Total Complaints
53 filings
MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE · model year
1994 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE
53 NHTSA complaints, 8 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1994MITSUBISHIECLIPSE carries 53 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 8 crashes, 2 fires, 9 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 1994 ECLIPSE is power train:automatic transmission with 6 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (4) and suspension:front (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 1994 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.
53
Complaints
8
Crashes
2
Fires
9
Injuries
0
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 | 6 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 4 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER | 2 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20070426CrashLATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
DAY TIME APPX. 60-80 MI. FROM EL PASO, TX , LIC. DRIVER DRIVING APPX. 70 MI. P/HR (80 MI. DAY IS SPEED LIMIT) JUST BEFORE CHK. POINT SIERRA BLANCA, FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIEROD BREAKS CAUSING A MAJOR 1 CAR ROLLOVER INJURING 3 PEOPLE (1 W/MINOR INJURIES, 1 SERIOUS INJURIES, 1 CRITICAL INJURY). 1994 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GS TOTALED. 2 OF INJURED REQUIRING CONTINUED MEDICAL CARE. HATCHBACK CAME UP, SHATTERED GLASS IN HATCH AND SIDE PANELS. *TR
Mileage: 15,500
20070426CrashSUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
DAY TIME APPX. 60-80 MI. FROM EL PASO, TX , LIC. DRIVER DRIVING APPX. 70 MI. P/HR (80 MI. DAY IS SPEED LIMIT) JUST BEFORE CHK. POINT SIERRA BLANCA, FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIEROD BREAKS CAUSING A MAJOR 1 CAR ROLLOVER INJURING 3 PEOPLE (1 W/MINOR INJURIES, 1 SERIOUS INJURIES, 1 CRITICAL INJURY). 1994 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GS TOTALED. 2 OF INJURED REQUIRING CONTINUED MEDICAL CARE. HATCHBACK CAME UP, SHATTERED GLASS IN HATCH AND SIDE PANELS. *TR
Mileage: 15,500
20010814VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
20010814SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
VEHICLE LOST ALL BRAKING POWE R WHILE ATTEMPTING A GRADUAL STOP ON DRY ROAD CONDITIONS. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
20010529SEAT BELTS
DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC RESTRAINT BELT IS INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK *SLC
20010405POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 83,000 UNDER NORMAL USE. THIS CAR WAS NOT IN THE RECALL BUT I BELIEVE IT WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT.*AK
20010327ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
AFTER PURCHASED THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE BURNED 1/2 QUART OF OIL PER 1000 MILES, NOW THE VEHICLE BURNS MORE THAN 1/2 QUART PER 1000 MILES AND THE CONSUMER IS NOW ADDING 1 QUART OF OIL ALMOST EVERY WEEK, THE DEALER REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. NLM
20001030POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR AND DROVE IT ABOUT A WEEK AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON ME NOW I'M STUCK WITH A LEMON AND NO ONE WANT'S TO FIX IT. TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOMEONE LIKE THIS SHOULD NEVER CROSS ANYONE'S MIND. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME IN THIS MATTER THANK YOU, DALE LYNNE HARTSHORNE
20001002POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
TRANSFER CASE YOKE IS LEAKING FLUID. CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN RECALL ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *AK
20000918POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
5-SPEED MANUAL- ENGINE SHUTSDOWN WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. *AK
20000823ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE DISPLAYED A LOUND CLUNKING NOISE AND SMOKE WAS COMING FORM ENGINE. UPON INSPECTION BY THE DEALER CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT CRANKSHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKES WERE THER PROBLEM AND WERE REPLACED. *YH
20000823SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
VEHICLE DISPLAYED A LOUND CLUNKING NOISE AND SMOKE WAS COMING FORM ENGINE. UPON INSPECTION BY THE DEALER CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT CRANKSHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKES WERE THER PROBLEM AND WERE REPLACED. *YH
20000315POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION WAS STICKING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE . ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER MADE A HUMMING SOUND WHEN TURNED ON. SPEEDOMETER WENT FROM 20 MPHS TO 140 MHS AND IT BROKE, AND THE NEEDLE CAME OUT THROUGH THE DASHBOARD. *AK
20000315POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION WAS STICKING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE . ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER MADE A HUMMING SOUND WHEN TURNED ON. SPEEDOMETER WENT FROM 20 MPHS TO 140 MHS AND IT BROKE, AND THE NEEDLE CAME OUT THROUGH THE DASHBOARD. *AK
20000315EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
TRANSMISSION WAS STICKING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE . ALSO, AIR CONDITIONER MADE A HUMMING SOUND WHEN TURNED ON. SPEEDOMETER WENT FROM 20 MPHS TO 140 MHS AND IT BROKE, AND THE NEEDLE CAME OUT THROUGH THE DASHBOARD. *AK
20000223STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER-SIDE DOORS ACTIVATED SWITCH FAILED CAUSED A SHORT-CIRTUIT AND DRAINED THE BATTERY EACH TIME I CAME TO A STOP. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PART FAILURE PROBLEM (BOTH SWITCHES IN A 6 YEAR OLD CAR!) AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING IT. *AK
19990929ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TRANSMISSION GEARS WERE SLIPPING. ALSO, ENGINE DIED WHILE DRIVING DUE TO DEFCTIV ETIMING BELT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIMING BELT NEEDED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
19990929POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION GEARS WERE SLIPPING. ALSO, ENGINE DIED WHILE DRIVING DUE TO DEFCTIV ETIMING BELT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIMING BELT NEEDED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
19990928ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
OIL PRESSURE FAILS TO REGISTER ABOVE 25% WHEN IN IDLE. DEALER NOTES THAT ENGINE IS BASICALLY A THROWAWAY. THEY QUOTED APPROXIMATELY $3,600.00 FOR FULL REPLACEMENT. IT IS NOT IN THEIR BEST INTEREST TO REBUILD UNIT AS COST WOULD BE MUCH TO HIGH TO JUSTIFY TO THE CUSTOMER. THEY STATED THAT MANY OTHER VEHICLES HAVE RUN INTO THE SAME ISSUE.
19990312LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
DEFECTIVE HOOD LATCHES (PRIMARY AND SECONDARY) BROKE, CAUSING THE HOOD TO FLY UP 2 TIMES, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Compare 1994MITSUBISHIECLIPSE to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1994 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE have?▼
The 1994 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE has 53 NHTSA complaints, 8 crashes, 2 fires, 9 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE?▼
The most-complained component for the 1994 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS and SUSPENSION:FRONT.
Is the 1994 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.