mirage 1.8L is a compact, front‑engine, front‑wheel‑drive sedan that sits on Mitsubishi’s Mirage platform and is powered by a 1.8‑liter engine paired with a 4‑speed automatic transmission; its EPA rating of 23/30/26 mpg balances city and highway efficiency. It requires a 4.0‑quart fill of 10W‑30 or 5W‑30 API‑approved oil, reflecting its modest displacement and everyday usage focus. This model year tops the Mirage’s complaint ledger, with 88 owner complaints—predominantly in engine and cooling—yet it remains a reliable option, given that the series has seen lower complaint counts in later years, indicating that the 1997 variant’s issues were largely addressed in subsequent updates.

Model year2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.0 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque65-80 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy23/30/26 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 51R · 435 CCA battery, OE oil filter MZ690072. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 51R · 435 CCAOEM · verified

Tail / brake / turnOFFOEM · verified

Tire sizeP175-65R14OEM · verified

Wheel / rim5.5-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	MZ690072
Engine air filter	MR552951
Fuel filter	MR204132
Spark plug	MS851237 alt MS851357
Front wiper blades	MZ690946 alt 8250A174
Serpentine belt	MD312400 alt MD331884
Thermostat	MD337408

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	23 / 30 / 26 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	91 cu ft
Cargo volume	11 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent published road-test results.

8.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.90 sec — 1997 LS Coupe

113 hpHorsepower (as tested)

116 lb-ftTorque (as tested)

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1997	LS Coupe 1.8L I-4	8.90 sec	16.90 sec	113 hp	FWD
1994	LS Coupe 1.8L I-4	8.70 sec	16.60 sec	113 hp	FWD
2000	DE Sedan 1.8L I-4	9.40 sec	17.00 sec	111 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.0 qt of 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 · DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 65-80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 29.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3 · DOT 4
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	10W-30 · API · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	4.0 qt
Power Steering Fluid	Use Mitsubishi PS fluid

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	134 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	71 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	15 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	M8 bolts: 13 m10 bolts: 21 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	29.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs	10 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	65-80 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	130-203 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	130 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	100 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance	0.5-0.7 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	15,000-22,000 ohms
Spark Plug Manufacturer	NGK
Spark Plug Type	BKR5E-11
Spark Plug Gap	0.039-0.0.043 in

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.23-1.31 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	56
Oil Capacity	4.10 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	51R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	435 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	23 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	11-15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	177-183 °F
Engine Compression	199-151 PSI. 14 Maximum variation PSI.
Engine Compression	137 Minimum psi
Engine Compression	151 Minimum psi
Engine Oil Pressure	11.4 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM	Idle rpm

Brakes

Wheel Application	13 inch WHEELS / 14 inch WHEELS
Torque Caliper to Bracket	Upper: 36
Torque to Knuckle	65-80 ft-lbs / 65 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.080; Rear: 0.080 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness	0.039 in
Wheel Application	13 inch WHEELS / 14 inch WHEELS
Rotor Runout Limit	0.0024 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.709 in / 0.945 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

15 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90-100

15 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

1	54 ft. lbs.	54 ft. lbs
2	loosen all bolts
3	14.7 ft. lbs.	14.7 ft. lbs
4	90 degrees	90 degrees
5	90

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

18 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90-100

18 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 mi	Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Balance Shaft Drive Belt (replace) · Distributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Rotor (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect) · Fuel System (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (replace)
Every 100,000 mi	Timing Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1997 model year represents a significant spike in the federal record, with 88 complaints—more than double the 34 logged for 1996 and nearly twice the 44 filed for 1998—while Technical Service Bulletins jumped to 49 from 24 the prior year and 44 the following year. Within the 1990–2002 generation arc, 1997 marks the highest complaint volume of the decade, accompanied by three recalls and zero investigations, suggesting elevated owner-reported issues without triggering federal probes. The data shows complaint concentrations in Engine & Engine Cooling (17), Power Train (13), Air Bags (12), and Service Brakes (7), alongside 13 crash-related and 1 fire complaint, though the data does not specify root causes for these incidents. Given this peak in reported problems and manufacturer service advisories relative to adjacent model years, 1997 represents a statistically riskier vintage within this generation, making 1996 or 1998 potentially more prudent choices for a used purchase.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

13 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96’97’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22 ’24

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 88 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling17

Power Train13

Air Bags12

Service Brakes, Hydraulic7

Suspension6

Tires5

Seat Belts5

Vehicle Speed Control5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

00V311001Engine And Engine Cooling:EngineReported 02/10/2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES: MIRAGE MODEL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.5L ENGINES; MONTERO SPORT MODELS EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L ENGINES; AND MONTERO MODELS EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L ENGINES. THE BOLT SECURING THE CRANKSHAFT… Remedy: ON THE MIRAGE VEHICLES, THE DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW, IMPROVED CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT ON THE OLDER ENGINES. ON NEW ENGINES WHICH ALREADY HAVE THE IMPROVED BOLT, THE DEALER WILL…

09E025000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 11/05/2009

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE… Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 49 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
TSB-22-54-003	2022-04-07	Exterior Lighting	This Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers to explain the difference between…
TSB-21-34-001	2021-06-03	Suspension	This Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers informing them a shock absorber oil…
TIN-20-55B-001	2020-09-22	Engine And Engine Cooling	Technical Information Notice to dealerships. Due to the increased occurrence of…
TT253	2019-11-26	Equipment	This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
TSB-19-00-008	2019-07-30	Equipment	This is a Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers. This bulletin supersedes…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Mirage. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 51R battery Vehicles taking 4.0 qt Engine oil filter MZ690072 Engine air filter MR552951 Fuel filter MR204132 Spark plug MS851237

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1997 Mirage 1.8L take?

4.0 qt of ABOVE 0 degreesF 10W-30 SL API, BELOW 100 degreesF 5W-30 SL API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1997 Mirage have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 1.8L get?

EPA figures are 23 city / 30 highway / 26 combined mpg.