IllustrationWHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30MP RIGHT FRONT AXLE BROKE DUE TO POOR METAL, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND GAS TANK TO RUPTURE. *AK
1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Eclipse years
Owner complaints for the 1997 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: 23 of 136 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 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
22 crash reports6 fire reports11 injury reports
Power Train complaints
22 reportsWHILE DRIVING AXLE BROKE, CAUSING A FUEL LEAK WHICH COUILD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
IN JUNE OF 1998 I BEGAN EXPERIENCING THE CLUTCH INTERMITTENTLY STICKING (SOMETIMES TO THE GROUND AND I WOULD HAVE TO MANUALLY PULL THE CLUTCH UP WHILE DRIVING) AT SPEEDS OF ANYWHERE FROM 5 TO 65 MILES AN HOUR. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO FIX MY CAR IN A PERIOD OF FOUR MONTHS THE DEALER I HAVE BEEN HAVING MY CAR SERVICED AT (TODEY…
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IN JUNE OF 1998 I BEGAN EXPERIENCING THE CLUTCH INTERMITTENTLY STICKING (SOMETIMES TO THE GROUND AND I WOULD HAVE TO MANUALLY PULL THE CLUTCH UP WHILE DRIVING) AT SPEEDS OF ANYWHERE FROM 5 TO 65 MILES AN HOUR. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO FIX MY CAR IN A PERIOD OF FOUR MONTHS THE DEALER I HAVE BEEN HAVING MY CAR SERVICED AT (TODEY MITSUBIHI IN VENTURA, CA) HAS FINALLY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY ENGINE, APPARENTLY THE ENGINE IS ACTUALLY SHIFTING AND THIS WAS CAUSING MY CLUTCH PROBLEMS. I AM AWARE THAT TODEY MITSUBISHI HAS SEEN AT LEAST ONE OTHER VEHICLE WITH THIS SAME ENGINE FLAW (SHIFTING) MANIFESTING ITSELF IN A FLUID LEAK.
1 AND 1/2 YEARS AFTER I BOUGHT MY "BRAND NEW" CAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. I WAS TOLD THAT MY WATER PUMP AND GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ONE WEEK LATER I EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING, I WAS TOLD THE POWER STEERING PULLY, BRACKET AND BELT HAD GONE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD …
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1 AND 1/2 YEARS AFTER I BOUGHT MY "BRAND NEW" CAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. I WAS TOLD THAT MY WATER PUMP AND GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ONE WEEK LATER I EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING, I WAS TOLD THE POWER STEERING PULLY, BRACKET AND BELT HAD GONE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD THE BRAKE PADS AND THE ROTERS RESURFACED MORE TIMES THEN I CARE TO REMEMBER. ON JULY 26, 1999, I HAD NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH MY TRANSMISSION. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TRANS WAS "OPERATING TO MANUFACTURE'S SPECS". ON NOVEMBER 3, 1999 THE DEARLERSHIP ADVISES ME I NEED A NEW TRANS.
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
CONSUMER'S SON WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT. HE WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO THE INTERSECTION, AND A CAR WAS SITTING IN TRAFFIC AND HIS FRONT WHEEL DRIVE DID NOT WORK. ALSO, ANTI LOCK BRAKES LOCKED UP AND HE COULDN'T STOP. *AK
CV BOOT WAS LIFTED OUT OF PLACEFLYING BACKWARD INTO TRAFFIC DUE TO BEING WRONGLY INSTALLED.
TRANSFER CASE LEAKS/LOCKS UP.
TRANSFER CASE LEAKS FLUID OUT OF REAR SEAL.
TRANSFER CASE SEAL LEAKS.
Official recalls
300V421001 · 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.
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.
97V081001 · Seats:front Assembly:head Restraint
May 12, 1997
THE HEADREST GUIDE BRACKET WAS IMPROPERLY WELDED TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BACK ASSEMBLIES ONLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE HEADREST SUPPORT BRACKET CAN BREAK, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER SEAT BACK ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW ASSEMBLY.
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
1RQ98007 · 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.