MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE · model year

1996 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE

220 NHTSA complaints, 31 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1996MITSUBISHIECLIPSE carries 220 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 31 crashes, 5 fires, 12 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 1996 ECLIPSE is air bags:frontal with 16 filings, followed by suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint (15) and engine and engine cooling:engine (14). 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 1996 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.

220
Complaints
31
Crashes
5
Fires
12
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

220 filings

Crashes Reported

31 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL16
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT15
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE14
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR11
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE8
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP6
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS5
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT5
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP4
TIRES4
SEATS4

Recent Complaints

20170504POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE REAR WHEELS SEIZED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,200.

Mileage: 89,200

20110912ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODUAL WHILE DRIVING ALL POWER TO CAR JUST LOST. *TR

20110912UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODUAL WHILE DRIVING ALL POWER TO CAR JUST LOST. *TR

20110912ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODUAL WHILE DRIVING ALL POWER TO CAR JUST LOST. *TR

20101227POWER TRAIN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE TRANSFER CASE SUDDENLY STALLED AND LOCKED ALL FOUR WHEELS; HE WAS UNABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE TRANSFER CASE AND THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST WITH REPAIR EXPENSES AS THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 98V069001 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 110,000

20100601POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL VIBRATION AND IT MADE AN UNUSUAL NOISE. THE CONTACT DROVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, FOUND THAT THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT HAD FRACTURED FROM THE TRANSFER CASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE DRIVE SHAFT YOKE AND REAR TRANSFER HOUSING WERE REPLACED AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE RECURRED 1,500 MILES AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER HAD POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT INQUIRED ABOUT NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID 98V069001 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) AND WHEN CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER, HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER IN 1998. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000 AND THE CURRE

Mileage: 122,000

20080306CrashSUSPENSION:FRONT

10/26/01 L FRONT LWR CONTROL ARM BROKE, THE CAR BOUNCED DOWN THE ROAD WHEN SUSP CAME APART. GVILLE MITZ REPLACED THE PARTS AT THE COST OF THE MANF. THE VEHICLE HAD 104000 MI AT THAT TIME. ITEMS LISTED ON REPAIR INVOICE: ARM ASSY (FR SUSP), SHAFT ASSY (FR AXL), SHIELD KIT SPLASH, AIR DAM SIDE FR LH, END ASSY, TIE ROD, FENDER FR LH 12/8/07 SUSP BROKE AGAIN. WHILE DRIVING I THOUGHT THE DRV SIDE FRONT TIRE HAD POPPED. I LET OFF THE GAS/ TRIED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER. I WAS IN THE L LANE NEAR AN INTERSTATE ENTRANCE. WHEN I WAS NEAR THE BARRIER THE VEHICLE JUMPED LEFT. IT MADE CONTACT WITH THE CONCRETE WALL, I PULLED THE WHEEL BACK TOWARDS THE RIGHT. WHEN I DID THIS THE BROKEN LEFT FRONT SUSP/TIRE WENT BENEATH THE CAR. THE AUTO WAS CATAPULTED ONTO THE CONCRETE BARRIER ON IT'S NOSE. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY AIRBORNE AT THIS TIME (FOR APPX 150-200 FT) PART OF THE CAR HIT THE CONCRETE PILLAR OF THE UNDERPASS AND FLUNG MY CAR BACK TO THE GROUND. BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHEN THE VEHIC

Mileage: 261,362

20080306CrashEQUIPMENT

10/26/01 L FRONT LWR CONTROL ARM BROKE, THE CAR BOUNCED DOWN THE ROAD WHEN SUSP CAME APART. GVILLE MITZ REPLACED THE PARTS AT THE COST OF THE MANF. THE VEHICLE HAD 104000 MI AT THAT TIME. ITEMS LISTED ON REPAIR INVOICE: ARM ASSY (FR SUSP), SHAFT ASSY (FR AXL), SHIELD KIT SPLASH, AIR DAM SIDE FR LH, END ASSY, TIE ROD, FENDER FR LH 12/8/07 SUSP BROKE AGAIN. WHILE DRIVING I THOUGHT THE DRV SIDE FRONT TIRE HAD POPPED. I LET OFF THE GAS/ TRIED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER. I WAS IN THE L LANE NEAR AN INTERSTATE ENTRANCE. WHEN I WAS NEAR THE BARRIER THE VEHICLE JUMPED LEFT. IT MADE CONTACT WITH THE CONCRETE WALL, I PULLED THE WHEEL BACK TOWARDS THE RIGHT. WHEN I DID THIS THE BROKEN LEFT FRONT SUSP/TIRE WENT BENEATH THE CAR. THE AUTO WAS CATAPULTED ONTO THE CONCRETE BARRIER ON IT'S NOSE. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY AIRBORNE AT THIS TIME (FOR APPX 150-200 FT) PART OF THE CAR HIT THE CONCRETE PILLAR OF THE UNDERPASS AND FLUNG MY CAR BACK TO THE GROUND. BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHEN THE VEHIC

Mileage: 261,362

20071222POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I WAS GOING ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR ON THE FREEWAY, WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD REVVING NOISE AND BEGAN TO DOWN SHIFT AT AN ACCELERATED RATE. THE ECLIPSE NOW HAS A SHIFTING PROBLEM TO WHERE THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE THE DRIVE TO MOVE FORWARDS NOR BACKWARDS. I WAS TOLD BY A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST AND CLOSE FRIEND, THAT ALL MY GEARS WERE ALL WIPED OUT ALL AT THE SAME TIME AND THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS EITHER LOOSE OR BROKEN. HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT HE FOUND IN THE TRANSFER CASE, OF THE TRANSMISSION, SHAVINGS OR LITTLE PIECES OF METAL OR ALUMINUM. *TR

Mileage: 71,250

20071222POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

I WAS GOING ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR ON THE FREEWAY, WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD REVVING NOISE AND BEGAN TO DOWN SHIFT AT AN ACCELERATED RATE. THE ECLIPSE NOW HAS A SHIFTING PROBLEM TO WHERE THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE THE DRIVE TO MOVE FORWARDS NOR BACKWARDS. I WAS TOLD BY A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST AND CLOSE FRIEND, THAT ALL MY GEARS WERE ALL WIPED OUT ALL AT THE SAME TIME AND THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS EITHER LOOSE OR BROKEN. HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT HE FOUND IN THE TRANSFER CASE, OF THE TRANSMISSION, SHAVINGS OR LITTLE PIECES OF METAL OR ALUMINUM. *TR

Mileage: 71,250

20071208TIRES

DRIVING ON HWY. 80 ON DRY ROAD AT APPROX. 60-65 MPH, IN FAST LANE, CAR STARTED TO SHAKE, AS WE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF FREEWAY, TIRE BLEW OUT...COMPLETE SEPARATION OF BELT FROM SIDEWALLS,BOTH SIDE WALLS STILL ON RIM, BELT (INTACT) ROLLED DOWN FREEWAY. TIRES LESS THAN 1 YEAR OLD, AND LOTS OF TREAD LEFT ON TIRE. THIS CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE RIM WHICH IS NO LONGER USABLE. WE WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE TIRE AND RIM, BUT THANK GOD NO ONE WAS HURT. *TR

20071208WHEELS:RIM

DRIVING ON HWY. 80 ON DRY ROAD AT APPROX. 60-65 MPH, IN FAST LANE, CAR STARTED TO SHAKE, AS WE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF FREEWAY, TIRE BLEW OUT...COMPLETE SEPARATION OF BELT FROM SIDEWALLS,BOTH SIDE WALLS STILL ON RIM, BELT (INTACT) ROLLED DOWN FREEWAY. TIRES LESS THAN 1 YEAR OLD, AND LOTS OF TREAD LEFT ON TIRE. THIS CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE RIM WHICH IS NO LONGER USABLE. WE WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE TIRE AND RIM, BUT THANK GOD NO ONE WAS HURT. *TR

20061018UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I HAVE A BLACK 1996 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE RS THE CLEAR COAT IS TOTALLY COMING OFF OF THE CAR LEAVING WHITE SPOTS ALL OVER. THE CAR IS SUPPOSE TO BE BLACK BUT IT LOOKS LIKE A DALMATION. *NM

Mileage: 120,000

20060323SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACED. A NHTSA RECALL, #00V421001 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE SUSPENSION HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER A SECOND REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGE UNDER THE RECALL.

Mileage: 77,000

20050830SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

RE: DEALERSHIP COMPLAINT: REFUSAL TO HONOR EXISTING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS: 00V421001, 99V066001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE, SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT I RECENTLY TOOK MY 1996 ECLIPSE TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP (ARNOLD MITSUBISHI, ROSEVILLE, MI) TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THIS RECALL AS THERE IS SERIOUS 'CLUNKING' IN MY FRONT BALL JOINTS. I WAS TOLD MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS. YOUR DATABASE SEEMS TO INDICATE THAT THIS WAS AN 'ACROSS THE BOARD' RECALL. I'VE BEEN WARNED THAT THIS IS A LOUSY DEALERSHIP. ARE THEY CORRECT, OR AM I? AND WHAT SHOULD I DO? *NM

20050803ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

(1) BOUGHT CAR USED, IT HAD A BAD REAR MAIN SEAL. (2) CAR PASSES GEORGIA EMISSION INSPECTION (3) REPLACE REAR MAIN SEAL (4) NOW VEHICLE BLOWS SMOKE WHILE STANDING STILL IN TRAFFIC. (5) REPAIR OF LEAKING VALVE COVER GASKET (6) STILL SMOKING WHILE IN GEAR (7) INFORMED OF VALVE SEALS BEING BAD.. (8) NEVER BUY MISTUBISHI AGAIN. *JB

20050803ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

(1) BOUGHT CAR USED, IT HAD A BAD REAR MAIN SEAL. (2) CAR PASSES GEORGIA EMISSION INSPECTION (3) REPLACE REAR MAIN SEAL (4) NOW VEHICLE BLOWS SMOKE WHILE STANDING STILL IN TRAFFIC. (5) REPAIR OF LEAKING VALVE COVER GASKET (6) STILL SMOKING WHILE IN GEAR (7) INFORMED OF VALVE SEALS BEING BAD.. (8) NEVER BUY MISTUBISHI AGAIN. *JB

20050803ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS SITE AND DEDUCED THAT MITSUBISHI HAS PRODUCED A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT IN THE 1996 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE RE: DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET AND WHICH LEADS TO WORN OUT VALVE SEALS . ON JULY 29TH 2005 THE MITSUBISHI CORPORATION SUED ITS PREVIOUS PRESIDENTS AND FORMER EXECUTIVES FOR DEFECT AND RECALL COVER UPS FOR "64,000 COMPLAINTS FILED BY CAR OWNERS DATING BACK TO 1977." ANYONE INTERESTED IN A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT? CONTACT ME!! *NM

20050801SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT

DT: FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINT FAILURE. CONTACT SAID THE WHEEL AND BALL JOINT FELL OFF. CALLER RECEIVED RECALL 04V421001 CONCERNING BALL JOINTS WHEN CALLER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO THE DEALER SAID IT WAS OKAY. THEN ON T JULY 0, 2005 SHE HEARD A POP AND THE VEHICLE DROPPED. CALLER WAS GOING ABOUT 40 MPH. CALLER HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. SHE HAS NOT SPOKEN TO THEM YET. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Mileage: 120,000

20050801SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

DT: FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINT FAILURE. CONTACT SAID THE WHEEL AND BALL JOINT FELL OFF. CALLER RECEIVED RECALL 04V421001 CONCERNING BALL JOINTS WHEN CALLER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO THE DEALER SAID IT WAS OKAY. THEN ON T JULY 0, 2005 SHE HEARD A POP AND THE VEHICLE DROPPED. CALLER WAS GOING ABOUT 40 MPH. CALLER HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. SHE HAS NOT SPOKEN TO THEM YET. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Mileage: 120,000

Compare 1996MITSUBISHIECLIPSE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1996 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE have?
The 1996 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE has 220 NHTSA complaints, 31 crashes, 5 fires, 12 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE?
The most-complained component for the 1996 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 16 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE.
Is the 1996 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.