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1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Eclipse years

Owner complaints for the 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse are substantially higher than the model-year median of 49.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected 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

35 reports with mileage · 85 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 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. 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.

10 crash reports3 fire reports4 injury reports

What owners actually said

120 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 2004
Latches/locks/linkages

BOTH DOOR HANDLES ON MY CAR ARE BROKEN AND I CAN NO LONGER USE THEM TO ENTER MY 1999 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. I HAVE CALLED LOCAL JUNK YARDS TO FIND IF THEY HAVE THE CAR THEY HAVE ALREADY STRIPPED THE DOOR HANDLES, B/C THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH OTHER ECLIPSE CAR OWNERS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10090754

44,500 miles · Aug 22, 2004
Wheels

I OWN A 1999 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GSX WITH 17 INCH RIMS. I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE THE RIGHT FRONT RIM AND TIRE AFTER THE RIM BECAME BENT DUE TO UNKNOWN REASONS AND CAUSED A BUBBLE IN THE TIRE, WHICH IF LEFT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A BLOWOUT AND POSSIBLE INJURY. SUBSEQUENTLY THE OPPOSITE RIM BECAME BENT AND I NOW HAVE THREE BENT RIMS…

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I OWN A 1999 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GSX WITH 17 INCH RIMS. I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE THE RIGHT FRONT RIM AND TIRE AFTER THE RIM BECAME BENT DUE TO UNKNOWN REASONS AND CAUSED A BUBBLE IN THE TIRE, WHICH IF LEFT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A BLOWOUT AND POSSIBLE INJURY. SUBSEQUENTLY THE OPPOSITE RIM BECAME BENT AND I NOW HAVE THREE BENT RIMS IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT, AND KEEPING THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE ROAD FOR FEAR OF A SERIOUS SAFETY INCIDENT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10088339

65,000 miles · Aug 3, 2004
Latches/locks/linkages

WHILE TRYING TO OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR ON MY SON'S 1999 ECLIPSE THE DOOR HANDLE JUST BROKE OFF IN MY HAND CAUSING MY SON TO HAVE TO ENTER THE CAR FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. I QUESTIONED OTHER PEOPLE WITH ECLIPSES AND FOUND THAT 3 OF 5 EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM! I WENT TO THE DEALER FOR A NEW HANDLE AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST ME …

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WHILE TRYING TO OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR ON MY SON'S 1999 ECLIPSE THE DOOR HANDLE JUST BROKE OFF IN MY HAND CAUSING MY SON TO HAVE TO ENTER THE CAR FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. I QUESTIONED OTHER PEOPLE WITH ECLIPSES AND FOUND THAT 3 OF 5 EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM! I WENT TO THE DEALER FOR A NEW HANDLE AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST ME $80 PLUS PAINT AND INSTALLATION. EVEN THE PARTS SHOP WAS OUT OF DOOR HANDLES DUE TO THE CURRENT DEMAND FOR THEM. THE EMPLOYEE BEHIND THE COUNTER SAYS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. IF HE CAN SEE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM, THEN WHY CANT MITSUBISHI SEE THIS TOO? THE ANSWER IS, THEY KNOW BUT ARE NOT INTENDING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNTIL OUR GREAT GOVERNMENT(?) STEPS IN AND FORCES THEM TO! THEN I STARTED LOOKING AT OTHER CARS ON THE STREET AND WAS AMAZED TO SEE HOW MANY ECLIPSES HAD BLACK ( THATS THE COLOR THE REPLACEMENTS ARE ) DOOR HANDLES ON THEM. THIS IS UNDOUBTEDLY A MASSIVE PROBLEM AND MITSUBISHI NEEDS TO STEP UP AND START TREATING THEIR CUSTOMERS FAIRLY AND REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE DOOR HANDLES, AT LEAST AS THEY BREAK. MITSUBISHI DOESNT SEEM TO HAVE A PROBLEM PROMISING THEIR CUSTOMERS VALUE FOR THEIR MONEY UNTIL THERE IS A PROBLEM SUCH AS THIS THEN THEY JUST TURN THEIR BACK ON THE VERY PEOPLE THAT KEEP THEM IN BUSINESS! THEIR CUSTOMERS!*AK

NHTSA ODI #10083194

Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 2004
Latches/locks/linkages

AS I WAS GETTING INTO MY CAR, MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE FELL OFF INTO MY HAND. I AM NOW HAVING TO OPEN THE DOOR BY GETTING IN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND OPENING MY DOOR THROUGH THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET AN ESTIMATE AND THEY SAID THAT LABOR ALONE WILL BE $90.00. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON …

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AS I WAS GETTING INTO MY CAR, MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE FELL OFF INTO MY HAND. I AM NOW HAVING TO OPEN THE DOOR BY GETTING IN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND OPENING MY DOOR THROUGH THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET AN ESTIMATE AND THEY SAID THAT LABOR ALONE WILL BE $90.00. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE ECLIPSE. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10082279

72,000 miles · Jul 9, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

AFTER PULLING OFF FROM A RED LIGHT, SHIFTING INTO SECOND WE HEARD A LOUD BANG (LIKE GLASS BREAKING). WE PULLED OFF THE ROAD. A MECHANIC HAPPENED TO BE TRAVELING RIGHT BEHIND US AND STOPPED. THE CAR HAD A TRAIL OF OIL A FOOT WIDE AND PARTS STREWN ALL OVER THE ROAD. THE MECHANIC LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND SAID THAT IT THREW A PI…

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AFTER PULLING OFF FROM A RED LIGHT, SHIFTING INTO SECOND WE HEARD A LOUD BANG (LIKE GLASS BREAKING). WE PULLED OFF THE ROAD. A MECHANIC HAPPENED TO BE TRAVELING RIGHT BEHIND US AND STOPPED. THE CAR HAD A TRAIL OF OIL A FOOT WIDE AND PARTS STREWN ALL OVER THE ROAD. THE MECHANIC LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND SAID THAT IT THREW A PISTEN THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK AND INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THERE WERE PARTS OF THE BLOCK, PISTEN, GEARS...........ETC. THAT WE PICKED-UP OFF THE ROAD. I HAVE THEM IN A BAG. THE CAR IS FIVE YEARS OLD (JUST PAID FOR). IT HAS APPROX 72,000 MILES ON IT. THIS CAR IS TOTALLY BABIED, WITH REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND NOT DRIVEN BY A MANIAC TEENAGER (I'M 36 YEARS OLD AND FEMALE). I CAN TELL YOU I'LL NEVER BUY ANOTHER MITSUBISHI EVEN THOUGH I LOVED THE CAR. THE MECHANIC WHO STOPPED SAID HE ESTIMATED 3-4 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR REPAIR. I HAVEN'T HEARD THE ACTUAL ESTIMATE YET. WHAT A SHAME, IT SEEMED LIKE SUCH A SOLID CAR BUT I GOT 160,000 MILES ON MY LAST CAR (A FORD MUSTANG). I'M CALLING THE DEALERSHIP IN THE AM BUT I'M NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10080649

Mileage unknown · Jun 12, 2004
Structure

UNDER NORMAL OPERATION THE DOOR HANDLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY 1999 MITSUBISHI ECLISPE BROKE OFF. THE DOOR HANDLE WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED BY THE DEALER FOR THE PRICE OF $72.00 PLUS PAINT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10075263

Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY CAR JUST STARTED MAKING A SQUEAKY NOISE ONE DAY RIGHT AFTER IT STARTED RAINING AND I HAD ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 4 MONTHS.BUT I THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT SEEING THAT IT WOULD STOP 2 DAYS AFTER IT RAINED KINDA LIKE IT HAD TO DRY OUT.BUT AFTER A WHILE IT STARTE GETTING WORSE I CHANGED MY BELTS IT STOPPED BUT THEN IT CAME RIGHT BACK.IN…

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MY CAR JUST STARTED MAKING A SQUEAKY NOISE ONE DAY RIGHT AFTER IT STARTED RAINING AND I HAD ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 4 MONTHS.BUT I THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT SEEING THAT IT WOULD STOP 2 DAYS AFTER IT RAINED KINDA LIKE IT HAD TO DRY OUT.BUT AFTER A WHILE IT STARTE GETTING WORSE I CHANGED MY BELTS IT STOPPED BUT THEN IT CAME RIGHT BACK.IN FEB2002 THE BELTS WAS CHANGED WITH MY TIMING BELT THE NOISE STOPPED BUT CAME BACK A MONTH LATER.THESE NOISES HAVE CONTINUED TIL NOW 2004 I'VE JUST BEEN WAITING ON A RECALL TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE REPLACING BELTS IS COSTLY.

NHTSA ODI #10067982

70,000 miles · Apr 8, 2004
Suspension

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH FRONT DRIVER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT SNAPPED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10066804

25,000 miles · Feb 26, 2004
Structure

DASHBOARD WAS COMING APART. IF THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION PIECES OF THE DASHBOARD COULD INJURE PASSENGERS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10059872

Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2004
SteeringCrash

WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH DRIVER TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE A TURN, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. AS A RESULT, DRIVER LOST CONTROL, VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE AND LANDED IN A NEIGHBOR'S YARD. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10057909

Official recalls

2

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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.