Mitsubishi / Eclipse / 1999
1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse problems
Owners have filed 150 complaints about the 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse with NHTSA. Power train accounts for 18.7% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of structure at 16%.
Complaints150
Crashes10
Fires3
Injuries5
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Power train 18.7% · 28
Structure 16.0% · 24
Engine and engine cooling 12.0% · 18
Steering 8.7% · 13
Suspension 8.0% · 12
Service brakes, hydraulic 6.7% · 10
Electrical system 6.7% · 10
Latches/locks/linkages 4.7% · 7
Severity
Of those complaints, 10 describe a crash, 3 describe a fire and 5 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 10 model years of the Mitsubishi Eclipse in this data, 1999 draws comparatively few complaints; 1995 is the outlier year.
Filings have fallen off, 11 in the last three years against 15 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 72,000 miles.
In owners' own words
Automobile was purchased with complaints about transmission not working properly. Dealer supposedly checked out the situation, and stated nothing was wrong. Transmission failed less than three months later with transmission repair shop stating susspect previous repairs had been made on the car with the signs of some water damage. Also the auto was sold with an expired inspection sticker. Power train
Manual transmission failure. Stick shift would pop out of 5th gear on occassion and then started to pop out of gear in 4th then complete transmission failure. Car has less than 43000 miles on it. I've heard of several other people with this same problem. Also drivers side door handle fell off, again heard several other people with same problem. Obviously a defect. Power train · reported at 42,500 miles
All dsm awd models from 1990 to 1998 have had this transfer case problem and subsequent recall. Upon inspection by a local aamco shop, it was determined that there was very little, if any, lubricant in the transfer case (assumably a leak). This severely damaged the transmission, and they're asking ~$2600 to rebuilt transmission and transfer case. Power train
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…