IllustrationVEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. IT SLID OFF THE ROAD INTO AN ENBANKMENT AND ROLLED OVER INTO A COMPLETE TURN. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPOLY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK
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 →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: 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
What owners actually said
159 reportsAFTER REPAIR OF RIGHT FRONT AXLE SEAL THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF THE VEHICLE.
I HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. THE FIRST TIME HAPPENED NOV 1997, SINCE I GOT THE CAR IN THE SPRING OF 1996, WEE I KEP MY OLD CAR AND THE FIRST WINTER I USED THIS OLD CAR AND MY NEW CAR I KEPT IN THE GARAGE. THE PROBLEM REALLY STARTED THE FOLLOWING WINTER. EVERY TIME THAT THE TEMPERURE IS UNDER 30 DEGRESS MY CAR START WI…
Read full complaint
I HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. THE FIRST TIME HAPPENED NOV 1997, SINCE I GOT THE CAR IN THE SPRING OF 1996, WEE I KEP MY OLD CAR AND THE FIRST WINTER I USED THIS OLD CAR AND MY NEW CAR I KEPT IN THE GARAGE. THE PROBLEM REALLY STARTED THE FOLLOWING WINTER. EVERY TIME THAT THE TEMPERURE IS UNDER 30 DEGRESS MY CAR START WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER SO MANY TIMES. WELL THIS IS THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE--- WHEN I DRIVE THE CAR ON COLD WEATHER THE CAR AS I DE-PRESS THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO SHIFT THE IDLE DROPS TO ZERO AND STALLS. THIS HAPPEN EVERY TIME THAT I SHIFT. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPEN I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY ON MY WAY TO WORK AND I GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT. WHICH RIGHT KNOW I SUFFFER SEVERE PROBLEMS WITH MY LEFT LOWER BACK AND SHOULDER. THIS WAS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED TO YOUR DEPT. BACK IN NOV. OF 1998. PLEASE RESPOND!!!!!!!!!
REAR WINDOW EXPLODED FOR NO APPARENT REASON.
HEALIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE PRPERLY.
CLUTCH LINE HAS BLOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. DEALER REPLACED THE SHORT BLOCK WHICH ONLY TEMPORARILY REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
VEHICLE CONTINUALLY HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH SHORT IN SYSTEM CAUSING BATTERY FAILURES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
TRANSMISSION MAKES A LOUD REVVING NOISE, AND HAS A SHIFTING PROBLEM. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WITH A TRUCK GOING ABOUT 65MPH AND THE AIR BAGS NOT DID DEPLOY. *AK
CONVERTIBLE TOP WEATHER STRIP FAILURES.
Official recalls
400V421001 · 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
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.