1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/27/2010· POWER TRAIN

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE TRANSFER CASE SUDDENLY STALLED AND LOCKED ALL FOUR WHEELS; HE WAS UNABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE TRANSFER CASE AND THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST WITH REPAIR EXPENSES AS THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 98V069001 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

• 12/22/2007· POWER TRAIN

  I WAS GOING ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR ON THE FREEWAY, WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD REVVING NOISE AND BEGAN TO DOWN SHIFT AT AN ACCELERATED RATE. THE ECLIPSE NOW HAS A SHIFTING PROBLEM TO WHERE THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE THE DRIVE TO MOVE FORWARDS NOR BACKWARDS. I WAS TOLD BY A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST AND CLOSE FRIEND, THAT ALL MY GEARS WERE ALL WIPED OUT ALL AT THE SAME TIME AND THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS EITHER LOOSE OR BROKEN. HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT HE FOUND IN THE TRANSFER CASE, OF THE TRANSMISSION, SHAVINGS OR LITTLE PIECES OF METAL OR ALUMINUM. *TR

• 12/21/1998· POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  CLUTCH LINE HAS BLOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. DEALER REPLACED THE SHORT BLOCK WHICH ONLY TEMPORARILY REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

• 12/20/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH HEAD GASKETS. DEALER REPLACED HEAD GASKETS. HOWEVER, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT REMAINED ON. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

• 12/20/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSS POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 15 MPH, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

• 12/16/1999· STRUCTURE

  WHILE OPENING THE DOOR, THE HANDLE BROKE OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

• 12/14/2001· STEERING

  POWER STEERING BELT FELL OFF BECAUSE OF POWER STEERING BRACKET. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, AND CONSUMER HAD TO BUY UPDATED BRACKETS. *AK

• 12/11/2002· TIRES

  AFTER COMING FROM A STOP AT A STOP LIGHT, REACHING A SPEED OF AROUND 10 MPH, HEARD LOUD POP (ALMOST LIKE TIRE BLOWING OUT), TRIED TO PULL OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD, WHICH AT THAT POINT ALL I HEARD WAS GRINDING (ALMOST LIKE RIDING ON THE RIM), WENT TO PUT VEHICLE INTO PARK AND AS I REACHED THE PARKING GEAR A LOUD GRINDING NOISE CAME FROM ENGINE, PUT HAZARDS ON BECAUSE WAS OUT ON A BUSY STREET AND WAS UNABLE TO PULL OFF, GOT OUT TO FIND THAT FRONT-RIGHT BALL JOINT HAD BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM THE BOOT/TIRE, AND TIRE WAS SHOVED UP INTO WHEEL BASE, AND AS A RESULT HAD TO REPLACE BALL JOINT, CONTROL ARM AND FRONT-RIGHT AXEL DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE BALL JOINT DISCONNECTED FROM REST OF CAR. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT BECAUSE I WAS ON REGULAR ROAD AT A LOW SPEED. DT

• 12/09/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKES FAILED SEVERAL TIMES.

• 12/08/2007· TIRES,WHEELS

  DRIVING ON HWY. 80 ON DRY ROAD AT APPROX. 60-65 MPH, IN FAST LANE, CAR STARTED TO SHAKE, AS WE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF FREEWAY, TIRE BLEW OUT...COMPLETE SEPARATION OF BELT FROM SIDEWALLS,BOTH SIDE WALLS STILL ON RIM, BELT (INTACT) ROLLED DOWN FREEWAY. TIRES LESS THAN 1 YEAR OLD, AND LOTS OF TREAD LEFT ON TIRE. THIS CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE RIM WHICH IS NO LONGER USABLE. WE WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE TIRE AND RIM, BUT THANK GOD NO ONE WAS HURT. *TR

• 11/30/2000· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  THE DEALERSHIP OFFERED TO THROW IN A THROTTLE BODY CLEANING, FREE OF CHARGE, BUT AS I LOOKED AT OTHER COMPLAINTS..I REALIZED IT IS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED, BECAUSE OF LINKAGES AND CONTROL. IT IS NOT SOMETHING EXTRA TO HELP ME OUT. IT IS A PROBLEM!*AK

• 11/29/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  OIL LEAKING FROM HEAD GASKET. OIL GUY TOLD ME IT COULD BE A FACTORY DEFECT BECAUSE HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM IN THE SAME MODELS. HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO FIX IT WITH NO-CHARGE CLAIMING WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED IN AUG 2001. WE HAVE REALIZED THE LEAK IN OCTOBER 2001. DEALER ASKS $600 TO FIX IT.*AK

• 11/29/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING AND CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL WHEN DRIVING ABOVE 15 MPH. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED FOR PROBLEM, AND REPLACED HEAD GASKETS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

• 11/27/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKE ROTORS FAILED.

• 11/22/1999· SUSPENSION

  VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR, PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE (MFR SR-99-002). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALL SO NO REPAIRS WERE DONE. HOWEVER, AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP, THE TIRE WAS SEPERATED FROM THE VEHICLE & THE BALL JOINTS COLLAPSED CAUSING FAILURE. *AK

• 11/21/2000· TIRES

  PE00-046 ; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER, AND NOTICED THAT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED. TIRE WAS A GOODYEAR. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK THE CUSTOMER HAD RIM AND TIRE DAMAGED AS THE RESULT OF TIRE SEPARATION. *YH

• 11/18/1998· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION MAKES A LOUD REVVING NOISE, AND HAS A SHIFTING PROBLEM. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

• 11/15/2000· STRUCTURE

  PROBLEM WITH CONVERTIBLE TOP WHICH WILL NOT GO ALL THE WAY DOWN PROPERLY, AND CAUSING INSIDE DAMAGE TO TOP FABRIC. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

• 11/14/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,SEATS

  VEHICLE WILL BEGIN TO SHAKE/STUTTER WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. WILL STOP AND LET GO WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. DEALER REPLACED ROTORS 3 TIMES, BOTH FRONT BRAKE PADS. CANNOT EXPLAIN PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES AT TIMES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, THEY WILL SKIP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STOP AND THEN GO AND THEN STOP AGAIN, BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, CAUSING THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED. SIGNAL LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK IN COLD WEATHER, DEALER ORDERED FLASHER ASSEMBLY. SEATS WOULD NOT WORK, THERE WAS MATERIAL BLOCKING THE LATCH FROM LOCKING. *SLC

• 11/10/1999· STEERING

  THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT WANTING TO REPAIR THE RECALL BECAUSE THEY SAID THE BALL JOINT BROKE BEFORE I RECEIEVED THE RECALL. PLUS, THEY ARE WANTING TO CHARGE ME FOR THE REPAIR FOR THE LABOR. FROM READING THE SAFETY RECALL COMPENDIUM, IT SEEMS THEY ARE IN THE WRONG AND I JUST WANT MY CAR FIXED. PLEASE HELP! THANKS.

• 11/08/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,AIR BAGSCrash

  THERE WAS A FLOOD, APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE CAR STARTED TO SPIN, HIT A BUS HEAD-ON AND ENDED UP IN A DITCH AND THE DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE DESCRIBE IN DETAIL. *AK

• 11/04/1997· EQUIPMENT

  SPEAKER COVERS FAILED CONTINUALLY.

• 11/03/2000· SUSPENSION

  POSSIBLE BALL JOINT FAILURE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 99V-066 MAY HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENT IN WHICH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK GARBAGE CANS, UTILITY BOX AND FIRE HYDRANT, THE BALL JOINTS WERE NOT EXAMINED TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY WERE THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT BECAUSE THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE RECALL. NLM

• 11/01/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire

  DRIVING AT 40MPH HYDRAULIC TIMING BELT TENSIONER FAILED RESULTING IN IDLER PULLEYS TO SEIZE AND CATCH FIRE. HAD MOTOR NOT BEEN SHUT OFF WHEN IT WAS, MOTOR WOULD HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR.

• 10/31/1996· AIR BAGSCrash

  FRONTAL COLLISION, IMPACT 12:00, DRIVING A SPEED 55MPH, DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

• 10/31/1996· AIR BAGSCrash

  VEHICLE INVOLVED IN FRONTAL COLLISION, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION SPEED 55MPH, DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

• 10/27/1997· EQUIPMENT

  SPEAKER FAILED.

• 10/24/2000· WHEELS

  WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF. FIRST THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL FELL OFF, APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF. *CJ

• 10/21/1996· SUSPENSION

  VIBRATION FROM BRAKING SYSTEM.

• 10/18/2006· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  I HAVE A BLACK 1996 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE RS THE CLEAR COAT IS TOTALLY COMING OFF OF THE CAR LEAVING WHITE SPOTS ALL OVER. THE CAR IS SUPPOSE TO BE BLACK BUT IT LOOKS LIKE A DALMATION. *NM

• 10/18/2002· SUSPENSION

  CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE FRONT BALL JOINT ARE WORN AND THE CONSUMER CAN HEAR A LOUD POPPING NOISE. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

• 10/18/1996· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  CONSUMER STATES THAT FUEL TANK LEAKS GASOLINE, ALSO CONSUMER CAN'T GET ANY HELP TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK

• 10/17/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKE PADS/ROTORS REPLACED DUE TO SCRAPING NOISE.

• 10/15/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED DUE TO LOW BRAKE FLUID ON A FOUR MONTH OLD VEHICLE.

• 10/13/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  I PURCHASED MY MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE 2 YEARS AGO. I HAVE REPLACED THE PADS AND ROTORS ON MY CAR A TOTAL OF 3 TIMES. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN THIS MONTH ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT I AGAIN NEED TO REPLACE MY ROTORS. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THEY MORE OR LESS TOLD ME THAT THE BRAKES WERE AN ENGINEERING FLAW. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MITSUBISHI CORPORATE OFFICE IN CALIFORNIA. AT THIS TIME THEY ARE UNWILLING TO ASSIST ME WITH THIS PROBLEM.

• 10/11/2000· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  THIS COMPONENT IS PART OF A RECALL (SR-99-002) AND THE DEALER (MIAMI LAKES MITSUBISHI) REFUSES TO REPLACE THIS PART AT NO CHARGE.. PLEASE HELP. NO AFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

• 10/10/1997· POWER TRAIN

  WHEEL BEARINGS LEAKING OIL, CAN ROTATE CASING MORE THAN 3 INCHES, ACCORDING TO DEALER. WHOLE CASING COULD SEPARATE, CAUSING CRASH. *AK

• 10/09/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCNING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. SHE HAS HAD THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER FOR THE FRONT BRAKES AND THE ROTORS. HAD BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED IN JULY/ AUGUST AND IN OCTOBER. *AK

• 10/09/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  DRIVING THE CAR AND THE CAR LOST ITS POWER(STALLED) AND THEN STARTED TO SMOKE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE EXPLAIN. *AK

• 10/07/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  CONSUMER WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT, FOOT DEPRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE JUMPED FORWARD, HITTING THE LEADING CAR, FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD, CONSUMER, THEREFORE, ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK *JB

• 10/07/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING AND CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AREA. PLEASE EXPLAIN IN MORE DETAIL. *AK

• 10/05/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHITE SMOKE COMES OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE WHEN VEHICLE IS RUNNING. ENGINE IS KNOCKING AND OIL HAS TO BE PUT IN VEHICLE EVERY 3 DAYS. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY HAVE NOT FOUND CAUSE. *AK

• 10/04/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKES FAILED DURING ACCIDENT.

• 09/30/1997· SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 35 MPH THE COMSUMER HAD A BRAKE PROBLEM. WHEN STEPPING ON BRAKE PEDAL, TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, IT TOOK LONG TIME TO ST0P, AND WHEN STOPPING THE BRAKES GRABBED ON THE DISC. ALSO FRONT BRAKES ULSATED/REPLACED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. IN ADDITION, REPLACED REAR MAIN SEAL AND OIL SEAL AND RETORQUED ALL MOUNTING NUTS AND BOLTS DUE TO FRONT SUSPENSION NOISE. *AK

• 09/26/2003· STEERING

  MY 1996 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE WAS IN FOR SERVICING THE TIMING BELT. THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLED ME TO ASK IF I WOULD APPROVE AN UPGRADE FOR AN IDLER PULLEY FOR THE AC/POWER STEERING BELT. SINCE THE COST WAS ABOUT $190, I SAID "NO." AFTER PICKING THE CAR UP AND DRIVING HOME, THE AC/POWER STEERING BELT CAME OFF AND I LOST THE POWER STEERING. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE THE $190 UPGRADE DONE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL PART IS DEFECTIVE, AND MITSUBISHI KNOWS THAT IT IS, IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. WHEN THE BELT COMES OFF POWER STEERING IS LOST AND COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE $190, PARTS ONLY, COST IS ALSO EXCESSIVE. THIS IS MERELY AND IDLER PULLEY THAT MANUALLY ADJUSTS THE TENSION TO THIS BELT.

• 09/26/2000· SUSPENSIONCrash

  RECALL IN NOVEMBER ON BALL JOINT, HAD AUTO CO. CHECK, SAID IT WAS NO PROBLEM. SUNDAY WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM CURB, HEARD LOUD POPPING SOUND, GOT OUT AND LOOKED, DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG, WENT TO BACK UP, AND BALL JOINT BROKE, CAR CRASHED ON TO PAVEMENT. LEFT TIRE WENT INTO FENDER. THIS VEHICLE WAS USED ON NORMAL PAVED ROADS ONLY. VEH. IS 4 YEARS OLD, 71,000 MILES. COMPANY IS DENYING FAULT. WHY RECALL IN NOV. ON BALL JOINTS IF THERE ISN'T A PROBLEM. THIS SITUATION, WITH COLLAPSING BALL JOINT, COULD INJURY OR KILL SOMEONE. I AM VERY LUCKY. MITSUBISHI, WHO DESIGNED THESE BALL JOINTS FOR THE ECLIPSE, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR DESIGN. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I AM EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT I WASN'T KILLED OR INJURED. THE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE IS SEVERE. I CALLED MITSUBISHI, AND EXPLAINED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, AND THEY SAID SINCE IT WAS CHECKED THEN IT WAS ALRIGHT. BALL JOINTS JUST DON'T BREAK FROM NORMAL DRIVING. THERE WAS 17,000 MILES PUT ON SINCE THEY CHECK IT. TO SAY THAT IT BROKE BECAUSE OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR IS RIDICULOUS. BALL JOINTS JUST TO BREAK WITH ONLY 17,000 MILES ON THEM. THERE IS A FLAW, OR BAD DESIGN WITH THEIR BALL JOINT. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED, AND THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR DESIGN OF THE BALL JOINTS. NUMEROUS OTHER MAKES AND MODELS OF CARS' BALL JOINTS DON'T BREAK IN 4 YEARS AFTER IT WAS MADE. PLEASE ADVISE ME AS TO WHAT I SHOULD DO. THANK YOU.*AK

• 09/25/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,VISIBILITY

  WARPEDBRAKE ROTOTRS, CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE, ALSO FUEL INJECTION//SUNROOF MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

• 09/22/1999· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  NO SUMMARY

• 09/19/2001· SUSPENSION,TIRES

  CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 00V421001 ON FRONT END FOR LOWER BALL JOINTS . SINCE LAST MONTH FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAS WORN DOWN TO STEEL BELT. WIRES WERE COMING OUT OF TIRES. CONTACT DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THEY DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH TIRE PROBLEM.*AK MICHELIN DOT 4M39DV6X3700 195/70R14 91T M+S. *NLM

• 09/16/2003· STRUCTURE

  OWNER HAS HARDLY EVER USED THE CONVERTIBLE TOP. THE CONVERTIBLE TOP IS SEPARATING FROM THE FRAME,IT IS BULGING OUT. *AK