MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE · model year

1990 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE

59 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1990MITSUBISHIECLIPSE carries 59 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 0 fires, 5 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 1990 ECLIPSE is power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:column shift with 13 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (5) and power train:transfer case (4-wheel drive) (5). 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 14 investigation files overlapping the 1990 ECLIPSE. 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.

59
Complaints
4
Crashes
0
Fires
5
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

59 filings

Crashes Reported

4 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:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT13
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE5
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)5
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION4
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT2
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH2
SEAT BELTS2
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER2
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING1
SEATS1
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY1

Recent Complaints

20071217POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

1990 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT IT HAS BROKEN TWICE IN HIS VEHICLE. HE STATES THAT IF THIS BREAKS IT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE JUST STOPS AND SHUTS OFF. *KB

20030729EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

CONSUMER STATES THAT LEFT HEADLIGHT IS SHORTING OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

20021113EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

HEADLAMP FAILURE DUE TO WIRING HARNESS MALFUNCTIONING. CONSUMER WAS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT SINCE THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON RECALL. *YH....*AK

20021113ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

HEADLAMP FAILURE DUE TO WIRING HARNESS MALFUNCTIONING. CONSUMER WAS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT SINCE THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON RECALL. *YH....*AK

20021113ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE TIMING BELT WAS ON RECALL. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. CONSUMER THEN FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL, AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE.*YH

20021113EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR WAS INOPERATIVE. *YH

20020201CrashSEAT BELTS

AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE DRIVER'S DOOR OPENED WITHOUT REASON. THAT CAUSED THE SEATBELT ASSEMBLY TO RETRACT AND THEN, THE SEATBELT ASSEMBLY HIT ME IN THE EYE. THIS CAUSED ME TO REACT AND SENT ME OFF THE ROAD, DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. I WAS INJURED RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF MY LEFT ARM. *AK

20010515POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL

WHLE PARKED NOTICED A LARGE AMOUNT OF FLUID UNDER VEHICLE. DEALER REPAIRED TRANSFER CASE SEAL TWICE,BUT VEHICLE STILL LEAKS. DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR. PLEASSE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

20010515POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

CONSUMER NOTICED LARGE AMOUNT OF FLUID UNDER VEHICLE. DEALER REPAIRED TRANSFER CASE TWICE, BUT VEHICLE WAS STILL LEAKING. DEALRR REFUSED TO REPAIR . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

20010320POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

TRANSFER CASE LOCKUPS DUE TO LEAKAGE OF LUBRICANTS ON THIS VEHICLE IS WELL DOCUMENTED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF GEAR NOISE AT 69000 MILES BUT OWNER WAS TOLD TRANSFER CASE WAS OK. AT THAT TIME THERE WAS INSPECTION ON RECALL # C9803TXX. TRANSFER CASE NOW VERY NOISEY AND VIBRATES.*AK

20010315SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

BOTH REAR BRAKE CALIPERS NEED TO BE REPLACED. CALIPERS WERE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED .*AK

20010118TIRES:TREAD/BELT

WHILE DRIVING, BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RIGHT FRONT TIRE P255/70R16 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHAKE. *SLC

20001107WHEELS:RIM

ALUMINUM SPORT RIMS WERE REPLACED DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION AND PITTING. *SLC

20001107ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

SPARK PLUG WIRES FAILED. *SLC

20001107EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

AIR CONDITIONER AND DRYER UNIT FAILED, AIR CONDITIONER CLUTCH ASSEMBLY UNIT FAILED. *SLC

20001107STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

POWER STEERING SYSTEM REPAIRED AND REPLACED POWER STEERING LINES, DUE TO CORRODED STEERING LINES. *SLC

20001107ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TIMING BELT FAILED AT 40000 WHEN IT'S SUPPOSED TO LAST FOR 60000 MILES AND CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING DEALER TO PAY FOR A REPLACEMENT ENGINE. *SLC

20001107POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED SLIPPING. *SLC

20001017STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

POWER STEERING FAILED DUE TO LINE CORROSION, A CLAMP FROM THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD TO HOLD THE POWER STEERING IN PLACE CAUSED THE CORROSION DUE TO THE CONSTANT HEATING AND COOLING OF THE LINES. *SLC

20000928POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AFTER MAKING A COMPLAINT OF NOISE IN MY DRIVETRAIN AND THEN HAVING THE TRANSMISSION AND TRASFER CASE SERVICED AT A MITSUBISHI DEALER WHO LATER TOLD ME THAT THIER MECHANICS WERE NOT FACTORY CERTIFIED AND WAS TOLD AFTER MY CAR DEVELOPED A PROBLEM THAT I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED ONE HUNDRED MILES TO GREENWOOD INDIANA WERE THEY HAD A FACTORY CERTIFIED MECHANIC TO INSPECT MY CAR MY TRASFER CASE ON MY CAR FAILED TWICE ON FIRST FAILURE THE CASE WAS REPLACED ON THE SECOND FAIURE THE TRANSFER CASE LOCKED UP ON THE HIGHWAY ABOUT 150 MILES FROM WERE I HAD IT SERVICED AT THE MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP IN CLARKSVILLE TENNESSE.AT THIS POINT IN TIME WHEN THE WHEELS LOCKED UP THE GEARSHIFT LEVER ON MY CAR JERKED VIOLENTLY AND THE TRANSMISSIION EXPLODEED.THROUGHING ME INTO A DITCH ALONG THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND SLAMMING MY CHEST INTO THE STEERING WHEEL.I WAS MILDLY BRUISED ON MY UPPER BODY.WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER THEY GOT IN TOUCH WITH THE MITSUBISHI COMPANY.MISUBITSHI TOLD ME ON THE PHONE THAT T

Compare 1990MITSUBISHIECLIPSE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1990 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE have?
The 1990 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE has 59 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 0 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE?
The most-complained component for the 1990 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT with 13 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE).
Is the 1990 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE 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.