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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

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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

What owners actually said

136 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteering

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.

NHTSA ODI #714417

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 1999
Air BagsCrash

WHEN TRAVELING THE AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASH, AND BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT A CAUSE, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #847276

Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 1999
Exterior Lighting

THE REAR RIGHT TAIL LIGHT BLINKS REALLY FAST CAUSING THE BULB TO BLOW. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER & MECHANIC AND THEY ONLY REPLACE THE BULB, THEY WILL NOT CHECK ANY OF THE ELECTRIC COMPONENTS. OWNER HAS NOTICED THAT THE LIGHT BULB SOCKET CONTACTS ARE CORRODED, THIS IS WHAT SHE BELIEVES IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #844354

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 1999
Seat BeltsCrash

THE DRIVER'S SIDE RESTRAINT BUCKLE UNLATCHED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED . THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #845048

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 1999
Structure

THE VEHICLE WOULD LEAK INSIDE & IN THE TRUNK FOR NO REASON WHEN IT RAINS. HAS BEEN TO DEALER, BUT DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE LEAKAGE. HAD SPECIALIST CHECK THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #843963

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 1999
Air BagsCrashInjury

NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER NOR PASSENGER AIR BAG DURING VEHICLE COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. NLM

NHTSA ODI #546420

Mileage unknown · May 6, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

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

NHTSA ODI #837593

Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 1999
Power Train

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #705295

Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

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.

NHTSA ODI #704482

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Exterior Lighting

BACK UP LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONING. *YC

NHTSA ODI #607475

Official recalls

3

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.

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

1

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.