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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 · Sep 16, 2001
Vehicle Speed Control

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

NHTSA ODI #752233

Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

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 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

NHTSA ODI #563034

Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHCILE STALLS WHEN DRIVING OR CHANGING GEARS, AND LOOSES ALL POWER STEERING, WHEN POWER STEERING WAS LOST CONSUMER RAN INTO A CURB.*JB

NHTSA ODI #562956

Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSuspension

THESE CARS ARE NOT WORTH THE MONEY USED TO MAKE THEM!!!!. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #751748

Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 2001
Structure

RETRACTED CONVERTIBLE COVER BLOWS OFF IN CROSS WIND INTO TRAFFIC. *AK

NHTSA ODI #751645

Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2001
Suspension

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

NHTSA ODI #895303

Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE CRANKSHAFT FAILED. *YH

NHTSA ODI #785465

Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

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

NHTSA ODI #747157

Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

VEHICLE WILL STALL WHILE DRIVING REGARDLESS OF SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS REPLACED FUELPUMP/ IGNITION SWITCH AND COMPUTER, BUT DEFECT STILL OCCURS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #885963

Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2001
Wheels

LUGS: NUTS AND BOLTS BREAK WHEN WHEELS ARE CHANGED. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED ABOUT 25 LUG NUTS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #885517

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.