I BOUGHT MY USED 1998 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE IN MARCH OF 2003. IN JUNE OF 2003, MY DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE BROKE. MY WARRANTY WOULDN'T COVER IT AND THE DEALERSHIP WANTED TO CHARGE ME $137 TO FIX IT. I SAID NO WAY AND JUST STARTED CRAWLING THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE. IN NOVEMBER 2003, MY PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE BROKE LEAVING ME WITH NO…
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I BOUGHT MY USED 1998 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE IN MARCH OF 2003. IN JUNE OF 2003, MY DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE BROKE. MY WARRANTY WOULDN'T COVER IT AND THE DEALERSHIP WANTED TO CHARGE ME $137 TO FIX IT. I SAID NO WAY AND JUST STARTED CRAWLING THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE. IN NOVEMBER 2003, MY PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE BROKE LEAVING ME WITH NO WAY TO GET INTO MY CAR. STILL YET, MY WARRENTY WOULDN'T COVER THIS. THEY SAID THIS WAS DUE TO "NEGLIGENCE". BOTH DOOR HANDLES WERE BROKE IN THE SAME PLACE AND ALL I DID WAS OPEN THE DOOR AND THEY WERE BROKE. THEY ARE MADE OF ALL PLASTIC. I HAVE SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT MANY 1998 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE'S HAVE HAD BROKEN DOOR HANDLES. I AM PAYING $252 A MONTH FOR THIS CAR WITH AN EXTENDED WARRENTY THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE WORTH ANYTHING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10051185
100,000 miles · Feb 19, 2003
Unknown Or Other
MY 1998 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE HAS HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS FROM THE TIME IT WAS PURCHASED. AT 50,000 MILES THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED. AND TODAY THE ENGINE HAS A ROD THROWN AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE ENGINE. I HAD THE CAR IN SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED BECAUSE THE OIL LI…
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MY 1998 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE HAS HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS FROM THE TIME IT WAS PURCHASED. AT 50,000 MILES THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED. AND TODAY THE ENGINE HAS A ROD THROWN AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE ENGINE. I HAD THE CAR IN SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED BECAUSE THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF AND WAS TOLD IT WAS JUST A SENSOR. AFTER THAT THE LIGHT STILL CAME ON AND OFF AND I WAS TOLD NOT TO WORRY. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. OTHER PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE ENCOUNTERED HAVE BEEN WITH THE BRAKES. FREQUENT BRAKE PAD REPLACEMENT AND ROTORS TURNED AND REPLACED AFTER ONLY SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES. THAT WAS BLAMED ON MY DRIVING HABITS. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT ALL ECLIPSE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. WHY ISN'T SOMETHING BEING DONE? ALSO OIL LEAKS AND ENGINE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE. WHAT DOES THE MANUFACTUERS WARRANTY COVER IF IT DOES NOT COVER THE ENGINE. IN MY OPINION, AFTER 50,000 MILES A CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE TO HAVE A HEAD GASKET REPLACED IF THE MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE AS REQUESTED BY THE MANUFACTER. ON JULY 31, 2002 TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE OIL LEAK CHECKED AND SERVICE DEPT. UNABLE TO LOCATE OIL LEAK. ADVISED TO HAVE TRANSMISSION CHECKED. TRANSMISSION SERVICED BY DEALERSHIP. STILL HAD PROBLEMS WITH OIL LIGHT COMING ON AND OFF. COULD THIS DEFECT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH WHY MY ENGINE THREW A ROD THROUGH IT AND HAS MADE MY CAR WORTHLESS? THIS CAR IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD? AND STILL BEING PAID ON.
NHTSA ODI #10007773
Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TS THERE WAS AN ODOR IN THE VEHICLE, THE CLUTCH HAD GONE OUT, THE REAR BRAKES SQUEAKED, AND WATER LEAKED INTO THE INTERIOR ON THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE DEALER SOLD HER AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. SCC
NHTSA ODI #10002396
30,000 miles · Jan 2, 2003
Unknown Or Other
1998 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. *MR *SCC *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*70808
NHTSA ODI #10006657
Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 1998
Unknown Or Other
CONSUMER DISPLEASED WITH VEHICLE TELEVISION ADVERTISING.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH REMOVABLE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS AFFIXED TO THE DASH AND TO THE SUNVISOR DO NOT MEET THE SIZE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Remedy: MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL CURRENT 2000-2004 NATIVA OWNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. THE NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIVA OWNERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL OR MAY 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.
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. 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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DASH PANEL PAD CAN SHIFT INTERFERRING WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTROL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTROL WOULD NOT RETURN TO IDLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE A PORTION OF THE DASH PANEL PAD SO IT CANNOT INTERFERE WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTROL.
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
1
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.
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