Total Complaints
65 filings
MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE · model year
65 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1991MITSUBISHIECLIPSE carries 65 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 2 fires, 7 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 1991 ECLIPSE is seat belts:front:buckle assembly with 7 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:column shift (6) and power train:automatic transmission (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 1991 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.
Total Complaints
65 filings
Crashes Reported
5 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 7 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT | 6 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 4 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE) | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
TRANSFER CASE IS DAMAGED DUE TO LACK OF FLUID. I CONTACTED MITSUBISHI CONCERNING THE RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART. THE COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE DENIED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE REFERENCED RECALL, 98V168000, INCLUDED ALL MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GSX MODELS FROM 1990-1998. MY 1991 GSX WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. SEEKING ADVICE ON HOW TO PROCEED WITH HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED UNDER THE TERMS OF THIS RECALL. *TR
Mileage: 147,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 68 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE. HE PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THEY NEEDED TO HAVE THE TRANSFER CASE AND THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V069001 (POWER TRAIN) WAS CLOSED AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 253,000.
Mileage: 180,000
TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT A SPEED OF 50 MPH, ALL FOUR WHEELS LOCKED UP WHICH CAUSED A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER IN DRIVABLE CONDITION AND WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 97,000.
Mileage: 97,000
TRANSFER CASE RECALL - 98V069001 SAFETY RECALL WAS REFUSED ON THE CAR. TRANSFER CASE IS MAKING AN INCREDIBLE WHINING SOUND. LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND MITSUBISHI OFFICES SAID THERE IS NO WARRANTY ON THE RECALL DUE TO THE RECALL ALREADY BEING PERFORMED, EVEN IF THE CAR WAS JUST INSPECTED AND NO CHANGES MADE. *JB
Mileage: 113,094
THE OWNER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD AN OUTSTANDING RECALL AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE SERVICE. THE OWNER LATER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO TOLD THE OWNER THAT THE RECALL FOR THAT VEHICLE HAD BEEN PERFORMED PREVIOUSLY. THE OWNER IS TELLING THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THE MANUFACTURER RESPONDED BY SAYING "DEAL WITH IT". PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
Mileage: 152,000
WHILE SHIFTING GEARS OVER DRIVE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. A LOUD CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM UNDERNEATH DASHBOARD. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT TRANSFER CASE WAS LEAKING. DEALER INDICATED THERE WAS NO RECALL. *AK
Mileage: 140,000
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A RETRACTABLE SHOULDER HARNESS PROBLEM. AUTOMATED SEAT BELTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY.*AK
Mileage: 128,000
EXACT CAUSE OF BENT WHEEL UNKNOWN UNLESS IT WAS A SPEED BUMP I TOOK AT LOW SPEED. THE TIRE WENT FLAT OVERNIGHT AND I SAW THE DAMAGE THE NEXT MORNING.*AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAME TO A SLIDING STOP. OIL WAS EVERYWHERE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. MECHANIC STATED THAT TRANSFER CASE LOCKED UP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
I HAVE DISCOVERED THE TRANSMISSION DIP STICK/FILL CAP MISSING ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. UNKNOWN HOW LONG I DROVE WITHOUT DIP STICK EACH TIME. FIRST TIME I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID PURGED, BUT DEALER STATED PLUG MUST HAVE WORN OUT. EACH TIME THE FLUID LEVEL BECAME VERY LOW. I BELIEVE AN INTERNAL PREASURE IS CAUSING THE PLUG TO BLOW OUT. I HAVE SINCE TIED A STRING TO THE PLUG SO THAT I WILL NOT LOSE THE PLUG. UNKNOWN DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION DUE TO LOW FLUID OR DIRT CONTAMINATION.*AK
VEHICLE WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN FROM RAMP AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING TRANSFER CASE LOCKED UP. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED, DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
RECALL 98VO69001/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL SR-98-002 WAS ISSUED FOR TRANSFER CASE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR INSPECTION & DIDNT HAVE A PROBLEM. VEHICLE IS LEAKING FLUID FROM TRANSFER CASE. DEALER WILL NOT LOOK AT VEHICLE FOR TRANSFER CASE LEAK PROBLEM. *AK THE DEALER POINTED OUT THAT TRANSFER CASE SERVING WAS PART OF WEAR AND TEAR WHILE THE CONSUMER STATES IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW AT THE FACTORY AND IT IS THE DEALER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX IT. *YH
TREAD WAS WEARING OUT EXCESSIVELY ON COOPER TIRES SIZE 185/70R13. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES OR VEHICLE BEING OUT OF ALIGNMENT. *AK
OIL SENDING UNIT WENT OUT ON THE VEHICLE PEP BOYS IN NORTH LITTLE AR HAD VEHICLE FOR 5 MONTHS TRYING TO REPAIR , IF THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH A RECALL COULD I PLEASE BE NOTIFIED. I HAVE RECEIVED NO INFO ON ANY RECALLS.THANK YOU.
THE HARMONIC BALANCER FAILED. NLM
COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY!! IF NOT FOR THE LOW SPEED, I'D BE DEAD. *AK
IN 1998 CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER 98V069.001/ TRANSMISSION, TRANSFER CASE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. THEY" INSPECTED " VEHICLE AND SAID THERE WAS NO LEAK, TWO YEARS LATER, CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH AND BOTH REAR WHEELS LOCKED UP. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS A RESULT OF DEALER NOT INSPECTING VEHICLE PROPERLY AT THE TIME OF RECALL, TWO YEARS AGO.*AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT ANY SPEED VEHICLE COULD START SHAKING WITHOUT WARNING AND LOSE CONTROL JUST LIKE IN RECALL 98V069000/ TRANSFER CASE. OWNER NOTICED LEAKAGE UNDER THE TRANSFER CASE. *AK *ML
WHILE DRIVING/STOPPED AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. WHEELS LOCKED UP, AND THERE WAS SOME LEAKAGE UNDER THE AUTOMOBILE. *AK
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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.