WHILE HAVING A BASIC OIL CHANGE AT THE MITSUBISIHI/CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP WAS INFORMED OF THE HEAD GASKET LEAK. AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE MOTORS AND A $1000 TO REPAIR.*AK
1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Eclipse years
Owner complaints for the 1999 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
35 reports with mileage · 85 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 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. 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.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
18 reportsSIMILAR TO ODI 10080649 BUT RESULTED IN FIRE WITHIN ENGINE BAY WHICH WAS QUICKLY PUT OUT WITHOUT DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR. THREW A PISTON THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK. VEHICLE ONLY HAD 66K MILES. WORKING CAR FIRE FIRST REPORTED VIA 911 IN BRIDGEWATER NJ. REVISED STATUS WAS ALSO CALLED IN BUT WAS RESPONDED TO. STATE FARM INSURANCE…
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SIMILAR TO ODI 10080649 BUT RESULTED IN FIRE WITHIN ENGINE BAY WHICH WAS QUICKLY PUT OUT WITHOUT DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR. THREW A PISTON THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK. VEHICLE ONLY HAD 66K MILES. WORKING CAR FIRE FIRST REPORTED VIA 911 IN BRIDGEWATER NJ. REVISED STATUS WAS ALSO CALLED IN BUT WAS RESPONDED TO. STATE FARM INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER THE COST OF ENGINE EVEN WITH FULL COVERAGE INCLUDING COMPREHENSIVE. CAR STILL AT TOWED LOCATION. *NM
TOOK CAR TO DMV AND IT WON'T PASS OBD-II TEST. I HAVE TRIED THREE TIMES. FOUND OUT THAT A TSB-03-13-005 WAS SENT OUT. WHICH STATES HOW TO RESET SO YOU CAN PASS THE EMISSION TEST. IF YOU DISCONNECT YOUR BATTERY YOU COMPUTER WON'T RESET TILL YOU TAKE IT TO THE DEALER WHO CHARGES YOU HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO RESET A PROBLEM THAT THEY…
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TOOK CAR TO DMV AND IT WON'T PASS OBD-II TEST. I HAVE TRIED THREE TIMES. FOUND OUT THAT A TSB-03-13-005 WAS SENT OUT. WHICH STATES HOW TO RESET SO YOU CAN PASS THE EMISSION TEST. IF YOU DISCONNECT YOUR BATTERY YOU COMPUTER WON'T RESET TILL YOU TAKE IT TO THE DEALER WHO CHARGES YOU HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO RESET A PROBLEM THAT THEY KNOW ABOUT BUT REFUSE TO CORRECT. SO EVERY TIME I NEED TO GO TO THE DMV I FIRST NEED TO VISIT THE DEALER SO THAT HE CAN RIP ME OFF, AND BYPASS THE EMISSION SYSTEM. AGAIN THEY KNOW OF THE ISSUE THEY POSTED THE TSB 03-13-005. WON'T BUY OR RECOMMEND A MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE AGAIN. *NM
1999 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT 33,000 MILES.
AT 58,500 MILES HEAD GASKET BEGAN LEAKING. TOOK IT TO DEALER THEY STATED WAS PAST 5YR MARK FROM PURCHASE. MITSUBISHI IS SO LOYAL TO THEIR CUSTOMERS NOT. *JB
AFTER PULLING OFF FROM A RED LIGHT, SHIFTING INTO SECOND WE HEARD A LOUD BANG (LIKE GLASS BREAKING). WE PULLED OFF THE ROAD. A MECHANIC HAPPENED TO BE TRAVELING RIGHT BEHIND US AND STOPPED. THE CAR HAD A TRAIL OF OIL A FOOT WIDE AND PARTS STREWN ALL OVER THE ROAD. THE MECHANIC LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND SAID THAT IT THREW A PI…
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AFTER PULLING OFF FROM A RED LIGHT, SHIFTING INTO SECOND WE HEARD A LOUD BANG (LIKE GLASS BREAKING). WE PULLED OFF THE ROAD. A MECHANIC HAPPENED TO BE TRAVELING RIGHT BEHIND US AND STOPPED. THE CAR HAD A TRAIL OF OIL A FOOT WIDE AND PARTS STREWN ALL OVER THE ROAD. THE MECHANIC LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND SAID THAT IT THREW A PISTEN THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK AND INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THERE WERE PARTS OF THE BLOCK, PISTEN, GEARS...........ETC. THAT WE PICKED-UP OFF THE ROAD. I HAVE THEM IN A BAG. THE CAR IS FIVE YEARS OLD (JUST PAID FOR). IT HAS APPROX 72,000 MILES ON IT. THIS CAR IS TOTALLY BABIED, WITH REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND NOT DRIVEN BY A MANIAC TEENAGER (I'M 36 YEARS OLD AND FEMALE). I CAN TELL YOU I'LL NEVER BUY ANOTHER MITSUBISHI EVEN THOUGH I LOVED THE CAR. THE MECHANIC WHO STOPPED SAID HE ESTIMATED 3-4 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR REPAIR. I HAVEN'T HEARD THE ACTUAL ESTIMATE YET. WHAT A SHAME, IT SEEMED LIKE SUCH A SOLID CAR BUT I GOT 160,000 MILES ON MY LAST CAR (A FORD MUSTANG). I'M CALLING THE DEALERSHIP IN THE AM BUT I'M NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY.*AK
MY CAR JUST STARTED MAKING A SQUEAKY NOISE ONE DAY RIGHT AFTER IT STARTED RAINING AND I HAD ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 4 MONTHS.BUT I THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT SEEING THAT IT WOULD STOP 2 DAYS AFTER IT RAINED KINDA LIKE IT HAD TO DRY OUT.BUT AFTER A WHILE IT STARTE GETTING WORSE I CHANGED MY BELTS IT STOPPED BUT THEN IT CAME RIGHT BACK.IN…
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MY CAR JUST STARTED MAKING A SQUEAKY NOISE ONE DAY RIGHT AFTER IT STARTED RAINING AND I HAD ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 4 MONTHS.BUT I THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT SEEING THAT IT WOULD STOP 2 DAYS AFTER IT RAINED KINDA LIKE IT HAD TO DRY OUT.BUT AFTER A WHILE IT STARTE GETTING WORSE I CHANGED MY BELTS IT STOPPED BUT THEN IT CAME RIGHT BACK.IN FEB2002 THE BELTS WAS CHANGED WITH MY TIMING BELT THE NOISE STOPPED BUT CAME BACK A MONTH LATER.THESE NOISES HAVE CONTINUED TIL NOW 2004 I'VE JUST BEEN WAITING ON A RECALL TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE REPLACING BELTS IS COSTLY.
HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT AT 80,000 MILES. *JB
THE UPPER PULLEY HAS SQUEALED FOR SOME TIME NOW. I TOOK IT THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE BELTS AND BLAMED THE PROBLEM ON THEM. THIS STOPPED THE PROBLEM FOR A SHORT TIME AND HAS PERSISTED SINCE. I HAVE TRIED TIGHTENING THE BELT, USING BELT DRESSING, AND LUBRICATION THE PULLEY. MOST TIMES THE SOUND STOPS, ONLY TO RETURN.…
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THE UPPER PULLEY HAS SQUEALED FOR SOME TIME NOW. I TOOK IT THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE BELTS AND BLAMED THE PROBLEM ON THEM. THIS STOPPED THE PROBLEM FOR A SHORT TIME AND HAS PERSISTED SINCE. I HAVE TRIED TIGHTENING THE BELT, USING BELT DRESSING, AND LUBRICATION THE PULLEY. MOST TIMES THE SOUND STOPS, ONLY TO RETURN. IT OCCURS MOSTLY WHEN IT RAINS OR HEAVY MOISTURE IS IN THE AIR. THE DATE OF FIRST INCIDENT IS INACCURATE, I AM NOT SURE OF THE FIRST OCCURRENCE AT THIS TIME. *JB
WHILE AT A REPAIR SHOP FOR OTHER REPAIRSTECHNICIAN INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ENGINE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Official recalls
204V428000 · 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.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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