IllustrationVEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED, HAD SAME PROBLEM IN 1998. DEALER REPLACED ENGINE CONTROL UNIT. *AK THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF SUDDENLY AT 20-65 MPH. THERE IS OIL LEAK AS WELL DUE TO CYLINDER HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *YH
1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Eclipse years
Owner complaints for the 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse are substantially higher than the model-year median of 49.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Eclipse years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 30 of 307 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 59 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
44 crash reports9 fire reports15 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
46 reportsAFTER THREE VISITS TO THE DEALER (SOMETIMES BY TOW TRUCK), THEY REPEATEDLY INDICATED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ON THE FOURTH VISIT, THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT WAS REPLACED. THE CAR WOULD SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING AT VARYING SPEEDS WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED IN NOVEMBER OF 2000. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT T…
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AFTER THREE VISITS TO THE DEALER (SOMETIMES BY TOW TRUCK), THEY REPEATEDLY INDICATED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ON THE FOURTH VISIT, THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT WAS REPLACED. THE CAR WOULD SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING AT VARYING SPEEDS WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED IN NOVEMBER OF 2000. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER WHERE THEY ONCE AGAIN CLAIM THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE ENGINE OIL GASKET COVER WAS REPLACED ON 12/29/98. SUBSEQUENT COMPLAINTS OF AN OIL LEAK WERE DISMISSED AS NOT CAUSING THE PRESENTING PROBLEM OR I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO OIL LEAK DESPITE PROVIDING DOCUMENTATION FROM OTHER REPAIR ESTABLISHMENTS. HOWEVER, AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD, AN OIL LEAK WAS DIAGNOSED ON 9/19/00. THESE ARE SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED.
WHILE DRVING AT SPEEDS OF 40MPH AND OVER VEHICLE WILL SHUTDOWN AND DIE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 3 BRAND NEW BATTERIES WHICH WERE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BECAUSE THEY WERE TOTALLY DRAINED. I BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THERE IS NOTHING THAT I HAVE DONE THAT SHOULD HAVE CAUSED THE BATTERIES TO DIE. THE BLOWER ON THE AIR CONDITIONER/HEAT DOESN'T WORK AND THE DEALER STATE…
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I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 3 BRAND NEW BATTERIES WHICH WERE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BECAUSE THEY WERE TOTALLY DRAINED. I BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THERE IS NOTHING THAT I HAVE DONE THAT SHOULD HAVE CAUSED THE BATTERIES TO DIE. THE BLOWER ON THE AIR CONDITIONER/HEAT DOESN'T WORK AND THE DEALER STATES THAT THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE COVER OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS PRYING UP FROM THE DASHBOARD. I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES REPLACE 2 TIMES ALL READY AND NOW ALL THE ROTORS ARE WARPED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. I THINK THIS VEHICLE MAKE HAS VERY SERIOUS DEFECTS AND AFTER REVIEWING OTHER CONSUMERS PROBLEMS. I'M VERY GLAD THAT I PLAN TO SELL MINE VERY SHORTLY.
SUNROOF DOES NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY BY MOTOR, AND NEED ALLAN WRENCH TO CLOSE IT; POWER DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK; WINDOW GLASS RATTLES AND IS LOOSE AT WEATHERSTRIP; FUEL VAPORS SMELLED PERIODICALLY, PARTICULARLY ON HOT DAYS; HORN WORKS INTERMITTENTLY; A/C COMPRESSOR BEARING FAILED; BURNS OIL (MECHANIC SAID NEEDS VALVE JOB); BRAKE RO…
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SUNROOF DOES NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY BY MOTOR, AND NEED ALLAN WRENCH TO CLOSE IT; POWER DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK; WINDOW GLASS RATTLES AND IS LOOSE AT WEATHERSTRIP; FUEL VAPORS SMELLED PERIODICALLY, PARTICULARLY ON HOT DAYS; HORN WORKS INTERMITTENTLY; A/C COMPRESSOR BEARING FAILED; BURNS OIL (MECHANIC SAID NEEDS VALVE JOB); BRAKE ROTORS OVERHEAT CONSTANTLY, CAUSING VIBRATION DURING BRAKING. HAVE HAD THEM RESURFACED NUMEROUS TIMES AND REPLACED ONCE. *AK
HORN ASSEMBLY HAS FAILED THREE TIMES, EACH TIME THAT HORN ASSEMBLY WAS REPAIRED. DEALER HAS TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
UNSURE OF WHAT CAUSED FIRE, BUT NO PROBLEMS WITH CAR BEFORE FIRE CAME SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
DUE TO PCM CONTROL MODULE MALFUNCTIONING VEHICLE STALLED, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
ANYTIME THE VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF FOR SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, IT WOULD FAIL TO START BACK UP RIGHT AWAY. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER TO REPAIR STARTER. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
THE HORN BUTTONS ON STEERING WHEEL FAILED. IT REQUIRED REPLACEMENT ALONG WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AIR BAG.
Official recalls
500V421001 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
Dec 18, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, DIRT AND WATER CAN INTRUDE. ALSO, MMC HAS ADDED THE POTENTIAL OF LEAKING MOISTURE, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE BALL STUD TO CORRODE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. THIS CAMPAIGN SUPERCEDES MMC'S PREVIOUS SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN, SEE 99V-066.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT FOR WEAR. BALL JOINTS THAT EXHIBIT WEAR BEYOND THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY DESIGNED LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS. BALL JOINTS THAT ARE WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE CLEANED AND A SPECIAL SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED TO PREVENT INTRUSION OF MOISTURE.
99V066001 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
Apr 5, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, DIRT AND WATER CAN INTRUDE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE RUBBER BOOTS, AND IF THE BOOT IS DAMAGED, THEY WILL REPLACE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM AND BALL JOINT ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.
98V069001 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Mar 26, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. LOCKUP OF THE TRANSFER CASE CAN OCCUR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR ADEQUACY OF THE TRANSFER CASE OIL VOLUME, TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AND OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION OF THE TRANSFER CASE MECHANISM. IF OIL VOLUME IS INSUFFICIENT, THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF OIL WILL BE ADDED. IF THERE IS TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AFFECTED COMPONENTS WILL BE REPLACED. IF THE TRANSFER CASE SHOWS OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION, THE TRANSFER CASE WILL BE REPLACED.
96V158001 · Fuel System, Gasoline
Aug 27, 1996
THE FUEL TANK GASKETS FOR THE FUEL PUMP AND/OR GAUGE UNIT GASKET COULD HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY INSTALLED ALLOWING FUEL OR FUMES TO ESCAPE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, THE FUEL LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK AND IF THE GASKETS ARE FOUND TO BE LEAKING, REPLACE THE FUEL TANK, CAPS AND GASKETS.
94V149002 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
Aug 8, 1994
THE HEADLAMP SUPPORT PANEL CAN DEVELOP A FATIGUE CRACK WHERE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) HYDRAULIC UNIT IS ATTACHED, ALLOWING THE HYDRAULIC UNIT TO FALL DOWN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LOSS OF BRAKING CAN RESULT IF THE ABS HYDRAULIC UNIT FALLS. THIS CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CONNECT THE ABS HYDRAULIC UNIT ATTACHMENT POINT AT A RIGID PORTION OF THE HEADLAMP SUPPORT PANEL WITH A BRACKET AND REINFORCE THE HEADLAMP SUPPORT PANEL BY ADDING A BACK PLATE.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
4RQ00015 · Lower Contrtol Arm Ball Joint
Opened Aug 2, 2000 · Closed Apr 20, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
Additional source detail variants (3)
Suspension
There is no summary currently available
Suspension
There is no summary currently available
Suspension
There is no summary currently available
RQ98007 · Transfer Case Leakage
Opened May 11, 1998 · Closed Aug 28, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission
THE TRANSFER CASE OF THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD), MITSUBISHI GALANT, ALLEGEDLY LEAKS OIL CAUSING ONE OR MORE WHEELS TO LOCKUP; OR THE INABILITY TO TRANSMIT ENGINE POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS.THE VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME TRANSFER CASE DESIGN AS THE ECLIPSE VEHICLES WHICH HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME ALLEGED DEFECT.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:automatic Transmission
THE TRANSFER CASE OF THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD), MITSUBISHI GALANT, ALLEGEDLY LEAKS OIL CAUSING ONE OR MORE WHEELS TO LOCKUP; OR THE INABILITY TO TRANSMIT ENGINE POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS.THE VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME TRANSFER CASE DESIGN AS THE ECLIPSE VEHICLES WHICH HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME ALLEGED DEFECT.
Power Train:automatic Transmission
THE TRANSFER CASE OF THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD), MITSUBISHI GALANT, ALLEGEDLY LEAKS OIL CAUSING ONE OR MORE WHEELS TO LOCKUP; OR THE INABILITY TO TRANSMIT ENGINE POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS.THE VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME TRANSFER CASE DESIGN AS THE ECLIPSE VEHICLES WHICH HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME ALLEGED DEFECT.
EA98002 · Transfer Case Lockup
Opened Jan 30, 1998 · Closed Apr 30, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Wheels
No summary supplied.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Wheels
Wheels
PE97040 · Transfer Case Lockup
Opened Sep 4, 1997 · Closed Jan 30, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Wheels
ALLEGED DRIVETRAIN FAILURE THAT CAN LEAD TO LOCK-UP OF THE REAR OR ALL WHEELS.