IllustrationWHILE DRIVING FLYWHEEL BROKE, CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*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 reportsVECHILE REPEATEDLY FAILS TO START. IT HAS THE SENSATION THAT IT'S NOT GETTING ANY FUEL. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE HAS DIED WHILE DRIVING AROUND 25/35MPH, AGAIN FEELING AS IF IT HAD RAN OUT OF GAS. ON BOTH OCCASIONS I HAD OVER HALF A TANK OF GAS. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES, ONCE IT WAS TOWED, AND THE…
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VECHILE REPEATEDLY FAILS TO START. IT HAS THE SENSATION THAT IT'S NOT GETTING ANY FUEL. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE HAS DIED WHILE DRIVING AROUND 25/35MPH, AGAIN FEELING AS IF IT HAD RAN OUT OF GAS. ON BOTH OCCASIONS I HAD OVER HALF A TANK OF GAS. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES, ONCE IT WAS TOWED, AND THEY KEPT IT FOR TWO OR THREE DAYS SAYING THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK
THE CAR IS MISSING AND MAKES A KNOCKING SOUND, HARD VIBRATION WHEN IDLE AND CAR JERKS, DOES NOT SEEM TO SHIFT UP TO NEXT GEAR, ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. HAVE TAKEN CARE INTO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR FOR SAME PROBLEM AT LEAST 7 TIMES. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEMS I REPORT TO THEM. WINDOWS ARE LOOSE, RATTLE, A…
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THE CAR IS MISSING AND MAKES A KNOCKING SOUND, HARD VIBRATION WHEN IDLE AND CAR JERKS, DOES NOT SEEM TO SHIFT UP TO NEXT GEAR, ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. HAVE TAKEN CARE INTO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR FOR SAME PROBLEM AT LEAST 7 TIMES. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEMS I REPORT TO THEM. WINDOWS ARE LOOSE, RATTLE, AND LEAK. I HAVE HAD THEM TIGHTENED SEVERAL TIMES. I SENT A LETTER TO DAVE MCKENZIE (VP OF SERVICE AND ENGINEERING AT MITSUBISHI) IN 10/98. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE.
1 AND 1/2 YEARS AFTER I BOUGHT MY "BRAND NEW" CAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. I WAS TOLD THAT MY WATER PUMP AND GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ONE WEEK LATER I EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING, I WAS TOLD THE POWER STEERING PULLY, BRACKET AND BELT HAD GONE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD …
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1 AND 1/2 YEARS AFTER I BOUGHT MY "BRAND NEW" CAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. I WAS TOLD THAT MY WATER PUMP AND GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ONE WEEK LATER I EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING, I WAS TOLD THE POWER STEERING PULLY, BRACKET AND BELT HAD GONE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD THE BRAKE PADS AND THE ROTERS RESURFACED MORE TIMES THEN I CARE TO REMEMBER. ON JULY 26, 1999, I HAD NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH MY TRANSMISSION. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TRANS WAS "OPERATING TO MANUFACTURE'S SPECS". ON NOVEMBER 3, 1999 THE DEARLERSHIP ADVISES ME I NEED A NEW TRANS.
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH CONSUMER STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THEN TRIED TO MOVE, BUT VEHICLE WON'T MOVE EVEN WHEN HE STEPPED ON GAS PEDAL.THIS PROBLEM HAD HAPPEND ON THE FREEWAY BEFORE. *AK
ABOUT A WEEK AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR, IT SAT FOR 3 DAYS WHILE I WAS AWAY ON NAVY BUSINESS. WHEN I RETURNED, I HAD TO SIT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I NOTICED THE ENGINE TEMP GAUGE WAS FULL HOT. I FINALLY GOT TO A ROAD TO LET THE ENGINE BREATH, AND THE GAUGE DIDN'T GO DOWN. I TOOK THE CAR TO KELLY MITSUBISHI THE NEXT DAY AND TOLD THE…
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ABOUT A WEEK AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR, IT SAT FOR 3 DAYS WHILE I WAS AWAY ON NAVY BUSINESS. WHEN I RETURNED, I HAD TO SIT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I NOTICED THE ENGINE TEMP GAUGE WAS FULL HOT. I FINALLY GOT TO A ROAD TO LET THE ENGINE BREATH, AND THE GAUGE DIDN'T GO DOWN. I TOOK THE CAR TO KELLY MITSUBISHI THE NEXT DAY AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPEN. I ALSO TOLD THEM THAT THE HEATER DIDN'T PUT OUT HOT AIR. THEY REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. NO PROBLEMS SINCE THEN.
TIMING BELT SNAPPED AND TOTALLY DESTROYED THE ENGINE.
AT HIGH VELOCITY ROCK WENT THROUGH THE AIR OPENING, HIT THE RADIATOR,BROKE IT, CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK AND MAKING THE VEHICLE TO STALL OUT.THERE WAS NO WARNING OF THIS DEFECT. *AK
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO TAIL PIPE OVERHEATING/ MELTING THE BODY AND THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY GOING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE COMPLETELTY SHUT DOWN. THE RMP'S KEPT GOING FROM 3 TO 0 AND THEN THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. VEHICLE STARTED BACK UP AGAIN, THIS HAPPENED THREE MORE TIMES, VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. *AK
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.