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

What owners actually said

307 reports

Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 2004

Structure

DOOR HANDLE ON 1995 MITSIBISHI ECLIPSE BROKE WHEN TRYING TO ENTER VEHICLE.. NO ABNORMAL PRESSURE.. JUST SNAPPED OFF.. PLASTIC?? WHY IS THIS SO CHEAP?*AK

NHTSA ODI #10079027

140,000 miles · May 14, 2004

Structure

STRUT TOWERS (JUST UNDERNEATH THE HOOD) ARE RUSTING. IT'S AS IF THE VEHICLE IS RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. VEHICLE WILL NO LONGER PASS INSPECTION. THE REST OF THE VEHICLE IS ABSOLUTELY FINE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10072627

Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2004

Wheels

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL COLLAPSED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND OTHER PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10066916

Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2004

Power Train

CONSUMER STATED THAT TRANSFER CASE WAS LEAKING OIL. THIS COULD CAUSE THE GEARS TO LOCK UP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10066748

Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2004

Engine And Engine Cooling

OIL LEAK INSIDE OF THE ENGINE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SMOKE. MECHANIC NOTICED A SEAL BROKE FROM THE ENGINE, AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER ALLEGES THAT THE PROBLEM IS SIMILAR TO THE PROBLEM RECALLED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NO. 98V-069; HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK *MJJ *MR

NHTSA ODI #10053845

Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2004

Structure

ON TWO OCCASIONS MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE HAS BROKEN OFF WHEN OPENING THE DOOR. I'VE HEARD THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR THE MITSUBISHI BUT THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANYTHING DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. IF A RECALL OR REIMBURSEMENT ISN'T DONE, CAN'T THEY AT LEAST MAKE THE HANDLES BETTER WITH SOME KIND OF METAL REINFORCEME…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10055210

89,000 miles · Jan 6, 2004

Power Train

AFTER RECALL 98V069001 REPAIRS FOR TRANSFER CASE WAS PERFORMED THE DEFECT RECURRED, AND TRANSFER CASE WAS LEAKING. THERE WAS A METAL PIECE IN THE OIL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10053430

96,000 miles · Dec 2, 2003

Electrical SystemFire

WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10049856

111,000 miles · Oct 29, 2003

Suspension

WHEN DRIVING STEERING WHEEL FELT REAL LOOSE. DEALER STATED LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10044968

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2003

Exterior Lighting

THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT LENS HAS FOGGED UP, CAUSING THE POWER LIGHT PRODUCES TO DECREASE DRAMATICALLY. THIS MAKES IT HARD TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10039123

Official recalls

00V421001 · 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

RQ00015 · 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

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

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.