2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse

MY SONS 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE HYDROPLANED ON A STANDING PUDDLE OF WATER ON US 50. HE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HIT THE GUARD RAIL TWICE ON THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE CAR. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE EXCESSIVE DAMAGE TO FRONT AND BACK. MY CONCERN AND COMPLAINT IS THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR TOOK SUCH A MAJOR IMPACT TO THE FRONT END THAT I CAN SEE NO REASON FOR THE AIR BAGS NOT TO DEPLOY OTHER THEN BEING DEFECTIVE. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE IF YOU NEED TO SEE THE DAMAGE. THE MARYLAND STATE POLICE REPORT NUMBER IS[XXX]. THE STATE FARM INSURANCE COMPANY CAN BE REACHED AT 1-888-613-3966 EXT. 33, CLAIM # [XXX]. VIN NUMBER OF THE CAR IS[XXX]. MY POSITION IS THAT OTHER 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SHOULD BE CHECKED FOR FAULTY AIR BAG SYSTEMS. *NM UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A SMALL LEAK FROM THE GASOLINE TANK. GASOLINE LEAKAGE WAS ALSO PRESENT ON THE PAVEMENT WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR PROBLEMS OR ANY OBVIOUS ROAD HAZARDS. ALTHOUGH THE LEAKAGE PERSISTED, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER. UPDATED 3/9/2006 - A TINY PINHOLE SIZE LEAK WAS FOUND BUT THE OUTSIDE OF THE TANK HAD NO MARKS AND SHOWED NO SIGNS OF DAMAGE. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT BEGAN AS A NOISE AND THEN THE ENGINE AREA CAUGHT ON FIRE. THEY WERE NO UNUSUAL INDICATORS BEFORE THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS BURNED VERY BADLY. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS LEFT UNDETERMINED, AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S SALVAGE YARD. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER WHERE NOT CONTACTED BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE INSURANCE COMPANY PROVIDED THE CONTACT A REPORT OF A POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE REPORT STATED A HOSE DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER COULD HAVE CAUSED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COOLING UNIT AND LINES TO LEAK OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. THEREFORE, THE FLUID LEAKAGE FROM THE COOLING HOSE COULD CAUSE TRANS AXLE PROBLEMS AND SMOKE IF THE OIL CONTACTED THE FRONT EXHAUST PIPE.*AK

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE HEAD LIGHTS MELTED. ALSO, THE OIL LIGHT WAS COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE OIL VALVE WAS REPLACED. THESE REPAIRS WERE MADE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. *AK...HEADLIGHTS DID NOT BLINK BUT WENT OFF ALTOGETHER. WHEN THE CONSUMER REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER, WAS TOLD WE SEE THIS ALL THE TIME WITH THAT MAKE AND MODEL. CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW WHY THERE WAS NO RECALL. *AK

DT: CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GS. CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE COLORED HALOGEN LIGHTS ENHANCERS PUT IN, AND THE MECHANIC LET THE CONTACT KNOW THAT THE WIRING HARNESS MELTED ON THE HALOGEN LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP. THEY WOULD NOT LET THE CONTACT DRIVE IT HOME BECAUSE IT WAS A FIRE HAZARD. THE PARTS WILL BE IN ON 10-13-05. THE DEALERSHIP GAVE THE CONTACT A LOANER VEHICLE. THE COST WAS GOING TO BE MORE THAN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. T $200 DEDUCTIBLE THE CONTACT WILL HAVE TO PAY OUT OF HER POCKET.*AK

THE PAINT ON MY BLACK 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE BEGAN TO DELAMINATE IN OCTOBER OF 2004. I HAVE NOTICED THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH OTHER BLACK MITSUBISHI CARS SUCH AS THE GALANT BUT THE ECLIPSES EXHIBIT THIS PROBLEM MORE FREQUENTLY. IT BEGAN AS FADED AREAS ON THE ROOF THEN SPREAD TO THE HOOD, TRUNK, SAIL PANELS AND NOW TO THE TOP REAR QUARTER PANELS. IT SEEMS TO BE CAUSED BY SUN DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF INSUFFICIENT ULTRAVIOLET INHIBITORS IN THE PAINT AS APPLIED FROM THE FACTORY AS I HAVE WASHED AND MAINTAINED THE PAINT ON A REGULAR BASIS. *NM

MY CALAPANA BLACK 2001 ECLIPSE GT STARTED TO FADE A YEAR AGO. I NOTICED THAT MOST BLACK MITSUBISHI CARS STARTS TO FADE IN 2-3 YEARS. I HAVE A COUPLE OF FRIENDS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BUT REFUSE TO COMPLAIN HERE BECAUSE THEY ALREADY DONE SEVERAL TIMES TO THE DEALER BUT NEVER HAD A RESPONSE. I ALSO HAVE EXACT PROBLEM AS COMPLAIN NO. ODI ID: 100511429 NHTSA COMPLAINT ID: 448638. AS MENTIONED, THE CAR HAS TROUBLE SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR (WORST WHEN COLD), STUTTERS WHEN FIRST ACCELERATING, AND MAKES A CONTINUOUS RATTLING NOISE WHEN THE CLUTCH IS NOT ENGAGED. I COMPLAINED TO MITSUBISHI DEALER MANY TIMES BUT THEY REFUSE TO BE RESPONSIBLE. *JB