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1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Eclipse years

Owner complaints for the 1998 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

36 reports with mileage · 93 unknown

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.

  • Power Train. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 18 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 reports5 fire reports12 injury reports

Steering complaints

4 reports
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137,077 miles · Oct 17, 2007
SteeringSuspension

RATTLING/CLACKING WHEN DRIVING SLOWING ON ROUGH ROAD. FOUND RIGHT FRONT LOWER LATERAL ARM HAS A LOT OF PLAY AND ALSO INNER AND OUTER TIRE ROD ENDS HAVE A LOT OF PLAY. THE FRONT LOWER LATERAL ARM TO SUSPENSION AND EVERYTHING DROPPED PRIOR GETTING TO DEALERSHIP TO INSPECT AND FIX IT. MORE DAMAGES INCURRED FOR BROKEN SUSPENSION, T…

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RATTLING/CLACKING WHEN DRIVING SLOWING ON ROUGH ROAD. FOUND RIGHT FRONT LOWER LATERAL ARM HAS A LOT OF PLAY AND ALSO INNER AND OUTER TIRE ROD ENDS HAVE A LOT OF PLAY. THE FRONT LOWER LATERAL ARM TO SUSPENSION AND EVERYTHING DROPPED PRIOR GETTING TO DEALERSHIP TO INSPECT AND FIX IT. MORE DAMAGES INCURRED FOR BROKEN SUSPENSION, TIE RODS AND LATERAL ARM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10206019

37,500 miles · Jan 16, 2004
Service Brakes, AirSteering

THE ROTORS ON MY BRAKES LASTED A GOOD MONTH AND A HALF BEFORE THEY STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY WHEN I WOULD TRY TO GRADUALLY BRAKE FROM SPEEDS BETWEEN 45-65 MPH. TODAY I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 65 MPH AND IT FELT LIKE THEY JUST WEREN'T STOPPING ME. THERE WAS NO PRESSURE. I HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED OUT AND THE PADS ARE LIK…

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THE ROTORS ON MY BRAKES LASTED A GOOD MONTH AND A HALF BEFORE THEY STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY WHEN I WOULD TRY TO GRADUALLY BRAKE FROM SPEEDS BETWEEN 45-65 MPH. TODAY I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 65 MPH AND IT FELT LIKE THEY JUST WEREN'T STOPPING ME. THERE WAS NO PRESSURE. I HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED OUT AND THE PADS ARE LIKE NEW, THE ROTORS SHOW SOME WARPING, HOWEVER IM NOT SURE A WARPED ROTOR CAN CAUSE BRAKE FAILURE. ID LIKE TO FEEL A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE WHILE DRIVING MY CAR. IM GLAD NOTHING EXTREME HAPPENED. *CB

NHTSA ODI #10054241

Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2002
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingSteering

I WAS SOLD THIS CAR AS A MITSUBISHI, IT HAS A CHRYSLER ENGINE ONE STEP UP FROM A NEON. IF I WOULD HAVE WANTED A NEON BY CHRYSLER I WOULD HAVE PURCHASED 2 FOR THE PRICE I PAID FOR MY ECLIPSE. THE LOWER BEARINGS WENT OUT. I HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY. AT 68,000 MILES THE RADIATOR CRACKED, COMPUTER AND ALTERNATER WENT OUT CAUSING MY CA…

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I WAS SOLD THIS CAR AS A MITSUBISHI, IT HAS A CHRYSLER ENGINE ONE STEP UP FROM A NEON. IF I WOULD HAVE WANTED A NEON BY CHRYSLER I WOULD HAVE PURCHASED 2 FOR THE PRICE I PAID FOR MY ECLIPSE. THE LOWER BEARINGS WENT OUT. I HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY. AT 68,000 MILES THE RADIATOR CRACKED, COMPUTER AND ALTERNATER WENT OUT CAUSING MY CAR TO OVERHEAT IMMEDIATELY AND THE ENGINE WOULDN'T RESTART UNTIL IT HAD COOLED. WAS HARD TO RESTART. IT HAD SLICK 50 TREATMENTS 4 TIMES DURING ITS LIFE. IT ALSO HAS HAD 3 FAULTY CLUTCHES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #763732

Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2000
Steering

TIE ROD ENDS WERE COMPLETELY WORN THROUGH. COULD MOVE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WITH HAND.*AK

NHTSA ODI #735225

Official recalls

4

04V428000 · Equipment:other:labels

Sep 1, 2004

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH REMOVABLE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS AFFIXED TO THE DASH AND TO THE SUNVISOR DO NOT MEET THE SIZE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Remedy: MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL CURRENT 2000-2004 NATIVA OWNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. THE NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIVA OWNERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL OR MAY 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.

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.

98V045001 · Vehicle Speed Control

Mar 3, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DASH PANEL PAD CAN SHIFT INTERFERRING WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTROL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTROL WOULD NOT RETURN TO IDLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE A PORTION OF THE DASH PANEL PAD SO IT CANNOT INTERFERE WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTROL.

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.