WHILE 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.
What owners actually said
136 reportsTHE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TWO ENGINE FAILURES WITHIN 6 MONTHS, THE ENGINE SIMPLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING WITHOUT WARNING, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE THRUST BEARING FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FAIL. NLM THE FIRST OCCASION WAS WHEN CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE SECOND OCCASION OCCURRED WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STO…
Read full complaint
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TWO ENGINE FAILURES WITHIN 6 MONTHS, THE ENGINE SIMPLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING WITHOUT WARNING, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE THRUST BEARING FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FAIL. NLM THE FIRST OCCASION WAS WHEN CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE SECOND OCCASION OCCURRED WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. *SLC
VEHCILE STALLS WHEN DRIVING OR CHANGING GEARS, AND LOOSES ALL POWER STEERING, WHEN POWER STEERING WAS LOST CONSUMER RAN INTO A CURB.*JB
THESE CARS ARE NOT WORTH THE MONEY USED TO MAKE THEM!!!!. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
RETRACTED CONVERTIBLE COVER BLOWS OFF IN CROSS WIND INTO TRAFFIC. *AK
CONSUMER IS CALLING DEALER IN REGARD TO RECALL #001421000 FOR LOWER BALL JOINT BOOT. DEALER REFUSED TO REMEDY VEHICLE BECAUSE OIL WAS LEAKING INTO BALL JOINTS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
ENGINE CRANKSHAFT FAILED. *YH
LOWER PULLY FELL APART AT 68500 MILES. REPLACED NEW PULLY, TWO WEEKS LATER, NEW PART FELL APART ON THE HIGHWAY RUNNING AT 50 MPH. MECHANICS RE MOUNTED LOWER PULLY THE SECOND TIME IN TWO WEEKS.*AK
VEHICLE WILL STALL WHILE DRIVING REGARDLESS OF SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS REPLACED FUELPUMP/ IGNITION SWITCH AND COMPUTER, BUT DEFECT STILL OCCURS.*AK
LUGS: NUTS AND BOLTS BREAK WHEN WHEELS ARE CHANGED. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED ABOUT 25 LUG NUTS.*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.
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