EAGLE TALON · model year

1997 EAGLE TALON

37 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1997EAGLETALON carries 37 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1997 TALON is power train:transfer case (4-wheel drive) with 4 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (4) and suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint (4). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 1997 TALON. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

37
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

37 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE4
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER1
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS1
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY1
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM1

Recent Complaints

20090313POWER TRAIN

THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE TRANSFER CASE. I HAVE ALL THE SYMPTOMS TRANSFER CASE FAILURE. THERE IS OIL LEAKING AND THE TRANSFER CASE LOCKS UP, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE CAR, THE WHEELS WILL NOT BUDGE. I HAVE TALKED TO TWO DEALERSHIPS. NEITHER WILL HONOR THE RECALL BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN PERFORMED BEFORE. I HAVE TALKED TO CHRYSLER AND THEY WILL NOT ALLOW THE RECALL TO BE PERFORMED. THE PERSON I SPOKE TO SAID IT COULD NOT BE DONE BECAUSE IT IS NOT A FAULTY PART.EVEN THOUGH WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR IS EXACTLY WHAT IS STATED IN THE RECALL. THIS IS A SAFETY RECALL. IF THE TRANSFER CASE WOULD HAVE LOCKED UP WHEN I WAS GOING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, IT COULD BECOME A VERY SERIOUS MEDICAL EMERGENCY AND EVEN CAUSE A TOTALED CAR. I AM NOT SURE WHAT WAS REPLACED WHEN THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED BEFORE, BUT THE SYMPTOMS OF THE CAR MAKE IT SEEM LIKE IT WAS NOT DONE CORRECTLY BEFORE. *TR

Mileage: 123,300

20050718CrashAIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 EAGLE TALON. ON JUNE 14, 2005 CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT WHILE GOING 20-25 MPH. UPON IMPACT, FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT CONTACT SUSTAINED AIRBAG BURNS. HE SUSTAINED INJURIES, STRAIN IN NECK, BURNS ON ARM, AND ON RIGHTS HAND TWO FINGER BECAME NUMB. THE HOSPITAL DID TAKE X-RAYS, AND STATED THAT CONTACT HAD A PINCHED NERVE FROM THE STRAIN IN HIS NECK WHICH CAUSED THE NUMB FINGERS. ALSO ANOTHER SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY BURNS FROM THE AIRBAG, BUT HAS BEEN OFF FROM WORK SINCE THE ACCIDENT, AND WAS UNDER PHYSICIAN'S CARE. . THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE WET. BECAUSE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYMENT VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE COST OF FIXING THE AIRBAGS WOULD BE MORE THAN THE COST OF THE CAR.*AK

20050718CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 EAGLE TALON. ON JUNE 14, 2005 CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT WHILE GOING 20-25 MPH. UPON IMPACT, FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT CONTACT SUSTAINED AIRBAG BURNS. HE SUSTAINED INJURIES, STRAIN IN NECK, BURNS ON ARM, AND ON RIGHTS HAND TWO FINGER BECAME NUMB. THE HOSPITAL DID TAKE X-RAYS, AND STATED THAT CONTACT HAD A PINCHED NERVE FROM THE STRAIN IN HIS NECK WHICH CAUSED THE NUMB FINGERS. ALSO ANOTHER SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY BURNS FROM THE AIRBAG, BUT HAS BEEN OFF FROM WORK SINCE THE ACCIDENT, AND WAS UNDER PHYSICIAN'S CARE. . THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE WET. BECAUSE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYMENT VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE COST OF FIXING THE AIRBAGS WOULD BE MORE THAN THE COST OF THE CAR.*AK

20050429POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

DAIMLER CHYSLER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGNE HTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 98V069002. PLEASE HELP ME. *AK

Mileage: 111,000

20041101POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

A RECALL FOR THE TRANSFER CASE WAS ISSUED. THE CONSUMER VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS INCLUDED, HOWEVER THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

Mileage: 45,000

20040618ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

1997 EAGLE TALON TSI FWD (IDENTICAL TO MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GS-T OF THE SAME YEAR) HAS A PROBLEM WITH FAILING CRANKSHAFT BEARINGS, CAUSING THE CRANK TO BE ABLE TO MOVE AROUND. IT IS PHYSICALLY MOVABLE BY HAND LEFT AND RIGHT AND UP AND DOWN INSTEAD OF BEING STATIONARY. CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, AS THIS "WALKING CRANK" COULD CRACK THE SHORT BLOCK AT ANY TIME RENDERING THE CAR IMMOBILE. MITSUBISHI/CHRYSLER REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE THIS AS A DEFECT AND WILL NOT FIX IT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. THIS IS A DEFECT IN ABOUT HALF OF THEIR 95-99 ECLIPSE/TALONS WITH THE 2.0L DOCK TURBO ENGINE, AND THEY REFUSE TO EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE IT EXISTS. THESE CARS ARE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND MITSUBISHI HAS AND REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.*AK

Mileage: 90,000

20040324SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH A LOUD BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR. THE DRIVER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE REAR LOWER BALL JOINTS DUE TO WORN PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

20021106POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

CONSUMER STATED THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID IS LEAKING FROM THE TRANSFER CASE. MR

20020514SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, CONSUMER BELIEVES HER LOSING CONTROL OF VEHICLE WAS A RESULT OF A RECALL ON THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS, 99V066.*JB

20020514SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR

CONSUMER STATED ABS LIGHT WAS ON, DEALER REPLACED FAULTY FRONT WHEEL SENSOR.*JB

20020514STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A LOUD RATTLING NOISE UNDERNEATH VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING, DEALER FOUND LOOSE EXHAUST HEAT SHIELD BENT UP.*JB

20020514TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE

THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE IN REAR COMPARTMENT AREA, DELAER FOUND SPARE TIRE LOOSE IN TRUNK AREA.*JB

20020514ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

CONSUMER STATED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON.*JB

20020514VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

THE SUNROOF TRIM MOLDING WAS COMING LOOSE.*JB

20011116SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, CONSUMER BELIEVES HER LOSING CONTROL OF VEHICLE WAS A RESULT OF A RECALL ON THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS, 99V066.*JB

20011107SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

BRAKES LOCKED UP, RESULTING IN A FRONTAL ACCIDENT, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY

20011107AIR BAGS

BRAKES LOCKED UP, RESULTING IN A FRONTAL ACCIDENT, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY

20011105SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM

RECALL 00V421002 REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2001. ON OCTOBER 31, 2001 WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THERE WAS A "RUBBING" AND "HUMMING" NOISE COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. A MECHANIC EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT FRONT/RIGHT BALL JOINT HAD FAILED, AND FRONT/ LEFT BALL JOINT WAS LOOSE. UPON CONTACTING DEALER , CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE BALL JOINTS HAD NEVER BEEN SEALED WHEN THEY SERVICED VEHICLE FOR RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS. *AK

20010820ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)

EGR VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

20010713SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

CONSUMER CONTATCED DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS CONCERNING NHTSA RECALL 00V421002/ MANUFACTURER'S RECAL 967 FOR LOWER BALL JOINTS. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETE WORK BECAUSE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

Compare 1997EAGLETALON to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1997 EAGLE TALON have?
The 1997 EAGLE TALON has 37 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 EAGLE TALON?
The most-complained component for the 1997 EAGLE TALON is POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE) with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT.
Is the 1997 EAGLE TALON safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.