1989 Mitsubishi Mirage — 1.6L

The 1989 Mirage sits at the very start of a generation whose federal‑record activity spikes in the early‑1990s, dips in the mid‑1990s, then climbs sharply again in the late‑1990s before gradually declining after 2000. From 1990‑1992, complaints were modest (41–42 then 16) and recalls were low (1–2), but 1993 saw a jump to 84 complaints and 5 recalls, marking the first major upward swing. The pattern repeats: a resurgence in 1997 (88 complaints, 3 recalls) and a peak in 1999 (58 complaints, 5 recalls) before a steady decline through the 2000s. Because 1989 predates the recorded surge, it likely benefited from the lower‑complaint, lower‑recall environment seen in the early‑1990s, and its top complaint areas (engine cooling, seat belts, power‑train) are relatively minor with no crash or fire reports. **Takeaway:** based on the surrounding trend, 1989 appears to be a comparatively low‑risk year to buy, provided the specific vehicle has no hidden condition issues.