Total Complaints
65 filings
MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE · model year
1992 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE
65 NHTSA complaints, 8 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1992MITSUBISHIECLIPSE carries 65 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 8 crashes, 1 fire, 7 injuries, and 1 fatality. 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 1992 ECLIPSE is power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:column shift with 7 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (6) and tires (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 1992 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
8
Crashes
1
Fires
7
Injuries
1
Deaths
Crashes Reported
8 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT | 7 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 6 |
| TIRES | 5 |
| POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE) | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 3 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20110620FirePOWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAL WAS LEAKING FROM THE TRANSFER CASE. IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE FAILURE, THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE SEALS. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V069001 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000. KMJ
Mileage: 130,000
20070426POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MITSHUBISHI ECLIPSE. AFTER VISITING THE NHTSA WEBSITE NOTICED RECALL#98V069001 WAS RELATED TO THIS VEHICLE CONCERNING POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. ALSO. THERE WAS A LEAK COMING FROM THE TRANSFER CASE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL RELATED TO THIS VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,500. *AK
Mileage: 73,000
20070426POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MITSHUBISHI ECLIPSE. AFTER VISITING THE NHTSA WEBSITE NOTICED RECALL#98V069001 WAS RELATED TO THIS VEHICLE CONCERNING POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. ALSO. THERE WAS A LEAK COMING FROM THE TRANSFER CASE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL RELATED TO THIS VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,500. *AK
Mileage: 73,000
20070109POWER TRAIN
1992 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION, NEW ENGINE, AND COOLING SYSTEM. **CC *NM
20070109ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1992 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION, NEW ENGINE, AND COOLING SYSTEM. **CC *NM
20050707ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
THE STARTER IN THE CONSUMER'S 1992 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE FAILED. *NM *SB *NM
20030711POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK. THE CONSUMER WAS NEVER CONTACTED ABOUT A RECALL RELATED TO THIS FAILURE AND REQUESTED ASSISTANCE IN REPLACING DEFECTIVE PARTS (RECALL # 98V0069001). THE TIRE BELTS OF THREE TIRES BROKE. THE TIRES WERE UNDER ONE YEAR OLD AND HAD 37,000 MILES ON THEM. THE DEALER REFUSED TO GIVE THE CONSUMER A CREDIT FOR THE DEFECTIVE TIRES (GOODYEAR CONCORDE) ( REFERENCE# 10011917-NVS216GH). *SCC *NLM
20030501ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
THE VEHICLES CRANK PULLEY SHAFT CAME APART WHILE DRIVING. *NLM
Mileage: 49,000
20030501STRUCTURE
THE VEHICLES STRAP LINK FAILED AND CAUSED THE CONVERTIBLE TOP TO BE INOPERATIVE. *NLM
Mileage: 61,000
20030501WHEELS:RIM
THE RIMS BENT WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE AT HIGH SPEEDS. *NLM
Mileage: 68,000
20030404UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE CONSUMER REQUESTED INFORMATION REGARDING SAFETY RECALLS. *PH *JB
20020607POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION BLOCK IS SLIPPING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK FORWARD. NLM
20020208ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ECU UNIT HAD ONE OF THE DIODES EXPLODE ON TO THE MAIN BOARD CAUSING COMPLETE FAILURE TO THE ENGINE. *AK
20011120VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. CONSUMER HAD TO TURN VEHICLE OFF FOR IT TO COME TO A STOP. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITONAL INFORMATION.*AK
20010921POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE HAVING LEFT REAR TIRE TAKEN OFF AT TIRE RETAILER, REAR AXLE FELL OFF ONTO THE GROUND, HAD NO PRIOR WARNINGS, AND NO RUST ON VEHICLE.*AK *NLM
20010918POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
OWNER REPLACED TRANSFER CASE BECAUSE OF LOCK UP. MITSUBISHI CLAIMS THE RECALL WAS DONE AND THEY ARE NOT LIABLE FOR DAMAGE WHEN IN FACT THE PART WAS ONLY INSPECTED AND NOT DEEMED A RISH AT THAT TIME. THEY ARE NOW REFUSING SERVICE UNLESS THE BROKEN PART IS PLACED BACK ON THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE IS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP.
20010320TIRES:TREAD/BELT
CONSUMER HAD INSPECTED TIRES AND FOUND THAT FRONT RIGHT TIRE HAD A TREAD SEPARATION. *AK
20010222LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH FRONT HOOD BECAME UNLATCHED/ FLYING/ SMASHING WINDSHIELD, AND HITTING ROOF OF VEHICLE. *AK
20010221POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAR WILL GO FOR A VERY SHORT DISTANCE WHEN YOU TAKE OFF, THEN CAR WON'T MOVE WHEN YOU PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. TOOK TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. THEY SAID IT WAS SOMETHING INTERNAL IN THE TRANSMISSION. JUST TO TAKE IT APART WOULD COST $375. AFTER THAT, IT COULD COST ANYWHERE FROM $1100 TO $2200 TO FIX.THIS CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS SINCE WE PURCHASED IT. BY THE TIME WE FINISH PUTTING MONEY INTO IT, WE WILL HAVE SPENT MORE FOR REPAIRS THAN WE DID TO BUY THE CAR. IF THERE ARE ANY PARTS THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW BEFORE I PUT ANYMORE MONEY INTO THIS CAR.*AK
20001025VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
IDLE SPEED CONTROL MOTOR FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THE LIFE OF THE CAR (THAT I AM AWARE OF). DEALER TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME EXCEPT SELL ME A NEW PART ( $250.00 ). THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND DOES NOTHING TO FIX IT.
Compare 1992MITSUBISHIECLIPSE to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1992 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE have?▼
The 1992 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE has 65 NHTSA complaints, 8 crashes, 1 fires, 7 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1992 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE?▼
The most-complained component for the 1992 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and TIRES.
Is the 1992 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.