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1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Eclipse years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse are substantially higher than the model-year median of 49.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 21 of 159 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.

  • Suspension. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

25 crash reports5 fire reports8 injury reports

Suspension complaints

27 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2000
Suspension

I TOOK MY 96 ECLIPSE TO A MITSUBISHI DEALER (CARLSBAD MITSUBISHI) NEARLY A YEAR AGO TO FOLLOW UP ON A BALL JOINT RECALL I HAD HEARD ABOUT. THE DEALERSHIP BRIEFLY LOOKED INOT MY CAR AND TOLD ME THE BALL JOINT WAS FINE. ABOUT 4 MONTHS LATER I BEGAN TO HEAR A "CLICK" WHILE IN LOW SPEEDS, AND THE HANDLING FELT UNSTABLE DURING NORM…

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I TOOK MY 96 ECLIPSE TO A MITSUBISHI DEALER (CARLSBAD MITSUBISHI) NEARLY A YEAR AGO TO FOLLOW UP ON A BALL JOINT RECALL I HAD HEARD ABOUT. THE DEALERSHIP BRIEFLY LOOKED INOT MY CAR AND TOLD ME THE BALL JOINT WAS FINE. ABOUT 4 MONTHS LATER I BEGAN TO HEAR A "CLICK" WHILE IN LOW SPEEDS, AND THE HANDLING FELT UNSTABLE DURING NORMAL FREEWAY AND STREET DRIVING. I TOOK MY CAR TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, WHO SAID HE COULD NOT DO A NORMAL ALIGNMENT ON MY CAR BECAUSE THE FRONT BALL JOINTS WERE TOO DAMAGED. THE MECHANIC WAS AWARE OF THE RECALL AND ADVISED TO RETURN TO THE MITSUBISHI DEALER TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED. I WENT TO HELLER MITUSBISHI IN ESCONDIDO AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION. A MECHANIC SPENT A BRIEF AMOUNT OF TIME WITH MY CAR AND TOLD ME THAT THE BOOTS WERE NOT LEAKING AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT BE COVERED. PLEASE INFORM ME OF HOW I CAN HOLD MITSUBISHI ACCOUNTABLE FOR A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT WHICH COULD IMPACT MY SAFETY. THANK YOU. CHRISTINE HANSEN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #730973

Mileage unknown · May 22, 2000
Suspension

CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER IN REFERNCE TO RECALL 99V066001/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL SR99002/ LOWER BALL JOINT BOOTS. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE, NO PARTS REPLACED, CONSUMER NOTED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT BOOTS BROKE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #862315

Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2000
Suspension

CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS ON RECALL #9089. WHILE HE WAS DRIVING LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE BECAUSE BALL JOINT BROKE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #856441

Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 2000
Suspension

CONSUMER WAS DENIED REPAIR UNDER RECALL #99-002, DEALERSHIP REFUSED DUE TO WORN PART RATHER THAT CRACKED OR SPLIT. *MJS

NHTSA ODI #550292

Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 1999
Suspension

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR, PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE (MFR SR-99-002). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALL SO NO REPAIRS WERE DONE. HOWEVER, AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP, THE TIRE WAS SEPERATED FROM THE VEHICLE & THE BALL JOINTS COLLAPSED CAUSING FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #852575

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 35 MPH THE COMSUMER HAD A BRAKE PROBLEM. WHEN STEPPING ON BRAKE PEDAL, TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, IT TOOK LONG TIME TO ST0P, AND WHEN STOPPING THE BRAKES GRABBED ON THE DISC. ALSO FRONT BRAKES ULSATED/REPLACED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. IN ADDITION, REPLACED REAR MAIN SEAL AND OIL SEAL AND RETORQUED ALL…

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WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 35 MPH THE COMSUMER HAD A BRAKE PROBLEM. WHEN STEPPING ON BRAKE PEDAL, TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, IT TOOK LONG TIME TO ST0P, AND WHEN STOPPING THE BRAKES GRABBED ON THE DISC. ALSO FRONT BRAKES ULSATED/REPLACED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. IN ADDITION, REPLACED REAR MAIN SEAL AND OIL SEAL AND RETORQUED ALL MOUNTING NUTS AND BOLTS DUE TO FRONT SUSPENSION NOISE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #814944

Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 1996
Suspension

VIBRATION FROM BRAKING SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI #510344

Official recalls

4

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.

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.

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

4

RQ00015 · 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.