MitsubishiMirage20011.5L/mitsubishi/mirage/2001/1-5l/

2001 Mitsubishi Mirage — 1.5L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2001 Mirage 1.5L.

Engine 1.5LTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2001 Mitsubishi Mirage represents the final chapter of the fifth-generation subcompact, built on Mitsubishi’s compact CA platform and offered exclusively as a four-door sedan with a 1.5L inline-four engine mated to a four-speed automatic transmission, delivering EPA-estimated fuel economy of 24 city and 32 highway mpg. With a modest 3.5-quart oil capacity and a recommended viscosity of 10W-30 or 5W-30, the Mirage’s powertrain reflected the era’s straightforward, cost-conscious engineering. This model year registered 34 owner complaints—far below the 1997 peak of 88—though persistent issues with the vehicle speed control system and four recalls underscore its place in the Mirage’s reliability arc as a relatively stable, if unremarkable, midpoint before the nameplate’s eventual phase-out.

Model year200220012000199919981997199619951994

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque65-80 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy24/32/27 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 35 · 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 35 · 435 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnOFFOEM · verified
Tire sizeP175-60R14OEM · verified
Wheel / rim5.5-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filterMZ690072
Engine air filterMR552951
Fuel filterMR204132
Spark plugMS851357 alt MS851728
Front wiper bladesMZ690946 alt 8250A174
Serpentine beltMD373622 alt MD378243
ThermostatMD337408

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined24 / 32 / 27 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume91 cu ft
Cargo volume11 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 3.5 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 25.0-33.0 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 FluidDOT 3 · DOT 4
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil10W-30 · API · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity3.5 qt
Power Steering FluidGenuine Mitsubishi PS fluid
Power Steering FluidUse Mitsubishi PS fluid

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts76 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts12 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts12 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug25.0-33.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts65-80 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub130-203 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub130 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance0.5-0.7 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance15,000-22,000 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerNGK
Spark Plug TypeBPR5EKU
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.043 in

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.23-1.31 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type56
Oil Capacity4.10 oz
Standard BCI Group Number35
Standard BCI Cranking Performance435 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test23 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief11-15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature177-183 °F
Engine Compression188-133 PSI. 14 Maximum variation PSI.
Engine Compression137 Minimum psi
Engine Compression151 Minimum psi
Engine Oil Pressure11.4 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPMIdle rpm

Brakes

Wheel Application13 inch WHEELS / 14 inch WHEELS
Torque Caliper to BracketUpper: 36
Torque to Knuckle65-80 ft-lbs / 65 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.080; Rear: 0.080 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Wheel Application13 inch WHEELS / 14 inch WHEELS
Rotor Runout Limit0.0024 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.709 in / 0.945 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages
136 ft. lbs.36 ft. lbs
2loosen all bolts
314.7 ft. lbs.14.7 ft. lbs
490 degrees90 degrees
590

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 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 7,500 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 60,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miDistributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Rotor (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect)

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 2001 Mitsubishi Mirage sits in the latter third of its 1990-2002 federal record generation, posting 34 complaints, 4 recalls, zero investigations, and 37 technical service bulletins. Compared to its immediate neighbors, the 2001 model is marginally cleaner than 2000 (36 complaints) and well above 2002 (12 complaints), placing it squarely in the middle of this late-generation cohort rather than at its cleanest point. Across the broader arc, complaint volume peaked at 88 in 1997 and has trended downward since, while recalls remained elevated at 3-5 per year from 1997 through 2002, a persistence worth flagging. The 2001-specific complaint mix—led by vehicle speed control (5), structure (4), air bags/seat belts/seats (4), and electrical system (3)—accounts for 16 of the year's 34 filings, and 12 of the year's complaints involved crash incidents, though the data does not specify a dominant root cause. With no open investigations, a downward complaint trend, and a moderate but consistent recall burden, the 2001 Mirage is a defensible used buy only after a pre-purchase inspection confirms all four recalls have been completed.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
37
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
34
Owner complaints
12 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 34 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Vehicle Speed Control5
Structure4
Air Bags,Seat Belts,Seats4
Electrical System3
Air Bags3
Seat Belts2
Unknown Or Other2
Steering,Suspension1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

01V340001Engine And Engine Cooling:EngineReported 05/11/2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BOLT SECURING THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY CAN BECOME LOOSE AND THE PULLEY COULD FALL OFF THE VEHICLE. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES TO INSURE THAT THE BOLT IS TIGHTENED. FOR THOSE BOLTS NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED, THE BOLT AND PULLEY WILL BE REMOVED AND INSPECTED FOR ANY…

04V428000Equipment:Other:LabelsReported 01/09/2004

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH REMOVABLE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS AFFIXED TO THE… Remedy: MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 37 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
DEALER LETTER2023-07-21EquipmentThis is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has…
TSB-23-00-0042023-04-24StructureThis Technical Service Bulletin provides instructions and material safety data sheets for…
TSB-23-00-0012023-04-24EquipmentThis Technical Service Bulletin reviews the regulations that require a label showing the…
DEALER LETTER2023-04-21EquipmentThis is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has…
TSB-22-54-0032022-04-07Exterior LightingThis Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers to explain the difference between…

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 2001 Mirage 1.5L take?

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

Does the 2001 Mirage have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 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 / 32 highway / 27 combined mpg.