1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 136 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling › engine › gasoline. It has been recalled 12 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine13
010
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline11
000
Air Bags › Frontal10
10011
Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Ball Joint6
000
Structure › Body › Roof and Pillars6
000
Vehicle Speed Control5
101
Engine and Engine Cooling5
010
Tires4
000
Wheels › Rim3
000
Suspension3
000

12 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting › Headlights09E025000
Filed May 11, 200942,540 vehiclesDope, Inc.

Defect. DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Exterior Lighting09E012000
Filed Apr 7, 200916,270 vehiclesSabersport

Defect. SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump07E055000
Filed Jul 26, 2007222 vehiclesAirtex Products

Defect. CERTAIN AIRTEX FUEL PUMP MODULE ASSEMBLIES, P/N E7081H, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE WALL OF THE FLARED FITTING OF THE FUEL PUMP IS NOT THICK ENOUGH TO PREVENT THE MATING THREADED FITTINGS FROM BOTTOMING OUT BEFORE AN ADEQUATE SEAL IS ACHIEVED. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF FUEL AT THE CONNECTION OF THE VEHICLE FUEL LINE AND THE FUEL PUMP MODULE ASSEMBLY.

Risk. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FUEL LEAK COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy. AIRTEX WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AIRTEX AUTOMOTIVE AT 800-880-3056.

Exterior Lighting06E064000
Filed Jul 17, 20064,029 vehiclesTradesonic

Defect. CERTAIN TRADESONIC COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.

Exterior Lighting06E060000
Filed Jun 29, 200687,745 vehiclesAai Motorsports Usa, Llc

Defect. CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Risk. LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH

Remedy. AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.

Exterior Lighting06E049000
Filed May 24, 200627,176 vehiclesCk Motorsport, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

Exterior Lighting06E044000
Filed May 22, 20061,215 vehiclesJ & A Auto Accessories

Defect. CERTAIN J & A AUTO ACCESSORIES COMBINATION HEADLAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. J & A AUTO ACCESSORIES WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE HEADLAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT J & A AUTO ACCESSORIES AT 310-327-4981.

Exterior Lighting06E026000
Filed Mar 23, 200661,944 vehiclesPro-A Motors, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Exterior Lighting › Headlights06E023000
Filed Mar 13, 2006292,000 vehiclesAnzo Usa, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Ball Joint00V421001
Filed Dec 18, 2000567,432 vehiclesMitsubishi America

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Showing 10 of 12 campaigns, newest first.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Suspension
Filed Mar 3, 2017172,000 milesIA

THIS VEHICLE HAS A RECALL FOR THE LOWER BALL JOINT. AFTER CALLING TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO FIX THIS ISSUE THE VEHICLE SHOWS UP AS ALREADY SERVICED, WHICH MAY HAVE ONLY BEEN AS LITTLE AS AN INSPECTION THAT WAS DONE. THE BALL JOINT IN THIS VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY FAILING AND IS EXTREMELY NOTICEABLE WHILE DRIVING. I AM IN SEARCH OF A RECORD FOR WHO FILED THE SERVICE FOR THIS RECALL OR A CONFIRMATION THAT THIS ISSUE CAN BE "FIXED" ONCE AGAIN UNDER THE SAME RECALL.

Suspension
Filed Nov 28, 201625 milesPR

I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL ALERT FROM THE DEALER. RIGHT NOW THE DEALER WAS SOLD TO A NEW OWNER. I WENT TO THE DEALER TO BUY A FENDER AND MY VIN NUMBER DOES NOT APPEAR IN THE MITSUBISHI COMPUTER SYSTEM HERE IN PUERTO RICO EITHER IN USA. SO I WOULD LIKE AN ADVISE. WHAT I HAVE TO DO. I HAVE ALL THE PURCHASING PAPER FROM THE DEALER AND THE BANK. A LONG TIME AGO I HAVE PROBLEM WITH THE ARM BALL JOINTS BUT I PAID FOR THE REPAIR IN A MECHANIC WORKSHOP. *TR

Suspension
Filed Jan 26, 2016170,000 milesOH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL IN 2010, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED AGAIN. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

Air BagsCrash1 killed
Filed Jan 21, 2010MO

SON DRIVING A ECLIPSE RAN OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE GOING 55 MPH AND THE AIR BAGS NEVER CAME OUT RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF ONLY CHILD. *TR

Power Train
Filed Dec 24, 200890,000 milesGA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 1997 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN 1997, THE VEHICLE'S SPEED HAS NOT EXCEEDED 35MPH. ON THREE OCCASIONS, A MECHANIC ADJUSTED THE TRANSMISSION TIMING; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT IT WAS BEST TO CRASH THE VEHICLE SINCE THE COST FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS EQUIVALENT TO A NEW VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Aug 20, 2008151,475 milesTN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 30 MPH, THE TURN SIGNAL BECAME STUCK. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE TURN SIGNAL WAS STILL STUCK. THE DEALER STATED THAT A NEW TURN SIGNAL SWITCH NEEDED TO BE PURCHASED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 151,475.

Seats › Mid/Rear Assembly
Filed Oct 25, 2007PA

UNABLE TO FIND A SUITABLE BOOSTER SEAT FOR MY 5Y/O SON WEIGHING 45LBS THAT WILL REST IN THE DEEP SEATED CONTOURS OF THE REAR BUCKET SEATS FOR 1997 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE . *JB

Steering › Linkages › Tie Rod AssemblyCrash
Filed Jun 20, 200780,000 milesMD

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO THE CURB. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE FOGGY AND DAMP. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS LATER, THE VEHICLE JERKED TO THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND ROD ENDS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE LOWER BALL JOINT (RECALL # 00V421001). THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 130,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Ball Joint
Filed Mar 22, 2007115,000 milesPA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GSX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE DETACHING FROM THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN RECALL # 00V421001 FOR SUSPENSION: LOWER BALL JOINTS. THE VEHICLE CONTAINED THE SAME BALL JOINTS FROM THE LAST RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERABLE, BUT AT A HIGH RISK, AND FELT ANOTHER RECALL WAS NEEDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115000.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jun 23, 2006125,000 milesRI

SQUEALING BELTS AT STARTUP, INCONSISTENT SMALL LEAKS OF COOLANT, HESITATION AT 2K RPM WERE ONLY PRE-CURSORS. OUT OF NOWHERE, WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, I LOOKED AT GAUGES FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON....NOTICED THE TEMPERATURE WAS RISING, EVENTUALLY GOING AS FAR AS IT COULD ABOVE H. SO I LOOK FOR SMOKE IN REAR VIEW....NOTHING. I TURN DOWN THE RADIO TO LISTEN FOR NOISES......NOTHING. EVERYTHING SEEMS FINE. HOPING THAT AIR THROUGH THE RADIATOR WOULD COOL THE ENGINE......NOT WORKING. I DECIDED I BETTER PULL OVER.....THE SECOND I SAFELY STOPPED, HUGE PUFFS OF WHITE SMOKE BILLOWED OUT THE HOOD EDGES. I JUMPED OUT, OPENED THE HOOD......HUGE CLOUDS OF SMOKE AND SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER, I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. ONCE THE SMOKE SETTLED, OIL COULD BE SEEN SPLATTERED ALL OVER THE ENGINE. TOW TRUCK COMES AND WHILE PUTTING ON FLATBED.....OIL DRAINED OUT LIKE A WATER FAUCET. FOUND OUT LATER FROM THE DEALER THAT OIL LINE BURST, CAUSING THE HEAD GASKETS TO BLOW AND MOST LIKELY DAMAGED TOTALED THE ENGINE. NEW ENGINE QUOTED AT $5000, USED 71,000 MILE ENGINE IN SOME SALVAGE YARD IN ALABAMA QUOTED AT $2-3000. NICE CHUNK OF MONEY AND THE ENGINE STILL NEEDS TO BE SHIPPED AND INSTALLED. WHAT A DEAL? I ACTUALLY SPOKE HIGHLY ABOUT MITSUBISHI'S IN THE PAST, BUT NOW I'M HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS. TOO BAD MITSUBISHI COMPANY HAS SUCH A BAD HISTORY OF FAILURES, RECALLS, AND POOR REPAIR SERVICE. I WAS ACTUALLY THINKING OF BUYING A 2006 ECLIPSE........NOT ANY MORE. I'LL MISS MY 97 ECLIPSE......IT WAS PRETTY GO

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed Jun 5, 2006OH

1997 ECLIPSE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TS *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Dec 30, 2005103,000 milesTX

CONSTANT OVER HEATING AND FLUID COMING OUT OF THE RADIATOR CAP, ALSO SEVERE SHAKING IN THE STERRING WHEEL AND 4TH GEAR. WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT?

Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear1 injured
Filed Nov 7, 2005121,000 milesMN

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR AT MORNING 9:00 AM ON 11/7/2005, ALL SUDDEN MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW GLASS BROKEN INTO PIECES. I HAVE STOPPED MY CAR AND CHECKED. THERE IS NO ONE AROUND ALSO. BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN IT IS BROKEN INTO PIECES COMPLETELY. *JB

Power Train › Transfer Case (4-wheel Drive)
Filed Jul 21, 20051,000 milesIL

I OWN A 1997 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GSX ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE. I HAVE A LEAK IN THE TRANSFER CASE, WHICH PREMATURELY CAUSES WEAR ON THE CASE HOUSING AND CAN LEAD TO A PART FAILURE RESULTING IN WHEEL LOCKAGE WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD AND THE DEALERSHIP IN MY AREA HAS IGNORED MY CONCERNS AND CAUSING ME GROW VERY CONCERNED WHEN I DRIVE MY VEHICLE. CAN YOU PLEASE INTERVENE HERE AND HAVE THEM FIX THIS PROBLEM?

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery
Filed Jan 20, 200560,000 milesFL

FUEL RELAY SWITCH ON MY MITSUIBISHI ECLIPSE 1997 GS HAS FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. IN ORDER TO GET MY CAR TO START, I HAVE TO GO UNDER THE HOOD, "WIGGLE" THE RELAY SWITCH AND LIGHTLY TAP ON THE TOP OF IT. THIS FUEL RELAY HAS BEEN REPLACED BY DEALER AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO OCCUR, EVEN CAUSING THE CAR TO GO DEAD DURING TRAVEL. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THEY DO NOT KNOW WHY IT OCCURS. (20+ OCCURRENCES) ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF "BLUISH" GAS FUMES COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE, REGARDLESS OF IDLE OR IN MOTION. (ALWAYS OCCURRING) SUNROOF STICKS (5-10 OCCURRENCES) BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOWS RATTLE WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION AND AS THE DOOR IS BEING SHUT (CONTINUOUS OCCURRENCE) CLUTCH FAILURE, HARD SHIFTING (1 OCCURRENCE). *JB

Wheels › Rim
Filed Nov 5, 2004NY

RIMS BEND TO EASILY. ALL FOUR RIMS BENT. ALL FOUR TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUBBING, BECAUSE WHEELS COULDN'T BE BALANCED DUE TO THE BENDING OF THE RIMS.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Sep 10, 200457,000 milesIN

CONSUMER NOTICED OIL IN THE DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC TO DETECT WHERE THE OIL WAS LEAKING FROM. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. HEAD GASKET HAS WAS REVISED TWICE BY THE MANUFACTURER BEFORE THEY HAD ONE THAT WORKED. DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED WITH THE REVISED HEAD GASKET. HOWEVER, LEAK HASN'T RECURRED.*AK

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Ball Joint
Filed Sep 7, 2004158,065 milesOK

I HAVE OWNED MY CARE FOR 3 YEARS. IN THAT TIME I HAVE HAD A LEAKING SUNROOF, BROKEN PASSENGER REAR VIEW MIRROR, BROKEN PASSENGER WINDOW "WONT ROLL UP", NUMEROUS TIRE CHANGES, BAD VIBRATION, HORRIBLE NOISES WHEN TURNING WHEEL, HAVE REPLACED 2 TRANSMISSIONS, BOTH TIE ROD ENDS, 1 LOWER BALL JOINT AND CONTROL ARM SUSPENSION BAR"MORE INFO ON THIS BELOW", ALTERNATOR, BOTH HEADLIGHTS, 4 DIFFERANT SEATS OF BREAKS, 2 SEATS CONSTINTLY RUNNING LOW ON OIL, REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER, SEAT BELTS DON'T STOP, BATTERY CABLES KEEP CARODING, REPLACE SPARK PLUGS ATLEAST 3 TO 4 TIMES A YEAR, VIBRATES WHEN GOING DOWN ROAD. THOSE ARE JUST THE THINGS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD THAT I HAVE DONE TO THIS CAR. NOW TO THE ACCIDENT. AFTER I GOT OFF WORK I WAS ON MY WAY HOME WHEN I DECIDED TO GO TO MY FRIENDS SO WHILE DRIVING TO HER HOUSE I HEAR A LOUD POP AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW MY CAR IS CONTROLING ITSELF AND I CAN'T STEER IT. THIS WAS ALL DO TO MY LOWER BALL JOINT SHATTERING AND MY WHEEL ALMOST COMPLETLY DETACHING FROM MY CAR. NOW THE OTHER SIDE IS STARTING TO MAKE THAT HORRIBLE NOISE. THE CONTROL ARM SWUNG ON THE BOTTUM OF MY CAR AFTER IT BROKE DURING THIS AND TORE OUT MY OIL FILTER, OIL PAN, AND OXYGEN SENSEOR. HAVE YET TO RECIEVE ANY INFORMATION FROM MITSUBISHI.*AK

Wheels › Rim
Filed Sep 3, 200478,000 milesTX

THE 17" MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE WHEELS BEND UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS I HAVE EXPERIENCED SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THESE WHEELS. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE ALSO CAUSED ME TO BUY NEW TIRES WHEN IT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN NEEDED.*AK

Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
Filed Aug 9, 2004104,000 milesWA

LUG:NUTS PUT ON TO SPECIFICATION WHEN TIRES REPLACED. WITHIN 1 MONTH FRONT DRIVER TIRE ALMOST CAME OFF DUE TO LOOSE NUTS. MECHANIC TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATION. ITH 1 MONTH BOTH FRONT TIRES ALMOST FELL OFF ON FREEWAY DUE TO LOOSE NUTS.*AK CALLED MITSUBSHI MOTORS. THEY SUGGESTED I HAVE THEM REPLACED BY DEALER SINCE THEY ARE CUSTOM NUTS, AT MY EXPENSE.*AK

20 of 136 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2000
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20128000Routine
20111000Routine
20101000Routine
200942100Routine
200871100Routine
2007107411Fatalities reported
200699400Routine
20056420Routine
200414510Routine
2003124540Routine
200273440Routine
20012091062Fatalities reported
20003081064Fatalities reported
19991201130Routine
19981291350Routine
1997 — this page1361261Fatalities reported
19961591150Routine
19953071292Fatalities reported
199434410Routine
199336410Routine
199249311Fatalities reported
199154420Routine
199046700Routine

Compare every Eclipse year →

Reading this record

1 death reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: May 11, 2009. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.