MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE · model year

1993 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE

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

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1993MITSUBISHIECLIPSE carries 44 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 1 fire, 3 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 1993 ECLIPSE is power train:automatic transmission with 8 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (5) and power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:column shift (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 14 investigation files overlapping the 1993 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.

44
Complaints
2
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

44 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:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE5
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR1
SEATS1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM1
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD1

Recent Complaints

20070515VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

LATELY THE 1993 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE 1.8L HAS BEEN NOT CRANKING UP AFTER IT GETS HOT . I HAVE CHANGED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AND THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR WITH NO LUCK ON EITHER OF THOSE . SO THE OTHER DAY AROUND 5/10/07 I WAS ABOUT THREE MILES FROM MY HOUSE HEADING INTO TOWN BY MYSELF AND I HEAR A TICK/SPARK COME FROM AROUND THE DASH AND THE CAR JUST SHUTS COMPLETELY OFF AND I HAD NOTHING . NO THROTTLE . NO POWER STEERING . NOTHING !!! I BARELY MADE IT OFF THE ROAD . *AK

Mileage: 112,000

20041004CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT

WHEN REAR ENDED AT A STOP DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE CONSUMER. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER'S HEAD TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Mileage: 162,000

20031014POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT PROPERLY FROM THE FIRST GEAR TO THE SECOND GEAR, WON'T SHIFT, AND MAKES NOISE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

20030415POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO ANOTHER GEAR. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NLM

20020329ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE HAS FAILED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO REPLACE ENGINE ONCE AND REPAIR IT TWICE.CONSUMER IS ADDING 2 -3 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 500 MILES. PERIODICALLY, VEHICLE RUNS ROUGH AND SLUGGISH. DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM, BUT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HAS BEEN SERVICING THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

20010919LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

HOOD LATCH BROKE. THE HOOD FLEW UP, ALMOST CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THE HOOD CRACKED PART OF THE WINDSHIELD AND BEND THE TOP OF VEHICLE.

20010904VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE 55 MPH REAR TWO TIRES LOCKED UP. VEHICLE WAS MOVING UNCONTROLABLY. VEHICLE MOVED ABOUT 100 FEET UNTIL CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE, SKID MARKS OCCURRED ON STREET. PLEASE ADD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

20010828ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING DUE TO A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

20001130ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHEN DRIVNG AND UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A NORMAL STOP TIMING BELT BROKE OFF FROM ENGINE, CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO ENGINE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER NOTED ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

20001120ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT THE THRUST BEARING HAD FAILED CAUSING THE MOTOR TO SPIN 2 ROD BEARINGS. HE ALSO SIAD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE 93-99 CARS KNOWN AS "CRANKWALK" AND THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT RIGHT IS TO INSTALL A MOTOR FROM A 90-92 CAR. I HAVE RESHEARCHED THE "CRANKWALK" AND FOUND MANY OTHER OWNERS ARE TRYING TO GET MITSUBISHI TO RECALL THE CARS AFFECTED SINCE THIS IS A SAFTETY ISSUE THAT COULD LEAD TO ENGINE LOCKUP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.*AK

20001023ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

CAR SURGES CONTINUALLY...WHILE DRIVING AT SLOWER SPEEDS AND ALSO WHEN IN GEAR. VEHICLE SCAN INDICATED OXYGEN SENSOR. OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED...PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. 3 AUTO REPAIR SHOPS COULD NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM. ADDITIONALLY, CAR STALLS WHEN PUT INTO GEAR AND ALSO WHEN DRIVING.

20001013POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THIS CAR STILL HAS REPEATED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY WHEN SHIFTING. I HAVE PLANS TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURE BECAUSE I AM OUTRAGED.*AK

20000828SEAT BELTS

THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER RESTRAINT ON DRIVERS SIDE HAS GONE OUT AND ONLY WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

20000418STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

19991205CHILD SEAT

IS THERE A CORRECT WAY OF INSTALLING A FORWARD FACING CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN THE REAR OF MY 93 ECLIPSE. WE ARE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THIS OURSELVES, AND DO NOT KNOW WHICH RESOURCES TO CONTACT.

19991111STRUCTURE:BODY

MY CAR WAS BOUGHT FROM AN INDIVIDUAL THAT I KNOW, AND IT WAS GARAGE KEPT.I DO THE SAME,.BUT THE TOP OF THE CAR IS FADING SO BADLY...BAD PAINT JOB...AND THE REAR IS THE SAME..IS THERE A RECALL ON THE PAINT JOBS ON MY CAR? I NEED TO HAVE IT PAINTED...BUT CANT REALLY AFFORD IT...BUT IT SHOULD NOT BE FADING LIKE IT IS...AND CHIPPING....I TOOK IT TO A BODY SHOP AND THEY SAID NO WAY IT SHOULD BE LIKE THAT....SO CAN YOU HELP ME?

19990929ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

TIMING BELT BROKE AND LOCKED ENGINE, POSSIBLE VALVE BENT

19990727POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHEN PULLING OUT, VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK *YC

19990507FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

19990222LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

DOOR LOCKS FAILED ON BOTH SIDES. CANNOT OPEN WITH KEYS. CAN OPEN OKAY FROM WITHIN. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE A YOUNG, OLD, OR DISABLED PASSENGER COULD BE TRAPPED INSIDE. THIS MAY BE A COMMON MITSUBISHI/DODGE/DSM PROBLEM BECAUSE MY 1993 DODGE STEALTH SUFFERS THE SAME PROBLEM. SEE WEB SITE: HTTP://WWW.3SI.ORG/WWWBOARD/INDEX.HTM FOR POSTED MESSAGED BY OTHER OWNERS!

Compare 1993MITSUBISHIECLIPSE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1993 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE have?
The 1993 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE has 44 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 1 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1993 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE?
The most-complained component for the 1993 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 8 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT.
Is the 1993 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.