IllustrationTHERE IS A FUEL SMELL FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. RECALL 96V158000 DOES NOT INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE. *AK
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
What owners actually said
307 reportsCONSUMER STATES THAT THE HEAD LIGHT LENS COVERS ARE FOGGING UP, DEALER STATES THAT THE FOGGING IS DUE TO SEAL FAILURE OF THE GLUE USED TO SEAL THE LENS COVER TO THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, THIS CONDITION CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED, CONSUMER FEELS THAT THERE …
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CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HEAD LIGHT LENS COVERS ARE FOGGING UP, DEALER STATES THAT THE FOGGING IS DUE TO SEAL FAILURE OF THE GLUE USED TO SEAL THE LENS COVER TO THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, THIS CONDITION CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED, CONSUMER FEELS THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF THE HEADLIGHTS. *TT
THE CAR REPEATEDLY SHUTS OFF OR STALLS WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE PROBLEM CANNOT BE FOUND. THE FUEL PUMP RELAY, ENGINE CONTROL UNIT, IGNITION WIRES, SPARK PLUG WIRES HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED. THE THROTTLE PLATES HAVE BEEN CLEANED OUT. IT IS AGAIN IN THE REPAIR SHOP. *AK
WHILE PARKED OR WHEN DRIVING THERE IS A STRONG FUEL SMELL IN VEHICLE. IT STAYS IN VEHICLE FOR A WHILE, THEN IT GOES AWAY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A RECALL DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM, HOWEVER HIS VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. *JB
EXTERNAL HEAD GASKET LEAK, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK INTO THE SPARK PLUG COMPARTMENTS.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH VEHICLE WILL STALL. ALSO, WILL LOSE POWER/ STEERING AND BRAKES WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND HAS HAD VEHICLE IN SHOP, BUT HAS NOT SOLVED PROBLEM. *AK
PROBLEM HAS BEEN ON GOING FOR 2.5 MONTHS. DEALER HAS HAD CAR FOR OVER A MONTH AND HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOS OR CURE THE PROBLEM. I'VE SPENT HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON FIXES THAT THEY HAVE RECOMMENDED. NONE HAVE WORKED AND THEIR CORPORATE HAS NOT GIVEN ME ANY SUPPORT IN THIS MATTER. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS THE CAR'S…
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PROBLEM HAS BEEN ON GOING FOR 2.5 MONTHS. DEALER HAS HAD CAR FOR OVER A MONTH AND HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOS OR CURE THE PROBLEM. I'VE SPENT HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON FIXES THAT THEY HAVE RECOMMENDED. NONE HAVE WORKED AND THEIR CORPORATE HAS NOT GIVEN ME ANY SUPPORT IN THIS MATTER. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS THE CAR'S ENGINE SHUTS OFF WITH NO WARNING. POWER STEERING AND BRAKES GO OUT RENDERING THE VEHICLE A HAZARD TO MYSELF AND ALL OTHER DRIVERS AROUND MY ON BUSY HWYS. IF THERE IS ANY ASSISTANCE THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION CAN PROVIDE ME I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT! TKS FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE WILL STALL WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK THE VEHICLE TOWED TWICE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM THEY SAID POSSIBLY, THE COMPUTER SHUTS OFF. *YH
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE CONTINUALLY STALLING. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND HAD NUMEROUS REPAIRS AND PARTS REPLACED. BUT, PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK
CAR SPUN OUT OF CONTROL, HITTING A TELEPHONE POLE, DUE TO BALL JOINT FAILURE, AIR BAGS FAILED AND THE SEAT BROKE.
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.