IllustrationCRANKSHAFT WALKING IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN THE ENGINE. PLEASE LOOK UP CRANKWALK IN SEARCH ENGINE. *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
What owners actually said
136 reportsWHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY FRONT LEFT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE. THEN A COUPLE LATER, FRONT RIGHT TIRE BLEWOUT. GENERAL, GRABBER (AW), P27560R17. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
SUNROOF- POPULAR COMPLAINT AMONG ECLIPSE OWNERS. *AK
STRUT TOWER ON PASSENGER'S SIDE IS PREMATURELY RUSTING, CAUSING BOLTS TO PULL THROUGH. THIS COULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE A PROBLEM WITH WHEEL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, AND IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. *AK
I WAS GOING ON US-101 NORTH AND GOT SIDE-SWIPED BY AN SUV WHICH WAS TRYING TO GET INTO MY LANE (CAR POOL LANE). I WAS AT A SPEED OF 60-65 MPH. I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND REAR-ENDED ANOTHER SUV. YOU CAN FIND PHOTOS OF MY CRASHED CAR ( NOW PARKED AT THE AUTO BODY SHOP) AT : HTTP://PHOTOS.YAHOO.COM/SHAMAKARKAL UNDER THE FOLDER N…
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I WAS GOING ON US-101 NORTH AND GOT SIDE-SWIPED BY AN SUV WHICH WAS TRYING TO GET INTO MY LANE (CAR POOL LANE). I WAS AT A SPEED OF 60-65 MPH. I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND REAR-ENDED ANOTHER SUV. YOU CAN FIND PHOTOS OF MY CRASHED CAR ( NOW PARKED AT THE AUTO BODY SHOP) AT : HTTP://PHOTOS.YAHOO.COM/SHAMAKARKAL UNDER THE FOLDER NAMED "CRASH". YOU CAN SEE THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AT THAT SPEED.*AK
WHEN STARTING THERE IS A CONSTANT OIL LEAK UNDER VEHICLE. ALSO, A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE, MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION WITHIN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK
DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER VEHICLE. DRIVER STOPPED VEHICLE/ PUT VEHICLE IN PARK/ LOOKED UNDER CAR AND SAW OIL WAS LEAKING. WHEN PRESSING GAS CONSUMER COULD SEE A FLAME OF FIRE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT VEHICLE NEEDED A HEAD GASKET. *AK
THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TWO ENGINE FAILURES WITHIN SIX MONTHS. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE THRUST BEARING WHICH HOLDS THE CAMSHAFT IN THE ENGINE. THIS BEARING HAS A TENDENCY TO FAIL CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING, THE ENGINE HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING. *YH
DRIVEAXLE AND DRIVEAXLE HUB NUT CORRODED THROUGH. *AK
ON JUNE 18,2001 FIRST TIRE PEELED OFF.CONTINENTAL TIRE ,CHARLOTTE,NC 28273, MRS KIMBERLY SOMERVILLE, 704-588-4164WOULD NOT PAY FOR DAMANGED, STATED SOME ROAD HAZARD PUNCTURED THE TIRE. AGAIN, ON JUNE 13, 2001 A SECOND TIRE PEELED OFF AND CAUSE DAMANGE.MY ATTORNEY WROTE THEM ABOUT THE DAMAGE ON JULY 30,2001. THEY REFUSED TO ANSW…
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ON JUNE 18,2001 FIRST TIRE PEELED OFF.CONTINENTAL TIRE ,CHARLOTTE,NC 28273, MRS KIMBERLY SOMERVILLE, 704-588-4164WOULD NOT PAY FOR DAMANGED, STATED SOME ROAD HAZARD PUNCTURED THE TIRE. AGAIN, ON JUNE 13, 2001 A SECOND TIRE PEELED OFF AND CAUSE DAMANGE.MY ATTORNEY WROTE THEM ABOUT THE DAMAGE ON JULY 30,2001. THEY REFUSED TO ANSWER HER LETTER.I STILL HAVE THE TWO PEELED OFF TIRES IN MY FATHER'S GARAGE.FIRST TIRE CLAIM NUMBER WITH CONTINENTAL WAS C-10-343. THEY REFUSED TO ANSWER MY ATTORNEY ON THE SECOND PEELED OFF TIRE.I REQUESTED ALL CONTINENTAL TIRES BE REMOVED FROM THE CAR FOR SAFETY REASON AND TO PAY FOR MY DAMAGES.*AK (TIRESIZE: P205-55R16)
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.