MitsubishiMirage1986Overview/mitsubishi/mirage/1986/base/

1986 Mitsubishi Mirage

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1986 Mirage.

The 1986 Mitsubishi Mirage presents specific maintenance requirements, dictating an engine oil capacity of 3.2 qt and viscosities of 20W-20, 20W-40, or 20W-50. Reliability data for this model year records exactly one owner complaint focused on Engine & Engine Cooling alongside a single recall. This single complaint matches the lowest volume observed in the vehicle's broader tracked history, which spans 1990 to 2024 with figures reaching a high of 88 in 1997 and a low of 1 in 2016.

Model year202420232022202120202019201820171986

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-20 / 20W-40 / 20W-50OEM · 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 filterMD607648 alt MD603360
Fuel filterMB504740 alt MB129591
Spark plugMS851239 alt MS851188
Front wiper bladesMB382526 alt MB382532
Serpentine beltMB167066 alt MD178429
ThermostatMD972903 alt MD184011

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

Independent road tests for the Mirage of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.7–12.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.70 sec — 1994 LS Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1989Sedan 1.5L I-412.30 sec18.40 sec81 hpFWD
1994LS Coupe 1.8L I-48.70 sec16.60 sec113 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-20 / 20W-40 / 20W-50 engine oil, DOT 3 · DOT 4 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3 · DOT 4
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine OilABOVE 32 degrees F
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 3,000 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 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 3,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 6,000 miEngine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Power Steering System (inspect)
At 15,000 miThrottle Position Sensor (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Choke System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Canister (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect)
Every 60,000 miAir Intake Duct (inspect) · Clutch Hydraulic System (drain & refill) · Timing Belt (replace) · Turbocharger Assembly (drain & refill oil)

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 1986 Mitsubishi Mirage sits at the very start of its generation, with no federal complaint or recall data recorded for that model year in the provided dataset—meaning it predates the documented trend. The generation’s federal record begins in 1990, showing a peak in complaints (84–88) and recalls (3–5) between 1993 and 1997, followed by a gradual decline in complaints and investigations through the early 2000s. The lone 1986 data point—a single fire-related complaint under "Engine & Engine Cooling"—offers minimal insight but aligns with the broader generation’s later engine-related vulnerabilities. Without recalls or investigations for 1986, the year avoids the regulatory scrutiny seen in later models, yet its age and the single fire complaint suggest potential for undocumented mechanical risks. The absence of crash-related complaints is a positive, but the lack of comprehensive data limits confidence. **Takeaway: While 1986 avoids the recall spikes of later years, its minimal safety record and age make it a higher-risk buy—proceed only with a thorough pre-purchase inspection.**

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
4
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
3
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling1

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 4 of 4 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TT2532019-11-26EquipmentThis is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
TSB-19-00-0082019-07-30EquipmentThis is a Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers. This bulletin supersedes…
TT2372018-02-26EquipmentThis is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
TSB-13-42A-0022013-01-29StructureThis Technical Service Bulletin updates the door adjustment procedure in the Body Section…

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 1986 Mirage take?

3.2 qt of ABOVE 32 degrees F: 20W-20, 20W-40, 20W-50, ABOVE -10 degrees F: 10W-30, 10W-40, 10W-50, BELOW 60 degrees F: 5W-20, 5W-30, 5W-40, per the factory manual.

Does the 1986 Mirage have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.