MitsubishiMirage19911.5L/mitsubishi/mirage/1991/1-5l/

1991 Mitsubishi Mirage — 1.5L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1991 Mirage 1.5L.

Body PASSENGER CAREngine 1.5LTransmission Automatic 3-spd

The 1991 Mitsubishi Mirage is a compact passenger car powered by a 1.5‑liter engine that requires 3.2 quarts of oil, typically 20W‑40, 10W‑30, or 5W‑30 API‑rated oil. Its automatic 3‑speed transmission delivers EPA ratings of 24 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined, making it a fuel‑efficient choice for city commuting. In terms of reliability, the Mirage has seen a modest 42 total owner complaints, with seat belts noted as the most common issue and only two recalls, positioning it near the middle of its lineage’s complaint history—lower than the 1997 peak of 88 complaints but higher than the 2016 low of just one complaint. This context suggests that while the 1991 model is generally dependable, attention to seat belt maintenance is warranted for owners seeking long‑term peace of mind.

Model year200220012000199919981997199619951991

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-40 / 10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy24/29/26 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses 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.

Tire size4WD:P225-75R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filterMZ690072
Engine air filterMD620090 alt MR571477
Fuel filterMB504757 alt MB504762
Spark plugMS851238
Front wiper bladesMR441829 alt MR300876
Serpentine beltMB332253 alt 1340A058
ThermostatMD972903 alt MD997608

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined24 / 29 / 26 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume90 cu ft
Cargo volume10 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

No 1991 road test on record; the results below are same-engine tests from nearby model years, each shown under its own year.

12.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 12.30 sec — 1989 Sedan
81 hpHorsepower (as tested)
84 lb-ftTorque (as tested)
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1989Sedan 1.5L I-412.30 sec18.40 sec81 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 3.2 qt of 20W-40 / 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 · DOT 4 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3 · DOT 4
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil20W-40 · API · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity3.2 qt
Power Steering FluidUse Mitsubishi PS fluid

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; 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 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash)
Every 30,000 miAccessory 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 50,000 miFuel System (inspect)
Every 60,000 miBalance Shaft Drive Belt (replace) · 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 1991 Mitsubishi Mirage sits at the beginning of its generation with federal metrics nearly identical to the 1990 model year—42 complaints versus 41, 2 recalls, and 4 investigations—while posting a slight increase to 12 TSBs. This stability contrasts sharply with the following year, when 1992 saw complaints plummet to 16 and investigations drop to 2, and precedes the 1993 spike that brought 84 complaints and 5 recalls. Across the 1990–2002 generation arc, activity remained volatile after this early period, with subsequent peaks in 1993, 1995, and 1997; 1991 therefore represents a baseline year before escalating issues emerged. Specific complaint concentrations include 14 reports regarding seat belts and 8 concerning the electrical system, though the data does not specify root causes, alongside 6 crash-related and 2 fire-related complaints. Given its alignment with the stable introductory period and avoidance of the mid-decade surge in recalls and investigations, 1991 appears to be a relatively sound year to purchase within this generation, contingent upon verifying seat belt function and electrical integrity during pre-purchase inspection.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
12
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
4
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
42
Owner complaints
6 involved a crash · 2 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 42 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Seat Belts14
Electrical System8
Engine & Engine Cooling4
Service Brakes, Hydraulic4
Power Train3
Tires2
Engine1
Electrical System,Exterior Lighting1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

95V103004Seat Belts:Front:Buckle AssemblyReported 24/05/1995

THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY. Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 12 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TT2672022-04-07Unknown Or OtherTech Talk is a service newsletter that was sent out to dealers. It covers various topics…
TSB-21-00-0102021-04-23EquipmentThis Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers to provide instructions and Material…
TIN-21-00-0032021-03-15EquipmentThis Technical Information Notice was sent to dealers reminding them of the importance of…
TT-20-00-0022020-08-28Electrical SystemTech Talk is a service newsletter that was sent out to dealers. It covers various topics…
TIN-20-42A-0012020-08-13StructureThis Technical Information Notice was sent to dealers informing that MMNA has recently…

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.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1991 Mirage 1.5L take?

3.2 qt of ABOVE 32 degrees F: 20W-40 API, ABOVE -10 degrees F: 10W-30 API, BELOW 60 degrees F 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1991 Mirage have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 1.5L get?

EPA figures are 24 city / 29 highway / 26 combined mpg.