IllustrationMY CAR HAS BEEN OVERHEATING, AND BURNING COOLANT. MY MECHANIC INSPECTED THE CAR AND FOUND A FAULTY HEAD GASKET. MECHANIC CLAIMS HE SEES THIS A LOT IN THE ECLIPSE. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT JOB, AND MANUFACTURER WILL NOT WARRANTY IT. *JB
1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Eclipse years
Owner complaints for the 1998 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
20–25K
625–50K
1050–75K
775–100K
8100–150K
3150K+
36 reports with mileage · 93 unknown
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.
- Power Train. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 18 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 reports5 fire reports12 injury reports
What owners actually said
129 reportsLIFTER TICKING AT 85000 MILES. OVER $1000 TO REPLACE LIFTERS. HAVE NOT YET REPLACED THE OLD ONES. MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAID HAVE SAME PROBLEM AND THE NEW LIFTERS ARE REVISED. SO WHY NOT CHANGE FAULTY OLD STYLE ONES?*AK
HAD RECALL DONE FOR LATERAL ARM, DEALER INFORMED ME HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN, TWO WEEKS LATER BOTH DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF, MAYBE THE DOOR HANDLES SHOULDN'T BE MADE OF PLASTIC. THE CAR HAS BEEN THROUGH TWO ALTERNATOR BELTS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. THE CAR OVERHEATS AND IT MELTS THEM RIGHT OFF. YOU BUY A PRODUCT FROM MITSUBISHI SO Y…
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HAD RECALL DONE FOR LATERAL ARM, DEALER INFORMED ME HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN, TWO WEEKS LATER BOTH DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF, MAYBE THE DOOR HANDLES SHOULDN'T BE MADE OF PLASTIC. THE CAR HAS BEEN THROUGH TWO ALTERNATOR BELTS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. THE CAR OVERHEATS AND IT MELTS THEM RIGHT OFF. YOU BUY A PRODUCT FROM MITSUBISHI SO YOU DONT EXPECT IT TO BE MADE BY CHRYSLER. MY SISTER DRIVES A DODGE AVENGER AND WE HAVE THE SAME EXACT ENGINE, AND GUESS WHAT HAPPENED TO IT ---A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. MAYBE YOU PEOPLE SHOULD STAND BEHIND YOUR PRODUCT AND FIX THE EVER SO COMMON PROBLEM. EVERYONE I KNOW WHO DRIVES AN ECLIPSE HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. I AM VERY UNHAPPY AND WILL NEVER BUY A CAR FROM MITSUBISHI AGAIN. *LA
VEHICLE HAS 90,000 MILES AND IS 1998 MANUFACTURING DATE. ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ARE BOTH COMPLETELY IRREPARABLE. NO EVIDIENCE OF LOW OIL LEVEL OR OTHER MAINTENANCE NEGLECT WHICH LED TO THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IS NOW SCRAP. ALTHOUGH FAILURE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, A COMPLETE VEHICLE FAILURE AT 90,000…
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VEHICLE HAS 90,000 MILES AND IS 1998 MANUFACTURING DATE. ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ARE BOTH COMPLETELY IRREPARABLE. NO EVIDIENCE OF LOW OIL LEVEL OR OTHER MAINTENANCE NEGLECT WHICH LED TO THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IS NOW SCRAP. ALTHOUGH FAILURE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, A COMPLETE VEHICLE FAILURE AT 90,000 MILES IS NOT NORMAL OR ACCEPTABLE.*AK
THE ROTORS ON MY BRAKES LASTED A GOOD MONTH AND A HALF BEFORE THEY STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY WHEN I WOULD TRY TO GRADUALLY BRAKE FROM SPEEDS BETWEEN 45-65 MPH. TODAY I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 65 MPH AND IT FELT LIKE THEY JUST WEREN'T STOPPING ME. THERE WAS NO PRESSURE. I HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED OUT AND THE PADS ARE LIK…
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THE ROTORS ON MY BRAKES LASTED A GOOD MONTH AND A HALF BEFORE THEY STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY WHEN I WOULD TRY TO GRADUALLY BRAKE FROM SPEEDS BETWEEN 45-65 MPH. TODAY I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 65 MPH AND IT FELT LIKE THEY JUST WEREN'T STOPPING ME. THERE WAS NO PRESSURE. I HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED OUT AND THE PADS ARE LIKE NEW, THE ROTORS SHOW SOME WARPING, HOWEVER IM NOT SURE A WARPED ROTOR CAN CAUSE BRAKE FAILURE. ID LIKE TO FEEL A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE WHILE DRIVING MY CAR. IM GLAD NOTHING EXTREME HAPPENED. *CB
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
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
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE MAKING LOUD NOISES. DEALER STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. *AK
DRIVER SIDE DOOR LATCH ON A 1998 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE BROKE.*MR *TS *JB
DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLES SNAPPED AND BROKE OFF WITHOUT EXCESSIVE FORCE. *AK *JB
Official recalls
404V428000 · Equipment:other:labels
Sep 1, 2004
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.
00V421001 · 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.
98V045001 · Vehicle Speed Control
Mar 3, 1998
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
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.