# 2001 MITSUBISHI MIRAGE — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
> NHTSA complaint `521862` · 2005-02-15 · Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** MITSUBISHI
- **Model:** MIRAGE
- **Year:** 2001
- **Manufacturer:** Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.
- **Component:** SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
- **Miles at failure:** 50,000
- **Speed:** 5 mph
## Narrative
I PURCHASED A NEW MIRAGE FROM A DEALER IN 2001. I MIGHT HAVE HAD ABOUT 53,000 MILES ON THE CAR WHEN I STARTED HAVING BRAKE PROBLEMS. I DECIDED TO LOOK INTO IT AFTER I HAD MY FIRST ACCIDENT, IN WHICH I ENDED UP REAR ENDING SOMEONE. I GOT NEW TIRES AND HAD THE DAMAGE REPAIRED. ABOUT A MONTH LATER, I HAD ANOTHER ACCIDENT RESULTING IN REAR ENDING SOMEONE. THE CAR WAS MAKING FUNNY NOISES WHEN I STOPPED. I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID MY BRAKE PADS WERE WORN COMPLETELY THROUGH, AS A RESULT OF MY CALIPERS FAILING TO RELEASE, WHICH ALSO WORE MY ROTORS OUR. IN ADDITION, HE SAID THE WRONG SIZE CALIPERS WERE ON THE CAR (THEY WERE THE ORIGINAL SET). I WAS SHOCKED. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT I DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR ANOTHER MILE BEFORE GETTING NEW PADS, ROTORS, AND CALIPERS. I WAS FURIOUS--I COULDN'T AFFORD THE ENTIRE JOB, SO I HAD THE BRAKE PADS REPLACED AND IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO A MITSUBISHI DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION. THEY SAID MY CALIPERS WERE FINE AND MY ROTORS JUST NEEDED TO BE SHAVED. ABOUT A MONTH LATER, I REAR ENDED SOMEONE ELSE. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO A DEALER AND HAD THE BRAKES INSPECTED. THEY SAID THEY LOOK FINE. I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR 7 YEARS WITH NO PRIOR ACCIDENTS, THEN I GET 3 IN A ROW. MY INSURANCE IS THROUGH THE ROOF. I DRIVE EXTRA SLOW WITH PLENTY OF SPACE BETWEEN ME AND THE NEXT CAR.  I DON'T KNOW WHEN MY BRAKES WILL WORK PROPERLY AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME THEY ARE FINE. TODAY, I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALER FOR A BRAKE INSPECTION--THE NOISE AND VIBRATION IS VERY 
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*