IllustrationWHILE DRIVING CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL CAR AND BRING IT TO A STOP BY SHIFTING TRANSMISSION INTO LOW GEAR AND APPLYING BOTH THE PRIMARY BRAKES AND EMERGENCY BRAKE. THEREAFTER, WHEN CAR WAS RE-STARTED THE THROTTLE WAS STUCK OPEN (THE ENGINE RACED).*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
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
7 reportsWAS DRIVING ABOUT 10 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR GOT STUCK, AND THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKES WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBAORD, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO JUMP OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
BRAKES: DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25MPH, TRUCK AHEAD OF THE ECLIPSE HAD COME TO STOP, APPLIED BRAKES AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. CAR ACCELERATED AS IF THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON, KEPT PUMPING BRAKES, BUT CAR KEPT ACCELERATING. WHEN BRAKES FINALLY KICKED IN CAR SLID UNDERNEATH TRUCK, DEMOLISHING FRONT END AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLO…
Read full complaint
BRAKES: DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25MPH, TRUCK AHEAD OF THE ECLIPSE HAD COME TO STOP, APPLIED BRAKES AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. CAR ACCELERATED AS IF THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON, KEPT PUMPING BRAKES, BUT CAR KEPT ACCELERATING. WHEN BRAKES FINALLY KICKED IN CAR SLID UNDERNEATH TRUCK, DEMOLISHING FRONT END AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
THREE INSTANCES OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION; VEHICLE'S RPMS WOULD JUMP TO 3500 AND BRAKES WOULD NOT HOLD. HAD TO THROW THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL TO AVOID A COLLISION. *AK
WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED AND DRIVER DEPRESSES FOUR WAY FLASHING BUTTON, THE CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGES AND VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN. THIS IS COMMON ON THIS VEHICLE.
CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70 MPH, WENT UP TO 80 MPH, NEARLY CAUSED CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE, DEALERSHIP HAS NOT FOUND CAUSE. *AK
DRIVING ABOUT 5-10 MPH INTO PARKING LOT; VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED; ABLE TO AVOID HITTING OTHER VEHICLES BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL; TOOK TO DEALER; COULD NOT LOCATE 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.