← New search

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

What owners actually said

129 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1998
Seat BeltsCrash

ON OCTOBER 24, 1998 I HAD AN MINOR ACCIDENT. I REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. WE HAD A RED LIGHT MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN ONTO ANOTHER ROAD. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND WE PROCEEDED. THE OTHER VEHICLE FOR NO APPARENT REASON STOPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION AND I REAR ENDED HIM AT A SPEED OF APPROX. 5 MPH. ON IMPACT BOTH…

Read full complaint

ON OCTOBER 24, 1998 I HAD AN MINOR ACCIDENT. I REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. WE HAD A RED LIGHT MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN ONTO ANOTHER ROAD. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND WE PROCEEDED. THE OTHER VEHICLE FOR NO APPARENT REASON STOPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION AND I REAR ENDED HIM AT A SPEED OF APPROX. 5 MPH. ON IMPACT BOTH MY DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. MY TOTAL REPAIR COST ON MY VEHICLE IS $2,917.31. THIS FIGURE IS BROKE DOWN LIKE THIS: LABOR 891.57, PAINT 163.88, AND PARTS $1,861.86 THIS IS WITH SALES TAX. OF THE PARTS PRICE $1,515,24 IS AIR BAGS AND SENOR REPLACEMENT. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT I FEEL THE AIR BAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED ON AN IMPACT SUCH AS THIS. ANOTHER PROBLEM AROUSED WHEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, MY HATCHBACK CAME OUT OF LINE AND NEEDS TO BE REALIGNED. THIS HAPPENED DUE TO THE PRESSURE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYING. I HAVE SEEN MANY ACCIDENTS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS BY WORKING AS A VOLUNTEER FIREMEN AND AN EMT AND I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY ACCIDENTS AS MINOR AS THIS ONE WHERE THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. WHEN I SPOKE TO MITSUBISHI ABOUT THIS DEPLOYMENT THEY TOLD ME THAT THE AIR BAGS DID THERE JOB AND THE HATCH COMING OUT OF LINE IS AN EFFECT OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYING. THIS IS A PROBLEM I BELIEVE IN SUCH A MINOR ACCIDENT I HAVE A HUGE BILL DUE TO THE AIR BAGS. THANK YOU FOR YOU TIME. MICHAEL GREGORIO

NHTSA ODI #700133

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, MAY CAUSE EXTENDED STOPPING WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER WILL REPLACED BRAKE PADS AND ROTATED THE ROTORS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #829010

Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 1998
Air BagsCrashInjury

AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING CRASH CAUSING THE DRIVER'S HEAD TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUFFER A MILD CONCUSSION.

NHTSA ODI #780724

Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 1998
Air BagsCrashInjury

AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN VEHICLE SLID IN BACK OF A MAIL TRUCK AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON A WET ROAD CONDITION . DEALER NOTIFIED. CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES ON NECK/SHOULDER/KNEE AND CHIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #825930

Mileage unknown · Jun 4, 1998
SeatsCrash

RENTAL CAR; DURING REAR IMPACT 55 TO 60 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBACK COLLAPSED INTO THE REAR SEAT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #823972

Mileage unknown · Apr 20, 1998
Power Train

A GRINDING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. ALSO A CRACKING NOISE WHEN DOWNSHIFTING INTO 2ND AND 1ST GEARS. DEALER SAID NO PROBLEM COULD BE FOUND.

NHTSA ODI #530540

Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 1998
Electrical System

SMOKE FROM MAIN WIRE UNDER DASH SHORTED OUT, CAUSE OF SHORTAGE WAS MAIN WIRE RUBBING AGAINST CLUTCH PEDAL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #822421

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 1998
Unknown Or Other

CONSUMER DISPLEASED WITH VEHICLE TELEVISION ADVERTISING.

NHTSA ODI #531552

Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND IDLING FOR THREE TO FOUR MINUTES, THE ENGINE SURGES UP TO 6000 RPMS.

NHTSA ODI #530445

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.