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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

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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 · Feb 11, 2004
SteeringCrash

WHILE DRIVING AROUND A CURVE 20 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT VEHICLE LOST POWER, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10057890

Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2004
SteeringCrash

WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH CONSUMER TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL AND VEHICLE KEPT STRAIGHT. AS A RESULT CONSUMER HIT A TREE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10057790

80,000 miles · Jan 27, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT AT 80,000 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10055001

42,500 miles · Jul 27, 2003
Latches/locks/linkagesPower Train

MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. STICK SHIFT WOULD POP OUT OF 5TH GEAR ON OCCASSION AND THEN STARTED TO POP OUT OF GEAR IN 4TH THEN COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CAR HAS LESS THAN 43000 MILES ON IT. I'VE HEARD OF SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. ALSO DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE FELL OFF, AGAIN HEARD SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WI…

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MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. STICK SHIFT WOULD POP OUT OF 5TH GEAR ON OCCASSION AND THEN STARTED TO POP OUT OF GEAR IN 4TH THEN COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CAR HAS LESS THAN 43000 MILES ON IT. I'VE HEARD OF SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. ALSO DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE FELL OFF, AGAIN HEARD SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM. OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10029320

51,000 miles · Jul 7, 2003
Power Train

CLUTCH FAILED AT 51,000 MILES AS A RESULT OF A BAD MASTER CLUTCH CYLINDER. WITHIN 30 MILES, HARMONIC BALANCER FAILED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10025536

Mileage unknown · Jun 18, 2003
Suspension

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A RECALL 00V421001 REPAIR ON 4/12/2001 CONCERNING LOWER BALL JOINT BOOT. DEALER INSPECTED THE PARTS AND RESEALED THE JOINT. RECENTLY, CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE WHILE DRIVING AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. ON 6/7/2003 DEALER STATED BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10024337

10,000 miles · May 9, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE UPPER PULLEY HAS SQUEALED FOR SOME TIME NOW. I TOOK IT THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE BELTS AND BLAMED THE PROBLEM ON THEM. THIS STOPPED THE PROBLEM FOR A SHORT TIME AND HAS PERSISTED SINCE. I HAVE TRIED TIGHTENING THE BELT, USING BELT DRESSING, AND LUBRICATION THE PULLEY. MOST TIMES THE SOUND STOPS, ONLY TO RETURN.…

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THE UPPER PULLEY HAS SQUEALED FOR SOME TIME NOW. I TOOK IT THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE BELTS AND BLAMED THE PROBLEM ON THEM. THIS STOPPED THE PROBLEM FOR A SHORT TIME AND HAS PERSISTED SINCE. I HAVE TRIED TIGHTENING THE BELT, USING BELT DRESSING, AND LUBRICATION THE PULLEY. MOST TIMES THE SOUND STOPS, ONLY TO RETURN. IT OCCURS MOSTLY WHEN IT RAINS OR HEAVY MOISTURE IS IN THE AIR. THE DATE OF FIRST INCIDENT IS INACCURATE, I AM NOT SURE OF THE FIRST OCCURRENCE AT THIS TIME. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10018483

83,500 miles · Jan 7, 2003
EquipmentPower Train

MY 99 ECLIPSE HAS NOW 84,000 MILES. ON NOVEMBER 8 2002 MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LOST THIRD GEAR, I HAD IT REPLACED AND NOW THE SECOND TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THE FIRST TRANSMISSION HAD THE INPUT AND OUTPUT SPEED SENSORS REPLACED TWICE ALONG WITH THE IGNITION BOX. THE TRANSMISSION I HAVE NOW THE DEALER STATES,"THE CODE READS F…

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MY 99 ECLIPSE HAS NOW 84,000 MILES. ON NOVEMBER 8 2002 MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LOST THIRD GEAR, I HAD IT REPLACED AND NOW THE SECOND TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THE FIRST TRANSMISSION HAD THE INPUT AND OUTPUT SPEED SENSORS REPLACED TWICE ALONG WITH THE IGNITION BOX. THE TRANSMISSION I HAVE NOW THE DEALER STATES,"THE CODE READS FAULTY OVER-DRIVE SOLENOID BUT MY TECHNICIAN BELIEVES IT IS INTERNAL." I HAVE HAD ALL THE MAINTENANCE COMPLETED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OWNERS MANUAL AND STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10000572

Mileage unknown · Dec 27, 2002
Structure

MY CAR IS LEAKING BLACK SEALING ON BOTH DOORS. THE BLACK SEALANT MELTS FROM SOMEWHERE INSIDE THE DOOR PLASTIC COVER AND COMES OUT ON THE BOTTOM. IT HARDENS AND LOOKS LIKE STICKY TAR. TRIED TO CLEAN IT, BUT IT WILL NOT SCRUB OFF OR SCRAPE OFF CLEANLY. FIRST TIME I SAW LITTLE BLACK SPOTS, I BROUGHT IT UP TO THE DEALERSHIP TO A…

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MY CAR IS LEAKING BLACK SEALING ON BOTH DOORS. THE BLACK SEALANT MELTS FROM SOMEWHERE INSIDE THE DOOR PLASTIC COVER AND COMES OUT ON THE BOTTOM. IT HARDENS AND LOOKS LIKE STICKY TAR. TRIED TO CLEAN IT, BUT IT WILL NOT SCRUB OFF OR SCRAPE OFF CLEANLY. FIRST TIME I SAW LITTLE BLACK SPOTS, I BROUGHT IT UP TO THE DEALERSHIP TO ASK IF THIS WOULD BE A PART OF MY WARRENTY COVERAGE. I READ MY WARRENTY BOOK MANY TIMES AND I COULDN'T FIND THAT TYPE OF DEFECT ANY WHERE LISTED. THE GUY TOLD ME THAT IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRENTY, AND SINCE THE SPOTS WERE SO LITTLE, HE TOLD ME TO GO HOME AND CLEAN IT OFF AND THE SPOTS WON'T COME BACK. NEXT SUMMER CAME AROUND AND IT GOT WORSE. NOW IT LOOKS LIKE A BUNCH OF GLUMPED TAR ALL OVER THE BOTTOM PANEL OF THE DOORS. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE TECH TOLD ME IF I HAD BROUGHT IT UNDER WARRENTY, THEY COULD HAVE REPAIRED IT AT NO CHARGE. BUT BECAUSE I'M OVER MY WARRENTY LIMIT, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY A LITTLE OVER $200.00 PER DOOR FOR REPAIRS. I ADVISED HIM THE PRIOR YEAR I HAD CAME AND ASKED, ONE OF THERE SERVICE TECHS TOLD ME IT WAS "NOT" UNDER WARRENTY THAT'S WHY THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER FIXED. HE STATED THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO. I AM EXTREMELY UPSET, THAT I WAS GIVEN FALSE INFO AT FIRST AND NOW I CAN'T EVEN GET MY DOORS FIXED UNLESS I PAY OUT OF MY POCKET FOR A DEFECT THAT IS NOT MINE. I HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE A RESOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM BETTER THAN WHAT WAS OFFERED AT THE DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ODI #10000617

Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2002
Structure

MITSUBISHI SAID BOTH DOORS NEED TO BE TORN DOWN AND ALL THE GLUE/INSULATION REMOVED AND RECOATED AND IT WOULD TAKE AT LEAST A WEEK AND EXPENSIVE. MY CAR CAN'T BE THE ONLY ONE THIS IS HAPPENING TO. I HAVE TO KEEP DUCT TAPE ON THE BOTTOM OF BOTH DOORS TO KEEP IT FROM RUNNING INTO THE CAR AND OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. I'M EXTEMELY UPSET…

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MITSUBISHI SAID BOTH DOORS NEED TO BE TORN DOWN AND ALL THE GLUE/INSULATION REMOVED AND RECOATED AND IT WOULD TAKE AT LEAST A WEEK AND EXPENSIVE. MY CAR CAN'T BE THE ONLY ONE THIS IS HAPPENING TO. I HAVE TO KEEP DUCT TAPE ON THE BOTTOM OF BOTH DOORS TO KEEP IT FROM RUNNING INTO THE CAR AND OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. I'M EXTEMELY UPSET. DT

NHTSA ODI #768853

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.