Head-to-head reliability
Mitsubishi Mirage vs Toyota Camry
How the Mitsubishi Mirage and Toyota Camry 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 Toyota Camry: The Mirage averages 9.6 complaints per year with 6 recalls, while the Camry averages 205.6 complaints per year with 31 recalls. Mirage issues often involve air bags and brakes, while Camry problems include power train and engine defects. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mitsubishi Mirage or Toyota Camry 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 annual complaint rate of about 9.6 per year over the past decade. However, the complaints that do appear cluster around serious safety systems: air bags, brakes, and vehicle speed control. Owners describe inconsistent braking—either overly abrupt or insufficient—and air bag-related crashes, suggesting that when problems occur, they can be dangerous. With only 6 recalls, the Mirage may have fewer widespread defects, but the severity of reported issues is concerning.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a midsize sedan with a much higher complaint volume—about 205.6 per year—but that reflects its far larger sales volume. The complaints span major systems like power train, engine, and brakes, with owners reporting issues such as delayed throttle response, shuddering, and electronic parking brake failures. While the Camry has 31 recalls, many are for specific components like seat sensors and wheel studs. Overall, the Camry's issues appear more varied but not necessarily more severe per vehicle.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mitsubishi Mirage | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 96 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 6 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 25 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 9.6 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 28 Better | 158 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 1 |
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 problems often linked to braking events, such as losing control and crashing. One complaint describes sudden braking that threw everything forward, potentially triggering air bag deployment. This matters because air bags are a critical safety feature, and failures could increase injury risk in a crash.
Complaints describe brakes that either engage too abruptly or fail to engage enough during sudden stops. Another owner noted a sticking rubber part, overheating shaft, and front axle vibration. These symptoms suggest inconsistent braking performance, which can be dangerous in emergency situations.
Owners report issues like the radio turning on automatically when starting the car, which can be a distraction. Another complaint mentions the vehicle stalling at a stop sign with warning lights illuminated. Electrical glitches like these can affect reliability and driver focus.
This component appears in the top five, though specific complaint text is not provided. Speed control issues could relate to unintended acceleration or cruise control malfunctions. Buyers should be aware that problems in this area may affect driving safety.
“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…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report intermittent defects like the ignition key getting stuck in Park, requiring battery disconnection to remove. Others describe hesitation and shuddering while driving, with the check engine light on. These issues can leave a driver stranded or cause unsafe driving conditions.
Complaints include delayed throttle response when pressing the accelerator, with the car taking several seconds to move. This lag can be dangerous when merging or crossing traffic. The problem appears intermittent, making it hard to diagnose.
Owners report the electronic parking brake failing to disengage, requiring a tow to the dealer. Another notes a clicking and vibrating sound from the brake pedal area, which the manufacturer says is common. These issues can prevent the car from moving or indicate brake system problems.
One complaint describes multiple systems malfunctioning at once: smart stop, stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping. Such widespread electrical failures can severely compromise safety and require costly repairs.
“My 2023 Toyota Camry has developed an intermittent defect where the ignition key becomes stuck and cannot be removed even though the dashboard shows the vehicle is in Park. The only way to remove the key is to disconnect the vehicle's battery, which is not a…”
“The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was hesitating and shuddering, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle…”
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…
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
Mitsubishi Mirage or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Mitsubishi Mirage has far fewer complaints per year (9.6 vs. 205.6), but the Camry's higher count is partly due to its much larger sales volume. In practice, the Mirage's issues tend to cluster around safety-critical systems like air bags and brakes, while the Camry's problems are more varied but often less severe per incident. Buyers should weigh the Mirage's lower frequency against the potential severity of its reported failures.
Key differences
- The Mirage has about 9.6 complaints per year, while the Camry has about 205.6 per year, but the Camry sells in much higher volumes.
- Mirage complaints often involve air bags and brakes with symptoms like inconsistent braking or crashes, whereas Camry complaints include power train and engine issues like delayed acceleration and shuddering.
- The Mirage has 6 recalls, many for air bags; the Camry has 31 recalls, including seat sensors and wheel studs.
- Camry owners report electronic parking brake failures and multiple electrical system malfunctions, while Mirage owners report radio distractions and stalling.
- During a test drive, brake firmly from highway speed to check for abrupt engagement or failure to stop smoothly, as owners report inconsistent braking.
- Ask if the air bag system has been inspected or replaced under recall, and check for any warning lights on the dashboard.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park—if it sticks, it could indicate a power train defect requiring battery disconnection.
- Listen for clicking or vibrating noises when pressing the brake pedal, and test the electronic parking brake to ensure it disengages properly.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report to see if recalls (especially air bag or brake-related) have been addressed.
- Have a mechanic inspect the brakes, air bag system, and electrical components for both models.
- During a test drive, simulate emergency braking and check for any hesitation or unusual noises.
- For the Camry, test the electronic parking brake and ignition key removal multiple times.
- For the Mirage, check for front-end noises or vibrations that could indicate strut or axle issues.
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 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 | 50 |
| 2023 | 5 | 64 |
| 2022 | 2 | 61 |
| 2021 | 2 | 157 |
| 2020 | 1 | 274 |
| 2019 | 5 | 395 |
| 2018 | 10 | 744 |
| 2017 | 28 | 148 |
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 Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mitsubishi Mirage vs Toyota Camry
- Mitsubishi Mirage total complaints
- 96
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Mitsubishi Mirage total recalls
- 6
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Mitsubishi Mirage avg complaints/year
- 9.6
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Mitsubishi Mirage
- Mitsubishi Mirage top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN