IllustrationCAR HAS A HESITATION/MISS WHEN CRUISING UNDER 2300 RPMS (35 MPH). CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT UP AND DOWN. *AK
1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Eclipse years
Owner complaints for the 1995 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
Limited mileage data: 30 of 307 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 59 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
44 crash reports9 fire reports15 injury reports
What owners actually said
307 reportsUNSURE OF WHAT CAUSED FIRE, BUT NO PROBLEMS WITH CAR BEFORE FIRE CAME SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
WHILE DRIVING CAR FRONT WHEEL SEPARATED AT BALL JOINT AND VEHICLE CAME CRASHING DOWN, CAUSING DAMAGE TO ARM ASSEMBLY SPINDLE/ HUB AND OTHER FRONT END COMPONENTS. *AK
UPON DRIVING MY VEHICLE 5/12/99 THE DRIVEBELT BEGAN SHREDDING. 5/13/99 THE PROBLEM FIXED WITH BOTH BELTS BEING REPLACED. WHILE DRIVING ON 5/14/99 A BELT FELL OFF, RESULTING BOTH BELTS GONE AND LOSS OF A/C AS WELL AS POWER STEERING. PROBLEM FIXED AGAIN WITH MECHANIC SUGGESTING THAT BELTS MAY NOT HAVE FIT PROPERLY AND REPLACE…
Read full complaint
UPON DRIVING MY VEHICLE 5/12/99 THE DRIVEBELT BEGAN SHREDDING. 5/13/99 THE PROBLEM FIXED WITH BOTH BELTS BEING REPLACED. WHILE DRIVING ON 5/14/99 A BELT FELL OFF, RESULTING BOTH BELTS GONE AND LOSS OF A/C AS WELL AS POWER STEERING. PROBLEM FIXED AGAIN WITH MECHANIC SUGGESTING THAT BELTS MAY NOT HAVE FIT PROPERLY AND REPLACED WITH FACTORY PARTS. 5/25/99 WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED A LOSS IN POWER STEERING AND A/C AGAIN I IMMEDIATELY INSPECTED AND SAW THE BELTS ONCE AGAIN MISSING. FRUSTERATED I WENT THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP AND ASKED WHAT MAY BE WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE SERVICE ADVISOR BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THERE IS A BULLETIN REGARDING THAT ONE OF THE PULLEYS ON THE DRIVE SYSTEM LOSSES ALIGNMENT AND CAUSES THE BELTS TO FALL OFF. THE REMEDY IS TO APPLY SHIMMS TO BRING ALL PULLEYS IN ALIGNMENT AT A COST OF APPROXIMATLEY $200.00 FOR LABOR. WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL AND WHAT IS A BULLETIN FOR IF WE ARE NOT INFORMED TILL ITS MORE EXPENSIVE. WHEN DRIVING AND THE BELTS FELL OFF I LOST MY POWER STEERING TOO. *AK
BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT 11298, 22344, 30612, AND 45700
DUE TO THE SUN PASSENGER'S AIRBAG OPENS THROUGH THE COVERING WHICH MAY CAUSE IT DEPLOY AT ANY TIME. THIS COULD CAUSE INJURIES IF IT WERE TO DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY. ALSO, AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON/OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH THE VEHICLE HAD A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT IN WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS ACCIDENT. NOT YET CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER HAD THE SAME INCIDENT BEFORE, BUT DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
BALL JOINTS BROKE DUE TO POOR ALIGNMENT.
WHILE TRAVELING WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WITHOUT INDICATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK
DUE TO PCM CONTROL MODULE MALFUNCTIONING VEHICLE STALLED, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Official recalls
500V421001 · 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.
99V066001 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
Apr 5, 1999
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE RUBBER BOOTS, AND IF THE BOOT IS DAMAGED, THEY WILL REPLACE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM AND BALL JOINT ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.
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.
96V158001 · Fuel System, Gasoline
Aug 27, 1996
THE FUEL TANK GASKETS FOR THE FUEL PUMP AND/OR GAUGE UNIT GASKET COULD HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY INSTALLED ALLOWING FUEL OR FUMES TO ESCAPE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, THE FUEL LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK AND IF THE GASKETS ARE FOUND TO BE LEAKING, REPLACE THE FUEL TANK, CAPS AND GASKETS.
94V149002 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
Aug 8, 1994
THE HEADLAMP SUPPORT PANEL CAN DEVELOP A FATIGUE CRACK WHERE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) HYDRAULIC UNIT IS ATTACHED, ALLOWING THE HYDRAULIC UNIT TO FALL DOWN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LOSS OF BRAKING CAN RESULT IF THE ABS HYDRAULIC UNIT FALLS. THIS CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CONNECT THE ABS HYDRAULIC UNIT ATTACHMENT POINT AT A RIGID PORTION OF THE HEADLAMP SUPPORT PANEL WITH A BRACKET AND REINFORCE THE HEADLAMP SUPPORT PANEL BY ADDING A BACK PLATE.
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
4RQ00015 · Lower Contrtol Arm Ball Joint
Opened Aug 2, 2000 · Closed Apr 20, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
Additional source detail variants (3)
Suspension
There is no summary currently available
Suspension
There is no summary currently available
Suspension
There is no summary currently available
RQ98007 · 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.
EA98002 · Transfer Case Lockup
Opened Jan 30, 1998 · Closed Apr 30, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Wheels
No summary supplied.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Wheels
Wheels
PE97040 · Transfer Case Lockup
Opened Sep 4, 1997 · Closed Jan 30, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Wheels
ALLEGED DRIVETRAIN FAILURE THAT CAN LEAD TO LOCK-UP OF THE REAR OR ALL WHEELS.