Illustration1998 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. *MR *SCC *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*70808
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 reportsWHILE DRIVING ALL THE VEHICLES WHEELS LOCKED UP, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK FROM THE TRANSFER CASE. *TS *JG *NLM
THE CAR JUST STOPPED MOVING IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY AND THEIR WAS NO WIERD SOUNDS TO FORWARN ME OF ANYTHING! THIS HAPPENED IN JANUARY 2001 AND THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE CLUTCH. THE DEALER WAS RUDE/MEAN, BUT THEN I CALLED MITSUBISHI MOTORS AND THEY TOLD THE DEALER TO CHANGE THE CLUTCH. HERE IT IS 22 MONTHS LATER, 10/2002, …
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THE CAR JUST STOPPED MOVING IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY AND THEIR WAS NO WIERD SOUNDS TO FORWARN ME OF ANYTHING! THIS HAPPENED IN JANUARY 2001 AND THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE CLUTCH. THE DEALER WAS RUDE/MEAN, BUT THEN I CALLED MITSUBISHI MOTORS AND THEY TOLD THE DEALER TO CHANGE THE CLUTCH. HERE IT IS 22 MONTHS LATER, 10/2002, AND THE CLUTCH IS GOING OUT AGAIN THE DEALER IS TELLING ME. THE DEALERS SERVICE WOMEN TOLD ME I MUST BE A BAD DRIVER, AND I TOLD HER I'VE DROVE STICKS FOR 23 YEARS AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A CLUTCH BEFORE, LET ALONE 2 CLUTCHES! SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS CAR! 2ND PROBLEM THEY SAID AND MY TITLE SHOWS THE CAR TO BE A 1998, YET THE ORIGINAL STICKER ON THE BODY AROUND THE DOOR SAYS MANUFACTURED IN THE USA IN 1997. DT
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
LEFT REAR WHEEL RIM BENT. CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE DAMAGE WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK *SLC
AIR CONDITIONER FROZE UP, SNAPPING THE BELT, PART OF THE BELT WENT UP INTO INSIDE OF TIMING COVER AND VALVE TRAIN AND LOCKED UP OTHER PARTS. CONSUMER FEELS THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS, COULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
I WAS SOLD THIS CAR AS A MITSUBISHI, IT HAS A CHRYSLER ENGINE ONE STEP UP FROM A NEON. IF I WOULD HAVE WANTED A NEON BY CHRYSLER I WOULD HAVE PURCHASED 2 FOR THE PRICE I PAID FOR MY ECLIPSE. THE LOWER BEARINGS WENT OUT. I HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY. AT 68,000 MILES THE RADIATOR CRACKED, COMPUTER AND ALTERNATER WENT OUT CAUSING MY CA…
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I WAS SOLD THIS CAR AS A MITSUBISHI, IT HAS A CHRYSLER ENGINE ONE STEP UP FROM A NEON. IF I WOULD HAVE WANTED A NEON BY CHRYSLER I WOULD HAVE PURCHASED 2 FOR THE PRICE I PAID FOR MY ECLIPSE. THE LOWER BEARINGS WENT OUT. I HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY. AT 68,000 MILES THE RADIATOR CRACKED, COMPUTER AND ALTERNATER WENT OUT CAUSING MY CAR TO OVERHEAT IMMEDIATELY AND THE ENGINE WOULDN'T RESTART UNTIL IT HAD COOLED. WAS HARD TO RESTART. IT HAD SLICK 50 TREATMENTS 4 TIMES DURING ITS LIFE. IT ALSO HAS HAD 3 FAULTY CLUTCHES. *AK
CONVERTIBLE TOP WOULD NOT CLOSE DURING A RAIN STORM. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED.*AK
CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM BETWEEN SUNROOF AND REARVIEW MIRROR. ALSO, FROM UNDERHOOD WHILE IN CARWASH. DOORS AND WINDOWS WERE LOCKED AND CONSUMER COULD NOT GET OUT OF VEHICLE. GAUGES STOPPED WORKING. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL WIRES BEFORE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. HAD TO TAKE A HAMMER AND PRY OPEN DOOR GET OUT. DEALER CONTACTED.…
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CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM BETWEEN SUNROOF AND REARVIEW MIRROR. ALSO, FROM UNDERHOOD WHILE IN CARWASH. DOORS AND WINDOWS WERE LOCKED AND CONSUMER COULD NOT GET OUT OF VEHICLE. GAUGES STOPPED WORKING. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL WIRES BEFORE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. HAD TO TAKE A HAMMER AND PRY OPEN DOOR GET OUT. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SWITCH GEARS.*AK
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.