TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE RS. GASOLINE FUMES WEREPRESENT IN THE VEHICLE EVNE WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN. THERE WAS RECALL 96V158000 ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM GASOLINE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. DUE TO THE VIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,000.
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.
What owners actually said
307 reportsI WAS DRIVING MY CAR TODAY AND OUT OF NOWHERE ALL OF MY WHEELS LOCK UP AND I LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. LUCKILY I STOPPED AND DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MUCH WORSE IF OTHER CARS WOULD HAVE BEEN AROUND. THIS PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED SEVERAL YEARS AGO BUT IT OBVIOUSLY WASN'T. THE RECALL SAYS THAT FLUID LEA…
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I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TODAY AND OUT OF NOWHERE ALL OF MY WHEELS LOCK UP AND I LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. LUCKILY I STOPPED AND DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MUCH WORSE IF OTHER CARS WOULD HAVE BEEN AROUND. THIS PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED SEVERAL YEARS AGO BUT IT OBVIOUSLY WASN'T. THE RECALL SAYS THAT FLUID LEAKS OUT OF THE TRANSFER CASE AND CAUSES LOCK UP, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. THERE IS A RECALL THAT NEVER EXPIRES FOR THIS UNTIL IT IS FIXED ONCE. SINCE IT SHOWS AS FIXED THE RECALL NO LONGER SHOWS AS OPEN FOR MY VIN, MITSUBISHI REFUSES TO ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM. A TRANSMISSION SHOP ADVISED ME THAT THIS FLUID SHOULD NEVER LEAK OUT ONCE, SO SURELY NOT TWICE IN 84,000 MILES. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND CALLED MITSUBISHI DIRECTLY AND NOBODY CARES THAT IT COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN AGAIN AND SOMEONE COULD BE HURT. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT AND I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO REFILL IT WITH FLUID AND DRIVE IT AGAIN. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED IN THIS CAR SINCE WE PURCHASED IT BRAND NEW IN 1995. IT ALSO HAPPENED TO ME IN MY EAGLE TALON TSI THAT IS THE SAME CAR AS THIS AND IT WAS FIXED UNDER THE RECALL SO I KNOW THIS ISSUE WELL AND ALL OCCURRENCES ARE IDENTICAL. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ISSUE AND I NO LONGER FEEL COMFORTABLE RIDING IN A MITSUBISHI IF THEY ARE UNWILLING TO ADMIT WHEN THERE IS A PROBLEM. I BELIEVE MY TRANSFER CASE SHOULD BE REPLACED SINCE THE ISSUE OBVIOUSLY WASN'T FIXED CORRECT THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. *JB
I WAS IN A CRASH. MY TRANSFER CASE LOCKED UP WHICH CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND HIT A GUARDRAIL. *NM
CAP OF DRIVER'S SIDE REAR STRUT TOWER FAILED. CAR SKIDDED BECAUSE THE SPRING AND SHOCK WERE RELEASED. REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE SECURED FROM DEALER WHICH ADVISED THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. *NM
1995 ECLIPSE DOWN SHIFTED TO 2ND GEAR. *TS *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE TRANSFER CASE SEIZED. A NHTSA RECALL, #98V069001 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER A SECOND…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE TRANSFER CASE SEIZED. A NHTSA RECALL, #98V069001 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER A SECOND REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGE UNDER THE RECALL.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD. IT WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE STALLED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE BUT NO REPORT WAS FILED. THEY DETERMINED THERE WAS NOT A FIRE, BUT THERE WAS A LEAK OF OIL AND ANTIFREEZE DUE TO A BUSTED HOSE. …
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD. IT WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE ENGINE STALLED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE BUT NO REPORT WAS FILED. THEY DETERMINED THERE WAS NOT A FIRE, BUT THERE WAS A LEAK OF OIL AND ANTIFREEZE DUE TO A BUSTED HOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER WAS ALERTED NO OTHER INSPECTIONS WERE MADE.
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN TURNING ON THE HEADLIGHTS THE INSIDE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WILL NOT COME ON. THIS HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK
WHEN I AM DRIVING MY CAR SMELLS ALOT LIKE GAS FUMES IT IS OVERWHELMING FOR MY CHILDREN,I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE WE HAVE INSPECTED THE CAR REALLY WELL ON ALL FUEL LINES AND FOUND NO LEAKS,THE DEALER SAID THAT MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL,I HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET,THEY TALK ABOUT …
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WHEN I AM DRIVING MY CAR SMELLS ALOT LIKE GAS FUMES IT IS OVERWHELMING FOR MY CHILDREN,I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE WE HAVE INSPECTED THE CAR REALLY WELL ON ALL FUEL LINES AND FOUND NO LEAKS,THE DEALER SAID THAT MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL,I HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET,THEY TALK ABOUT THE SAME FUMES SMELL BUT HOW THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE VIN NUMBER NOT MATCHING THE ONE ON THE RECALL I THINK THIS ONE SHOULD ALSO BE ON THE LIST,CAUSE NOW THAT IT IS SUMMER IT REALLY WORRIES ME TO HAVE ALL THE FUMES IN THE CAR IN THE HEAT WHEN I AM DRIVING,AND THIS IS A CONSTANT VERY STRONG SMELL,I AM AFRAID THE CAR MAY BLOW UP OR SOMETHING.THIS HAS GONE ON EVERY DAY,SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS CAR I GOT IT ABOUT A MONTH AGO.
ON ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE AND DANGEROUSLY LOW FLUID LEVEL WAS DETECTED ON VEHICLE AT 103,000 MILES. RECALL REPAIR HAD BEEN PERFORMED IN 1999, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. THE PROBLEM IS IDENTICAL TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 98V069001 , EXCEPT THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION.*AK
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.
Illustration