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 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2001
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
PRIOR TO EXPIRATION OF WARRANTY, DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG WAS DETERMINED BY DEALERSHIP THAT AIRBAG WAS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE HORN WOULD NOT WORK. IN JANUARY 2001 I HAD THE CAR IN FOR A HEAD GASKET AND SKED FOR THE HORN TO BE CHECKED AGAIN AND IT WAS DETERMINED ONCE AGAIN THAT THE AIRBAG WAS DEFECTIVE. I SAW IN THE PAPER THAT MITSUBISHI WA…
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PRIOR TO EXPIRATION OF WARRANTY, DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG WAS DETERMINED BY DEALERSHIP THAT AIRBAG WAS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE HORN WOULD NOT WORK. IN JANUARY 2001 I HAD THE CAR IN FOR A HEAD GASKET AND SKED FOR THE HORN TO BE CHECKED AGAIN AND IT WAS DETERMINED ONCE AGAIN THAT THE AIRBAG WAS DEFECTIVE. I SAW IN THE PAPER THAT MITSUBISHI WAS RECALLING CALLS DUE TO FAULTY AIRBAGS (2/01). I REFUSE TO PAY $600 FOR SOMETHING THAT IS DEFECTIVE A 2ND TIME AND I FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING THE CAR.
NHTSA ODI #746650
Mileage unknown · May 17, 2001
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
WHEN STARTING CAR WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, TIRES WERE SKIDDING, AND CAR TOOK OFF INTO A POLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #888488
Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET HAS BLOWN, CAUSING LEAKAGE OF QUART OF OIL ABOUT EVERY THOUSAND MILE. MANUFACUTER HAS DEVELOPED 13 DIFFERENT GASKETS TO PREVENT FAILURE, BUT IT DOES NOT RESOLVE PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #885527
Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
MITSUBISHI REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET AT 38,000 MILES DUE TO IT LEAKING OIL. OWNER REPORTED IT LEAKING OIL 2000 MILES LATER. MITSUBISHI DENIED THERE WAS A LEAK. I JUST HAD TO REPLACE MY HEAD GASKET AT 58008 MILES DUE TO IT LEAKING OIL. THERE IS SOMETHING TERRIBLY WRONG WITH AN ENGINE THAT GOES THROUGH 2 HEAD GASKETS AT SUCH A LOW …
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MITSUBISHI REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET AT 38,000 MILES DUE TO IT LEAKING OIL. OWNER REPORTED IT LEAKING OIL 2000 MILES LATER. MITSUBISHI DENIED THERE WAS A LEAK. I JUST HAD TO REPLACE MY HEAD GASKET AT 58008 MILES DUE TO IT LEAKING OIL. THERE IS SOMETHING TERRIBLY WRONG WITH AN ENGINE THAT GOES THROUGH 2 HEAD GASKETS AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE. I HAVE CONTACTED MITSUBISHI AND AM IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO SETTLE THIS MATTER THROUGH THE DEALER. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT TRULY NEEDS A SOLUTION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #743134
Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE HAVING VEHICLE SERVICED TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL. TECHNICIAN STATED THAT ANOTHER ENGINE THIS SIZE HAS HAD A RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #882451
Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 2001
Steering
POWER STEERING BELT HAS COME OFF WHILE DRIVING ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE PULLEY WAS OUT OF LINE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #881841
Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET FAILED, IT WAS MADE OF PAPER, NOT STEEL. CONSTANT LEAKS ON GASKET FROM WHERE HEAD MEETS ENGINE. DEALER RECOGNIZED PROBLEM, AND AGREED TO REPLACE FREE OF CHARGE IF CONSUMER WAS ORIGINAL OWNER, BUT CONSUMER WAS NOTORIGINAL OWNER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #880508
Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control
THE DEALERSHIP OFFERED TO THROW IN A THROTTLE BODY CLEANING, FREE OF CHARGE, BUT AS I LOOKED AT OTHER COMPLAINTS..I REALIZED IT IS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED, BECAUSE OF LINKAGES AND CONTROL. IT IS NOT SOMETHING EXTRA TO HELP ME OUT. IT IS A PROBLEM!*AK
NHTSA ODI #737076
Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 2000
Tires
PE00-046 ; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER, AND NOTICED THAT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED. TIRE WAS A GOODYEAR. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK THE CUSTOMER HAD RIM AND TIRE DAMAGED AS THE RESULT OF TIRE SEPARATION. *YH
NHTSA ODI #875351
Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 2000
Structure
PROBLEM WITH CONVERTIBLE TOP WHICH WILL NOT GO ALL THE WAY DOWN PROPERLY, AND CAUSING INSIDE DAMAGE TO TOP FABRIC. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *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 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
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.
1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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