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

89,875 miles · Feb 8, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER FRONT TIRE. AFTER INSPECTION BY MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP IN LANCASTER, PA, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING OIL.

NHTSA ODI #10005498

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2003

Structure

CONSUMER STATED WATER WAS LEAKING INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE ROOF.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10002607

Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2002

Wheels

WHEEL RIM BENT AND CRACKED WHEN DRIVEN OVER PAVEMENT IRREGULARITY AND IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. REPORTED THIS DEFECT TO MITSUBISHI. THEY REFERRED ME TO LOCAL DEALER WHO EXAMINED RIM. NO ACTION TAKEN BY MANUFACTURER. DT

NHTSA ODI #770520

Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 2002

Engine And Engine Cooling

THE CONSUMER VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL COMING FROM A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

NHTSA ODI #8023535

Mileage unknown · Oct 11, 2002

Structure

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE 2 METAL PIECES IN THE MOVING PART OF HIS COVERTIBLE TOP IS BENT. HE ALSO STATES THAT THE MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT THE METAL WAS TOO SOFT FOR THAT KIND OF TOP. HE STATES THAT THE MANUFACTURER TOLD HIM THAT THEY RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM BUT DO NOT OFFER ANY KIND OF QUICK FIX OR RECALL. MR

NHTSA ODI #8020749

Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2002

Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE FAILS. HAPPENS EVERY 3 OR 4 MONTHS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND ENGINE QUITS. WAIT 3 OR 4 MINUTES AND CAR STARTS NORMALLY AND WILL RUN FINE FOR A FEW MONTHS. I THINK THIS COULD COULD CREATE A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. MR

NHTSA ODI #768266

Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 2002

Wheels

17 INCH ALUMINUM STOCK RIMS ARE BENDING UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8017794

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2002

Wheels

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL WHEELS ON THIS MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE DAMAGED. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL ECLIPSES IN THE PAST AND HAVE NEVER HAD A WHEEL BEND AS EASILY AS THESE. IT SEEMS ONCE THEY INSTALLED THE 17 INCH WHEELS THEY USED SOFTER MATERIAL TO MANUFACTURER THE WHEELS WHICH WILL NOT STAND UP TO DAILY DRIVING AND USUAL ROAD SURFACE CONDITION…

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NHTSA ODI #766459

Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2002

Engine And Engine Cooling

EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM LEAK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #765966

Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2002

Suspension

CONSUMER STATED THAT DURING A RECALL REPLACEMENT OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS, THE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE LEFT SIDE UPPER CONTROL ARM WAS FAILING DUE TO EXCESSIVELY WORN BALL JOINT AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WAS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER SINCE THESE SUSPENSION PARTS FAILED AT THE SAME TIME. *YH …

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NHTSA ODI #566878

Official recalls

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

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