IllustrationVEHICLE WILL STALL WHILE DRIVING REGARDLESS OF SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS REPLACED FUELPUMP/ IGNITION SWITCH AND COMPUTER, BUT DEFECT STILL OCCURS.*AK
1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Eclipse years
Owner complaints for the 1997 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: 23 of 136 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 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
22 crash reports6 fire reports11 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
41 reportsENGINE CHECK LIGHT WAS COMING ON AND VEHICLE WAS LOSING GAS. CHECK VALVE HAD GONE BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, DEALER SAID THAT IF IN AN ACCIDENT IT WOULD'T ROLLOVER, IT COULD CATCH ON FIRE. *AK
THERE IS A SCREECHING NOISE IN ONE OF BELTS INSIDE ENGINE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER HAS REPLACED ALL BELTS, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS.*AK
VEHICLE IS OVERHEATING. DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT OIL GASKET AND WATER PUMP ARE LEAKING, AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK
THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN 1995 TO 1998 ECLIPSES AND TALONS. THRUST BEARING WEARS OUT. REPLACING THE THRUST BEARING DOESN'T HELP! YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE.*AK
WELL, ITS ONE OF THE DEFAULTS THAT MITSUBISHI IS HIDING. ITS A FAILURE IN THE CRANK BEARING WHICH CAUSES THE CLUTCH NOT TO WORK PROPERLY AND A VERY ANNOYING TAPING SOUND WHEN THE CLUTCH IS PRESSED. THE MAIN DANGEROUS PROBLEM IS THAT YOU CANNOT SHIFT PROPERLY WHILE DRIVING MAKING IT UNSAFE AND FRUSTRATING. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE…
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WELL, ITS ONE OF THE DEFAULTS THAT MITSUBISHI IS HIDING. ITS A FAILURE IN THE CRANK BEARING WHICH CAUSES THE CLUTCH NOT TO WORK PROPERLY AND A VERY ANNOYING TAPING SOUND WHEN THE CLUTCH IS PRESSED. THE MAIN DANGEROUS PROBLEM IS THAT YOU CANNOT SHIFT PROPERLY WHILE DRIVING MAKING IT UNSAFE AND FRUSTRATING. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID I NEED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE ENGINE(SHORTBLOCK) AND IT WILL BE UNDER MY COST AROUND $3500. THE WORKERS THERE ADDMITTED TO ME THAT ITS A DEFAULT THAT THEY DONT HAVE A RECALL ON. I BOUGHT THE CAR UNDER THE INTENTION THAT MITSUBISHI MAKES VERY RELIABLE PRODUCTS. UNFORTUNATLY I WAS VERY MISTAKEN ESPECIALLY AFTER THE FEW INCIDENTS ON THE NEWS. PLEASE HELP ME BECAUSE I AM LOSING A LOT OF MONEY WITH THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU.
THERE WAS NO INDICATION PRIOR TO THE ENGINE BLOWING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS PLENTY OF OIL IN IT. ONLY A USED ENGINE WITH 63,000 MILES ON IT COULD BE LOCATED TO REPAIR THE CAR AT A COST OF $3474.17. MITSIBUSHI WAS CALLED AND THEIR ONLY RESPONSE WAS THERE WERE NO RECALLS INVOLVING THIS PARTICULAR CAR.…
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THERE WAS NO INDICATION PRIOR TO THE ENGINE BLOWING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS PLENTY OF OIL IN IT. ONLY A USED ENGINE WITH 63,000 MILES ON IT COULD BE LOCATED TO REPAIR THE CAR AT A COST OF $3474.17. MITSIBUSHI WAS CALLED AND THEIR ONLY RESPONSE WAS THERE WERE NO RECALLS INVOLVING THIS PARTICULAR CAR. A LETTER WAS MAILED TO THEM WITH THE AUTO SHOP BILL ON AUGUST 30, 2000. THERE HAS BEEN NO RESPONSE FROM THEM.
WHILE TRAVELING NOTICE SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPE. ALSO OIL LEAK. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INOFRMATION.*AK
CONSUMER STATE NOTICED SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPE. *AK
THE TEMP GAUGE GOES UP AND WITH THE AIR COND ON
Official recalls
300V421001 · 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.
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.
97V081001 · Seats:front Assembly:head Restraint
May 12, 1997
THE HEADREST GUIDE BRACKET WAS IMPROPERLY WELDED TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BACK ASSEMBLIES ONLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE HEADREST SUPPORT BRACKET CAN BREAK, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER SEAT BACK ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW ASSEMBLY.
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
1RQ98007 · 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.