Head-to-head reliability
Mitsubishi Mirage vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Mitsubishi Mirage and Chevrolet Silverado compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Mitsubishi Mirage vs Chevrolet Silverado: The Mirage averages 9.6 complaints per year with 6 recalls, while the Silverado averages 822.7 complaints per year with 101 recalls. Mirage issues focus on brakes and air bags; Silverado issues center on engine and power train failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mitsubishi Mirage or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mitsubishi Mirage
The Mitsubishi Mirage is a subcompact car with a low complaint rate—about 10 per year over a decade—but the pattern shows recurring brake and air bag concerns. Owners describe inconsistent braking that either grabs too hard or doesn't engage enough, plus early front-end noise and electrical quirks. With only 6 recalls, it's simpler to own, but the reported brake and air bag issues deserve attention.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup with a very high complaint volume—over 800 per year—and 101 recalls in a decade. Owners report serious engine, transmission, and electrical failures, often on nearly new trucks, including sudden power loss and braking problems. The sheer number of issues means living with one can involve frequent dealer visits and safety risks.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mitsubishi Mirage | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 96 Better | 8,227 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 6 Better | 101 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 25 Better | 233 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 9.6 Better | 822.7 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 28 Better | 160 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 Better | 3 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Mitsubishi Mirage
- 01AIR BAGS31
- 02SERVICE BRAKES19
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER16
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM10
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL10
Owners report air bag-related complaints often tied to braking events where the car loses control or brakes inconsistently. This matters because air bags may not deploy correctly in a crash if the system is affected.
Complaints describe brakes that either engage too abruptly or fail to engage enough during sudden stops, plus front axle vibration and overheating. Inconsistent braking can make emergency stops unpredictable.
Owners report the radio turning on by itself and the car stalling at stop signs with warning lights. These electrical glitches can distract the driver and leave you stranded.
There are 10 complaints about speed control, though specific owner text isn't provided. Any issue with unintended acceleration or cruise control failure is a safety concern.
“WHEN HAVING TO BRAKE WITH ANY SUDDENNESS AT ALL, I MET TWO EXTREMES. THEY EITHER ENGAGED SO ABRUPTLY EVERYTHING WAS THROWN FORWARD, OR THEY FAILED TO ENGAGE ENOUGH. SUDDEN- I DESCRIBE THIS TYPE OF BRAKING AS WHEN BEING CUT IN FRONT OF. THE NECESSITY TO BRAKE…”
“On [XXX], I was traveling back to Colorado from Missouri. The weather conditions turned poor while I was traveling just west of Topeka, Kansas. I lowered my speed to below the speed limit and continued. At one point, the car lost control. At this time, it vee…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE2,521
- 02POWER TRAIN2,347
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,513
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1,222
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER858
Owners of new Silverados report engine shutdowns while driving, rough running, and diesel particulate filter soot accumulation requiring dealer service. Sudden engine loss can happen anywhere, even on vacation.
Complaints include the truck suddenly shifting into neutral while driving slowly, leaving the driver unable to accelerate. This can happen in parking lots or on hills, creating a rollaway risk.
Owners describe sudden loss of normal braking with a firm pedal, and the engine shutting off with 'Return to Neutral' messages. These electrical faults can disable critical safety systems.
Reports include complete brake failure and the truck shutting off with blank screens while barely moving. Brake loss at low speed can still cause collisions or injuries.
“I purchased the 2026 Chevrolet Silverado with a 6.2L motor "new" from the dealer with 5700 miles on XXX. Roughly a month and 2500 miles later, my family and I were in the vehicle, 750 miles from home, returning from a vacation to [XXX] from the [XXX]/[XXX] ar…”
“My 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 with the 6.6L Duramax diesel has experienced three separate P2463 Diesel Particulate Filter excessive soot accumulation events at approximately 4,300, 5,500, and 10,280 miles. Each event required a Chevrolet dealer to perform…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Mitsubishi Mirage — 6 recalls
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Mirage vehicles. The internal acceleration sensor in the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) can misinterpret vibrations such as those from poor road conditions or a flat tire to be a sensor er…
The risk: Air bags that do not deploy as designed in a crash increase the risk of injury.
The fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the SRS-ECU software, free of charge. The recall began on November 10, 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-17-006.
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Mirage vehicles. The internal acceleration sensor in the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) can misinterpret vibrations such as those from poor road conditions or a flat tire to be a sensor er…
The risk: Air bags that do not deploy as designed in a crash increase the risk of injury.
The fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the SRS-ECU software, free of charge. The recall began on November 10, 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-17-006.
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Mirage vehicles. The internal acceleration sensor in the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) can misinterpret vibrations such as those from poor road conditions or a flat tire to be a sensor er…
The risk: Air bags that do not deploy as designed in a crash increase the risk of injury.
The fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the SRS-ECU software, free of charge. The recall began on November 10, 2017. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-17-006.
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Mitsubishi Mirage vehicles manufactured July 27, 2013, to September 2, 2015. If the driver enters an affected vehicle with their feet covered water and salt, it may soak through the carpet and cause corrosion to…
The risk: In the event of a crash, corrosion of the connector could delay deployment of the frontal air bags, increasing the risk of injury to the driver and the front seat passenger.
The fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the affected connectors, replacing any found to be corroded. A waterproof sheet will be installed over the connectors to prevent future corrosion. These repairs will be performed free of ch…
Chevrolet Silverado — 101 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, and 3500 vehicles. These vehicles may not have received an owner's manual during production. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, “Child Re…
The risk: Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will provide the owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 30, 2025. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252532020. Vehicle Identifi…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Chevrolet Silverado 3500, and GMC Sierra 3500 vehicles with gasoline engines and dual fuel tanks (RPOs L8T and N2N). The rear fuel pump may not transfer adequate fuel to the front tank, causing an engine stall.
The risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: The vehicle's engine control module (ECM) will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 8, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782…
The defect: General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Cou…
The risk: Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-467-970…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and GMC Sierra 2500 vehicles equipped with the enhanced towing option and 20-inch accessory tire/wheel package. The tire information label may state the incorrect rear tire pressure, resulting in underinflated tires an…
The risk: Driving with underinflated tires can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect, update the engine control module (ECM) software, apply a tire label overlay, inflate tires to the correct pressure, and perform a tire pressure monitor system (TPMS) re-learn process as necessary, free of charge. Owne…
Buyer analysis
Mitsubishi Mirage or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Mitsubishi Mirage has far fewer issues per year—about 10 complaints annually versus over 800 for the Silverado. In practice, that means a Mirage owner is much less likely to face repeated repairs or safety-related failures, while a Silverado owner may deal with frequent dealer visits and serious problems even on new trucks.
Key differences
- The Mirage averages about 10 complaints per year; the Silverado averages over 800, a roughly 80-fold difference.
- Mirage complaints center on brakes and air bags, while Silverado complaints are dominated by engine and power train failures.
- The Silverado has 101 recalls versus 6 for the Mirage, meaning far more safety campaigns to track.
- Silverado owners report sudden engine shutdowns and loss of braking on new trucks; Mirage owners report inconsistent braking and electrical glitches.
- Test the brakes at low and moderate speeds for any grabbing, pulsation, or inconsistent pedal feel, as owners report both abrupt and weak braking.
- Listen for clunking or noise from the front end over bumps, which could indicate worn strut mounts or axle issues reported by owners.
- During a test drive, accelerate gently and listen for engine stumbling or unexpected shutdowns, especially in parking lots or at low speeds.
- Check for any warning messages about neutral or start, and test the brakes firmly at low speed to ensure they engage normally without a firm pedal.
Before you buy
- Ask for the full NHTSA recall history for the specific VIN and confirm all recalls are repaired.
- On the Mirage, test brakes repeatedly and inspect front strut mounts and axle boots for wear or noise.
- On the Silverado, scan for stored engine and transmission codes, and test drive at low speeds to check for sudden neutral or shutdown.
- Check for any electrical gremlins like radio turning on by itself (Mirage) or blank screens and warning messages (Silverado).
- Review owner complaint patterns on NHTSA for the exact model year you're considering, as issues vary by year.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Mitsubishi Mirage | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 | 527 |
| 2023 | 5 | 450 |
| 2022 | 2 | 1390 |
| 2021 | 2 | 961 |
| 2020 | 1 | 868 |
| 2019 | 5 | 2003 |
| 2018 | 10 | 597 |
| 2017 | 28 | 1154 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Mitsubishi Mirage or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mitsubishi Mirage vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Mitsubishi Mirage total complaints
- 96
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- Mitsubishi Mirage total recalls
- 6
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- Mitsubishi Mirage avg complaints/year
- 9.6
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- More reliable overall
- Mitsubishi Mirage
- Mitsubishi Mirage top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE