1998 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 123 complaints · 13 recalls
Most-reported system: POWER TRAIN (22 complaints · 17.9%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 21
  • Fires 5
  • Injuries 13
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 1997 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution POWER TRAIN appears in 22 of 123 owner complaints (17.9%) in this vehicle snapshot. POWER TRAIN: 22 complaints, 17.9% of reports POWER TRAIN 22 · 17.9% AIR BAGS: 17 complaints, 13.8% of reports AIR BAGS 17 · 13.8% · 16 crash reports 2 fire reports ENGINE: 13 complaints, 10.6% of reports ENGINE 13 · 10.6% STRUCTURE: 10 complaints, 8.1% of reports STRUCTURE 10 · 8.1% SUSPENSION: 10 complaints, 8.1% of reports SUSPENSION 10 · 8.1% · 2 crash reports WHEELS: 10 complaints, 8.1% of reports WHEELS 10 · 8.1% · 1 crash reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 7 complaints, 5.7% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 7 · 5.7% · 3 fire reports SERVICE BRAKES: 6 complaints, 4.9% of reports SERVICE BRAKES 6 · 4.9% VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: 5 complaints, 4.1% of reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 5 · 4.1% UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 92 complaints, 74.8% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 92 · 74.8% · 15 crash reports 3 fire reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
POWER TRAIN 22 17.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
AIR BAGS 17 13.8% 16 crashes · 2 fires
ENGINE 13 10.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
STRUCTURE 10 8.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
SUSPENSION 10 8.1% 2 crashes · 0 fires
WHEELS 10 8.1% 1 crashes · 0 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 7 5.7% 0 crashes · 3 fires
SERVICE BRAKES 6 4.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 5 4.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 92 74.8% 15 crashes · 3 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 1998; the first recall shown was reported in Mar 1998. 1998-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 1998-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 1998-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 1998-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 1999-Q1: 9 owner reports 9 1999-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 1999-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 1999-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2000-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2000-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2000-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2000-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2001-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2001-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2001-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2002-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2002-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2002-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2002-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2003-Q1: 9 owner reports 9 2003-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2003-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2004-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2004-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2004-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2005-Q1: 6 owner reports 6 2005-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2005-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2005-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2006-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 Owner reports Jan 1998 Jan 2016 Recall campaign 98V045001 ◆ Recall campaign 98V045001 Recall campaign 98V069001 ◆ Recall campaign 98V069001 Recall campaign 00V421001 ◆ Recall campaign 00V421001 Recall campaign 04V428000 ◆ Recall campaign 04V428000 Recall campaign 06E023000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E023000 Recall campaign 06E026000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E026000 Recall campaign 06E044000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E044000 Recall campaign 06E049000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E049000 Recall campaign 06E060000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E060000 Recall campaign 06E064000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E064000 Recall campaign 07E055000 ◆ Recall campaign 07E055000 Recall campaign 09E012000 ◆ Recall campaign 09E012000 Recall campaign 09E025000 ◆ Recall campaign 09E025000 Investigation RQ98007 ● Investigation RQ98007
  • Campaign 00V421001 was reported 408 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 04V428000 was reported 2,398 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 06E023000 was reported 2,433 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 07E055000 was reported 3,007 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 09E025000 was reported 3,588 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
1998-Q1 Owner reports 2
1998-Q2 Owner reports 3
1998-Q3 Owner reports 1
1998-Q4 Owner reports 5
1999-Q1 Owner reports 9
1999-Q2 Owner reports 4
1999-Q3 Owner reports 6
1999-Q4 Owner reports 3
2000-Q1 Owner reports 3
2000-Q2 Owner reports 2
2000-Q3 Owner reports 4
2000-Q4 Owner reports 2
2001-Q1 Owner reports 5
2001-Q2 Owner reports 5
2001-Q3 Owner reports 5
2002-Q1 Owner reports 5
2002-Q2 Owner reports 3
2002-Q3 Owner reports 4
2002-Q4 Owner reports 2
2003-Q1 Owner reports 9
2003-Q2 Owner reports 1
2003-Q4 Owner reports 5
2004-Q1 Owner reports 3
2004-Q2 Owner reports 2
2004-Q3 Owner reports 3
2005-Q1 Owner reports 6
2005-Q2 Owner reports 3
2005-Q3 Owner reports 3
2005-Q4 Owner reports 1
2006-Q1 Owner reports 1
2006-Q2 Owner reports 1
2006-Q3 Owner reports 2
2006-Q4 Owner reports 1
2007-Q1 Owner reports 1
2007-Q3 Owner reports 1
2007-Q4 Owner reports 1
2010-Q3 Owner reports 1
2011-Q2 Owner reports 1
2014-Q4 Owner reports 1
2015-Q4 Owner reports 1
2016-Q1 Owner reports 2
Recall campaign 1 98V045001
Recall campaign 1 98V069001
Recall campaign 1 00V421001
Recall campaign 1 04V428000
Recall campaign 1 06E023000
Recall campaign 1 06E026000
Recall campaign 1 06E044000
Recall campaign 1 06E049000
Recall campaign 1 06E060000
Recall campaign 1 06E064000
Recall campaign 1 07E055000
Recall campaign 1 09E012000
Recall campaign 1 09E025000
Defect investigation 1 RQ98007
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (13)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 00V421001

    Report date
    Component:
    SUSPENSION
    Consequence:
    THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. THIS CAMPAIGN SUPERCEDES MMC'S PREVIOUS SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN, SEE 99V-066.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT FOR WEAR. BALL JOINTS THAT EXHIBIT WEAR BEYOND THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY DESIGNED LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS. BALL JOINTS THAT ARE WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE CLEANED AND A SPECIAL SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED TO PREVENT INTRUSION OF MOISTURE.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 04V428000

    Report date
    Component:
    EQUIPMENT
    Consequence:
    THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
    Remedy:
    MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL CURRENT 2000-2004 NATIVA OWNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. THE NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIVA OWNERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL OR MAY 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 06E023000

    Report date
    Component:
    EXTERIOR LIGHTING
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 06E026000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
    Remedy:
    PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 06E044000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
    Remedy:
    J & A AUTO ACCESSORIES WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE HEADLAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT J & A AUTO ACCESSORIES AT 310-327-4981.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 06E049000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
    Remedy:
    CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  7. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 06E060000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH
    Remedy:
    AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  8. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 06E064000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    TRADESONIC WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRADESONIC AT 626-934-8884.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  9. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 07E055000

    Report date
    Component:
    FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
    Consequence:
    IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FUEL LEAK COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
    Remedy:
    AIRTEX WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AIRTEX AUTOMOTIVE AT 800-880-3056.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  10. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 09E012000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  11. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 09E025000

    Report date
    Component:
    EXTERIOR LIGHTING
    Consequence:
    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  12. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 98V045001

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTROL WOULD NOT RETURN TO IDLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REMOVE A PORTION OF THE DASH PANEL PAD SO IT CANNOT INTERFERE WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTROL.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  13. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 98V069001

    Report date
    Component:
    POWER TRAIN
    Consequence:
    THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR ADEQUACY OF THE TRANSFER CASE OIL VOLUME, TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AND OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION OF THE TRANSFER CASE MECHANISM. IF OIL VOLUME IS INSUFFICIENT, THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF OIL WILL BE ADDED. IF THERE IS TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AFFECTED COMPONENTS WILL BE REPLACED. IF THE TRANSFER CASE SHOWS OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION, THE TRANSFER CASE WILL BE REPLACED.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 123 complaints · page 1 of 5

No complaints match the current filters.
EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources