IllustrationOIL LEAKING FROM HEAD GASKET. OIL GUY TOLD ME IT COULD BE A FACTORY DEFECT BECAUSE HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM IN THE SAME MODELS. HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO FIX IT WITH NO-CHARGE CLAIMING WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED IN AUG 2001. WE HAVE REALIZED THE LEAK IN OCTOBER 2001. DEALER ASKS $600 TO FIX IT.*AK
1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Eclipse years
Owner complaints for the 1996 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: 21 of 159 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.
- Suspension. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
25 crash reports5 fire reports8 injury reports
What owners actually said
159 reportsWHITE SMOKE COMES OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE WHEN VEHICLE IS RUNNING. ENGINE IS KNOCKING AND OIL HAS TO BE PUT IN VEHICLE EVERY 3 DAYS. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY HAVE NOT FOUND CAUSE. *AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 00V421001 ON FRONT END FOR LOWER BALL JOINTS . SINCE LAST MONTH FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAS WORN DOWN TO STEEL BELT. WIRES WERE COMING OUT OF TIRES. CONTACT DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THEY DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH TIRE PROBLEM.*AK MICHELIN DOT 4M39DV6X3700 195/70R14 91T M+S. *NLM
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 25MPH, GOING AROUND A CURB, AND THERE WAS A BRIEF NOISE. HE FELT VIBRATION FROM UNDERNEATH OF VEHICLE BECAUSE BALL JOINT BROKE, AND VEHICLE SLID INTO A LIGHT POLE. PASSENGER'S WHEEL WAS LAYING UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK *SLC
SUPPORT FRAME FOR ROOF TOO SMALL FOR STRESS PLACED ON THEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH IN A "MISTY" LIGHT RAIN VEHICLE HIT AN EMBANKMENT HEAD-ON WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER THREE TIMES. CONSUMER RECEIVED NO INJURIES, BUT WAS EXAMINED FOR TRAUMA. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING THIS INCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS AVAILABLE FOR EXAMINATION, AND HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY ANYONE. *A…
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WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH IN A "MISTY" LIGHT RAIN VEHICLE HIT AN EMBANKMENT HEAD-ON WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER THREE TIMES. CONSUMER RECEIVED NO INJURIES, BUT WAS EXAMINED FOR TRAUMA. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING THIS INCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS AVAILABLE FOR EXAMINATION, AND HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY ANYONE. *AK *JB
MY ECLIPSE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE MITSUBISHI DEALER SEVEN TIMES IN A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS GOING INTO THE FOURTH YEAR FOR THE SAME PROBLEM OVER AND OVER AGAIN BEING THAT I WOULD BE DRIVING AND THE CAR WOULD SHUT COMPLETLY DOWN BEING ABLE NOT TO START BACK UP AGAIN AND WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS ON ROADS THE CAR WOULD BUCK AND LE…
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MY ECLIPSE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE MITSUBISHI DEALER SEVEN TIMES IN A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS GOING INTO THE FOURTH YEAR FOR THE SAME PROBLEM OVER AND OVER AGAIN BEING THAT I WOULD BE DRIVING AND THE CAR WOULD SHUT COMPLETLY DOWN BEING ABLE NOT TO START BACK UP AGAIN AND WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS ON ROADS THE CAR WOULD BUCK AND LEAD TO ALSO SHUTTING OFF, THE DEALERS RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS UNTIL LAST YEAR BEFORE THAT TIME THEY WOULD ASUME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND FIX SOMETHING AND THEN CHARGING ME FOR FIXING SOMETHING THAT DID NOT EVEN FIX THE PROBLEM. FINALLY IN 2000 THEY REPLACED THE CRANK SENSOR AND FOR AWHILE THE CAR DID NOT DIE FOR AWHILE UNTIL A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO A GARAGE WHERE MY CAR DIED WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND THEY THEN ALSO REPLACED THE CRANK SENSOR AND SUGGESTED THAT I CHECK INTO MY HEAD GASKET BECAUSE HE HAD SEEN MANY OF THE ECLIPSES HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM BEING THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS CRACKED.*AK
THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT WERE DEFECTIVE CAUSING PREMATURE AND EXCESSIVE WEAR TO THE TIRES, THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE ALSO NOTICED EXTREME VIBRATION COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHEN BRAKING, ALSO AS A RESULT OF THE DEFECTIVE BALL JOINT ALL FOUR STRUTS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE LEAKING. NLM
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE NHTSA 00V421001/MANUD TO PERFORM REPAIRS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE SIDE THAT WAS DEFECTIVE WAS N0T THE SIDE STATED IN THE RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
OIL LEAKS, ANTENNA PROBLEMS, FUEL PROBLEM, MEANING THE CAR DOES NOT RUN CORRECTLY. NOW THE CAR DOES NOT WORK AT ALL
Official recalls
400V421001 · 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.
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.