MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE · model year

1991 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE

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.

65
Complaints
5
Crashes
2
Fires
7
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

65 filings

Crashes Reported

5 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY7
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT6
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE4
SUSPENSION:REAR3
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER2
SEAT BELTS2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL2
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)2
POWER TRAIN2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION1

Recent Complaints

20150210POWER TRAIN

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

20120720FirePOWER TRAIN

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

20100329WHEELS

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

20060218POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

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

20041021POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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

20040408POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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

20031219POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT TRANSFER CASE WAS LEAKING. DEALER INDICATED THERE WAS NO RECALL. *AK

Mileage: 140,000

20031117SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A RETRACTABLE SHOULDER HARNESS PROBLEM. AUTOMATED SEAT BELTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY.*AK

Mileage: 128,000

20020905WHEELS:RIM

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

20020215POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

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

20011213POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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

20011105POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

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

20010312POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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

20010221TIRES:TREAD/BELT

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

20001020ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

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.

20000908ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE HARMONIC BALANCER FAILED. NLM

20000725STEERING:RACK AND PINION

COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY!! IF NOT FOR THE LOW SPEED, I'D BE DEAD. *AK

20000714POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

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

20000414POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

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

20000412SUSPENSION

WHILE DRIVING/STOPPED AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. WHEELS LOCKED UP, AND THERE WAS SOME LEAKAGE UNDER THE AUTOMOBILE. *AK

Compare 1991MITSUBISHIECLIPSE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1991 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE have?
The 1991 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE has 65 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 2 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1991 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE?
The most-complained component for the 1991 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1991 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.