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
What owners actually said
307 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2002
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other
SINCE OCTOBER 2001, MY ECLIPSE HAS BEEN STALLING WITHOUT WARNING. BOTH THE ``CHECK ENGINE'' AND ``OIL'' LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AND I LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS IT SLOWS TO A STOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY. EACH TIME, I'VE NEARLY BEEN REAR-ENDED. SEVERAL MECHANICS HAVE RUN DIAGNOSTIC CHECKS ON MY…
Read full complaint
SINCE OCTOBER 2001, MY ECLIPSE HAS BEEN STALLING WITHOUT WARNING. BOTH THE ``CHECK ENGINE'' AND ``OIL'' LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AND I LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS IT SLOWS TO A STOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY. EACH TIME, I'VE NEARLY BEEN REAR-ENDED. SEVERAL MECHANICS HAVE RUN DIAGNOSTIC CHECKS ON MY CAR. BUT THE PROBLEM HAS NEVER BEEN DETECTED. MEANWHILE, MY CAR CONTINUES TO CUT OUT WHEN LEAST EXPECTED AND REGARDLESS OF SPEED. I WISH THIS PROBLEM COULD BE DIAGNOSED AS I SEE FROM OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE DRIVING A DEATH TRAP.*AK
NHTSA ODI #761180
Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2002
Power Train
WHEN IN PARK POSITION AND TRUNING ON THE AIR CONDITIONER TRANSMISSION WILL JUMP INTO GEAR, AND TRY TO MOVE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8008505
Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2002
Seat Belts
SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT. ALSO, SEAT BELT IS LOOSE ON CONSUMER. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8008503
Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2002
Power Train
TRANSMISSION WAS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, IT WOULD NOT SHUT CORRETLY. THEN, WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8008502
Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2002
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHTS ON VEHICLE WILL GET FOGGED UP WHILE CONSUMER IS DRIVING CAUSEING CONSUMER NOT TO SEE VERY WELL AT NIGHT. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8008501
Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2002
Visibility
DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW IS LOOSE FROM INSIDE OF DOOR PANEL, AND WINDOW WILL SHAKE WHEN CONSUMER IS DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8008499
Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2002
Air Bags
COVER THAT IS OVER PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG IS COMING APART FROM DASHBOARD. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8008495
Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2002
Suspension
ALL FOUR STRUTS WERE LEAKING FLUID,.ALSO, ALL FOUR STRUTS NEED TO BE CHANGED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8008494
Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline
WHEN FILLING GAS TANK UP THERE IS A STRONG SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE OF FUEL. THAT SMELL WILL LAST UNTIL ABOUT THE TIME VEHICLE REACHES 3 QUATERS OF A TANK. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8008493
Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2002
Structure
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THIS USALLY HAPPENED WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO OPEN THE CAR DOOR.*AK
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.
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.
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.
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
4
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
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.
1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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