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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
83,000 miles · May 19, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

OCTOBER 20, 2003 I PURCHASED A 1997 ECLIPSE GST FROM CITY LIMIT AUTO IN JOHNSTON, RI. MARCH 14, 2004 I WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN A SMALL CLICK FORMED IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR AFTER REACHING 3,500 RPMS. WITH-IN MINUTES THE CLICK DEVELOPED INTO WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A SMALL HOLE IN THE EXHAUST, PROBABLY THE CAT. NOT WANTING TO RISK IT I PULLED…

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OCTOBER 20, 2003 I PURCHASED A 1997 ECLIPSE GST FROM CITY LIMIT AUTO IN JOHNSTON, RI. MARCH 14, 2004 I WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN A SMALL CLICK FORMED IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR AFTER REACHING 3,500 RPMS. WITH-IN MINUTES THE CLICK DEVELOPED INTO WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A SMALL HOLE IN THE EXHAUST, PROBABLY THE CAT. NOT WANTING TO RISK IT I PULLED OFF THE NEXT EXIT TO BRING THE CAR TO MY FRIEND'S HOUSE AND HAVE IT TOWED. A STREET AWAY FROM HIS HOUSE (DOING 10MPH IN 1ST GEAR), THE NOISE GREW INTO A LOUD CONSTANT ELECTRICAL BUZZING OR CLICKING NOISE, NO HIGH OIL PRESUE ON THE DASH LIGHT OR GAUGE AND NO OVERHEATING ACCORDING TO GAUGE, WITH-IN 5 SECONDS THE OIL PAN BLEW, WHITE BILLOWS OF SMOKE PUFFED OUT AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. I TRIED TO TURN THE CAR OVER, BUT ALL IT DID WAS CLINK, AND WHEN I GOT OUT I FOUND A LARGE OIL PUDDLE UNDER MY CAR. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT HE REFUSES TO FIX IT. I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT REASON THE ENGINE BLEW, FOR LACK OF MONEY, BUT AFTER READING SOME WEBSITES I HAVE CONCLUDED IT WAS EITHER THE FUEL PUMP, OIL PUMP, OR CRANKWALK. E-MAIL VENOMOFVPSTREET@AOL.COM WITH ANY INFO. FOR FULL STORY GO TO HTTP://WWW.VPSTREET.ORG/INDEX.PHP?PAGE=CITY THANK YOU.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10072842

Mileage unknown · May 15, 2004
Suspension

PREMATURE WEAR OF THE LOWER LATERAL ARM AND BALL JOINTS. *MR THE VEHICLE MADE NOISES AND THE STEERING WAS OFF. THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOUND THAT THE TROUBLED AREA WAS ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. (THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE BALL JOINTS) THE PROBLEM OCCURRED LESS THAN A MONTH BEFORE RECEI…

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PREMATURE WEAR OF THE LOWER LATERAL ARM AND BALL JOINTS. *MR THE VEHICLE MADE NOISES AND THE STEERING WAS OFF. THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOUND THAT THE TROUBLED AREA WAS ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. (THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE BALL JOINTS) THE PROBLEM OCCURRED LESS THAN A MONTH BEFORE RECEIVING RECALL#00V421001. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10073940

80,000 miles · Apr 20, 2004
Suspension

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BALL JOINT PROBLEM. THE WHEELS CAN BE HEARD WHEN MAKING A SHARP TURN. CONSUMER CAN HEAR THE RATTLING FROM WITHIN. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10061607

Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE MOVED IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10067286

100,000 miles · Mar 25, 2004
Steering

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE VEHICLE'S STEERING MALFUNCTION. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. NO REPORT OF IMPACT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10064888

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2004
Power Train

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT OF GEAR I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF PASSING A LONG LINE OF TRUCKS AND HAD TO PULL OFF INTO THE LEFT SIDE BREAKDOWN LANE AND WAS NEARLY HIT BY NUMEROUS CARS DUE TO SENSORS IN THE CAR SHUTTING THE TRANSMISSION OFF DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAVE REPLACED 4 T…

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I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT OF GEAR I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF PASSING A LONG LINE OF TRUCKS AND HAD TO PULL OFF INTO THE LEFT SIDE BREAKDOWN LANE AND WAS NEARLY HIT BY NUMEROUS CARS DUE TO SENSORS IN THE CAR SHUTTING THE TRANSMISSION OFF DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAVE REPLACED 4 TRANSMISSIONS IN THE LAST 2 YEARS AND AM GETTING RID OF THIS CAR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. ITS A VERY RELIABLE CAR EXCEPT FOR THE TRANSMISSIONS, THEY ARE TOTAL JUNK AND MITSUBISHI SHOULD RECALL ALL OF THEM. THEY DEFINATELY ARE A SAFETY HAZARD AND I HAVE HAD TRANSMISSIONS LOCK UP ON ME GOING THROUGH INTERSECTIONS JUST ABOUT COLLIDING INTO OTHER VEHICLES. IM SURPRISED THAT CAR HASNT CAUSED A WRECK YET. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10058781

97,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

ON AUGUST 8, 2003, MY SON PURCHASED A 1997 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE, 97037 MILES, FROM [XXX]-OWNER, SOUTH BAY AUTO-[XXX]. WE PURCHASED THE CAR FOR $8,849.21. ON AUGUST 11, 2003, THE ENGINE BLOW BECAUSE THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE CAR, AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED AND IT WAS IN GOOD MECHANICAL CONDITION. JUST THIS …

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ON AUGUST 8, 2003, MY SON PURCHASED A 1997 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE, 97037 MILES, FROM [XXX]-OWNER, SOUTH BAY AUTO-[XXX]. WE PURCHASED THE CAR FOR $8,849.21. ON AUGUST 11, 2003, THE ENGINE BLOW BECAUSE THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE CAR, AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED AND IT WAS IN GOOD MECHANICAL CONDITION. JUST THIS WEEK THE WARRANTY INVESTIGATOR SAID THAT THE OIL LEAK WAS THERE BEFORE WE PURCHASED THE CAR, AND THAT THEY WILL NOT BE REPLACING THE ENGINE, AND THAT THE CAR IS THE DEALERS PROBLEMS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE DEALER DOES NOT WANT TO DO THE MORAL THING AND GIVE US BACK OUR HARD EARNED MONEY, NOR DOES HE WANTS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THIS SAME DEALER, LOAN US AN UNSAFE CAR THAT WE FOUND OUT THAT IT HAS BEEN DECLARED BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AS A SALVAGED. THE CAR IS A 1991 HONDA, VIN #[XXX]. LAST SATURDAY, ON THE WAY HOME FROM SAN JOSE, CA, TO VALLEJO, CA, THE BRAKES WERE STARTING TO GIVE OUT ON THE CAR. THIS WEEK, I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR AND RAN INTO A WALL TO STOP IT. THANK GOD, I WAS NOT HURT. I THEN CALLED THE DEALER AND TOLD HIM WHAT HAD HAPPEN, AND THE ONLY THING HE TOLD ME THAT I WILL PAY FOR ANY DAMAGES DONE TO THE CAR. HE HAD THE CAR TOWED AND STATED THAT HE WOULD CHARGE ME FOR THE TOW AND THE REPAIRS. NOW HE WANTS ME TO COMPENSATE HIM FOR PUTTING MY LIFE, AND THE LIFE OF MY FAMILY AT RISK WHILE DRIVING HIS UNSAFE, SALVAGED CAR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10070747

30,000 miles · Aug 27, 2003
Suspension

FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARMS BALL JOINT. LOUD KNOCKING SOUND EVIDENT ON DRIVERS SIDE. WHEEL BASE ON DRIVERS SIDE IS 1998" WHILE PASSENGER SIDE IS STILL AT 1999" PREVIOUS RECALL CONCERNS DID NOT STATE WHICH LOWER CONTROL ARM TO BE REPLACED. DEALER REPLACED THE SMALLER STRAIGHT ARM AND NOT THE L-SHAPED ONE. THE LOWER L-…

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FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARMS BALL JOINT. LOUD KNOCKING SOUND EVIDENT ON DRIVERS SIDE. WHEEL BASE ON DRIVERS SIDE IS 1998" WHILE PASSENGER SIDE IS STILL AT 1999" PREVIOUS RECALL CONCERNS DID NOT STATE WHICH LOWER CONTROL ARM TO BE REPLACED. DEALER REPLACED THE SMALLER STRAIGHT ARM AND NOT THE L-SHAPED ONE. THE LOWER L-SHAPED ARM BALL JOINT CONTROLS THE WHEELBASE WHEN SEPERATED COULD SEND THE VEHICLE AIRBORN BY WHEEL TO FRAME CONTACT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10036726

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2003
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO VISIBLE WARNINGS AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10034212

134,000 miles · Aug 13, 2003
SteeringWheelsCrash

STEERING ROD BROKE WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING RIGHT FRONT WHEEL TO "POP" OUT, RESULTING IN A COLLISION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10033868

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.