IllustrationWHILEDRIVING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE STARTED TO DOWNSHIFT TO 2ND GEAR.AND HAD TO SHUT OFF THE CAR TO GET THE GEARS WORKING AGAIN. THIS PROBLEM REOCCUR EVERY TIME I PULL OUT . I HAD CHANCE THE TRASMISION TWICE ALREADY.*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 reportsTHE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN A PARKING SPACE AT 2 AM. THE FIRE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE AND BURNT THE ENTIRE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. CONSUMER FELT THAT THE FIRE WAS DUE TO A DEFECT DESCRIBED IN THE FUEL RECALL 96V158001. BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE REC…
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THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN A PARKING SPACE AT 2 AM. THE FIRE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE AND BURNT THE ENTIRE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. CONSUMER FELT THAT THE FIRE WAS DUE TO A DEFECT DESCRIBED IN THE FUEL RECALL 96V158001. BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE # 00V421001. WHILE ON HIS WAY TO THE DEALER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE FRONT LEFT BALL JOINT BROKE, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SKIDDED OFF THE ROAD INTO A CORNFIELD. WHEN HE WENT TO DEALER, THEY TOLD HIM THAT THEY WOULD NOT SERVICE THE VEHICLE FOR THE RECALL OR COVER THE DAMAG…
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THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE # 00V421001. WHILE ON HIS WAY TO THE DEALER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE FRONT LEFT BALL JOINT BROKE, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SKIDDED OFF THE ROAD INTO A CORNFIELD. WHEN HE WENT TO DEALER, THEY TOLD HIM THAT THEY WOULD NOT SERVICE THE VEHICLE FOR THE RECALL OR COVER THE DAMAGES. *JB
THE CAR DOES NOT START. THE STARTER STOPS WORKING EASILY. *AK
(1) TICKING NOISE FROM THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY AREA WITH THE CLUTCH DEPRESSED. KIND OF A SWOOSHING TICKEY NOISE. THIS IS THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR TRIGGER PLATE RUBBING ON THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. (2) STALLING WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED. THE TRIGGER PLATE AND CRANKSHAFT HAVE BEEN MOVING SO MUCH THAT THE TRIGGER PLA…
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(1) TICKING NOISE FROM THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY AREA WITH THE CLUTCH DEPRESSED. KIND OF A SWOOSHING TICKEY NOISE. THIS IS THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR TRIGGER PLATE RUBBING ON THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. (2) STALLING WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED. THE TRIGGER PLATE AND CRANKSHAFT HAVE BEEN MOVING SO MUCH THAT THE TRIGGER PLATE IS WEARING THROUGH THE SENSOR. CAR LOST POWER STEERING AND PUT ME AND MY FAMILY IN DANGER. *JB
WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE BALL JOINT UNEXPECTEDLY FELL OFF, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. DEALER WAS INFORMED BY CONSUMER. *AK
RECALL SR-04-001: DRIVING 35 MPH FRONT RIGHT LATERAL BALL JOINT SEPARATED FROM SOCKET CAUSING LOST OF CONTROL. *BF THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN THE MAIL REGARDING THE BALL JOINT, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER CAN'T AFFORD THE EXPENSE OF HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *JB
WHILE OPENING UP THE DOOR ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, THE DOOR HANDLE UNEXPECTEDLY SHEARED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE PART WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THE CONSUMER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIX. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INF…
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WHILE OPENING UP THE DOOR ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, THE DOOR HANDLE UNEXPECTEDLY SHEARED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE PART WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THE CONSUMER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIX. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
I OWN A 1995 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE AND MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF WHEN I WAS OPENING THE DOOR. I OPENED IT GENTLY AND NOT ROUGH AND I ALSO KNOW OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE THE CONSUMERS SHOULD HAVE TO PAY OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNTS FOR THE REPAIRS CONSIDERING THAT THERE IS SO MANY OF US …
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I OWN A 1995 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE AND MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF WHEN I WAS OPENING THE DOOR. I OPENED IT GENTLY AND NOT ROUGH AND I ALSO KNOW OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE THE CONSUMERS SHOULD HAVE TO PAY OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNTS FOR THE REPAIRS CONSIDERING THAT THERE IS SO MANY OF US OUT THERE THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO, IF ANYTHING WERE TO HAPPEN AND WE NEEDED TO BE REMOVED FROM THE CAR, WE COULDN'T AND THAT PUTS OUR LIVES IN DANGER. *JB
CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE CONSTANTLY STALLED. IT CUT OFF WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 50-60 MPH. THIS WAS DANGEROUS. HE ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT WHEN VEHICLE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. DEALER PUT VEHICLE ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG.*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.