1991 Mitsubishi Eclipse Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1991 Mitsubishi Eclipse, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Transmission1423.0%
- Seat belts1219.7%
- Engine813.1%
- Suspension69.8%
- Brakes46.6%
- Powertrain (other)46.6%
- Driver assistance34.9%
- Tires & wheels34.9%
- Other / unspecified23.3%
- Fuel system23.3%
- Steering11.6%
- Body & structure11.6%
- Electrical11.6%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE OWNER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD AN OUTSTANDING RECALL AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE SERVICE. THE OWNER LATER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO TOLD THE OWNER THAT THE RECALL FOR THAT VEHICLE HAD BEEN PERFORMED PREVIOUSLY. THE OWNER IS TELLING THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THE MANUFACTURER RESPONDED BY SAYING "DEAL WITH IT". PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
WHILE SHIFTING GEARS OVER DRIVE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. A LOUD CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM UNDERNEATH DASHBOARD. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A RETRACTABLE SHOULDER HARNESS PROBLEM. AUTOMATED SEAT BELTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY.*AK
THE DRIVER'S SHOULDER SEAT BELT BUCKLE MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO BE INOPERATIVE, AND WON'T PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. *AK
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
OIL SENDING UNIT WENT OUT ON THE VEHICLE PEP BOYS IN NORTH LITTLE AR HAD VEHICLE FOR 5 MONTHS TRYING TO REPAIR , IF THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH A RECALL COULD I PLEASE BE NOTIFIED. I HAVE RECEIVED NO INFO ON ANY RECALLS.THANK YOU.
COMPUTER FAILS CAUSING CAR TO SURGE AND STOP, USUALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. BRAKE ROTORS WARP AND CAUSE STEERWHEEL VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING/STOPPED AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. WHEELS LOCKED UP, AND THERE WAS SOME LEAKAGE UNDER THE AUTOMOBILE. *AK
THE REAR SWAY BAR MOUNT BROKE, CAUSING THE SWAY BAR TO SEPARATE FROM THE CHASSIS. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FISHTAIL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN FIRST STARTING OUT AT 20MPH TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER. THEN WOULD SLOW DOWN & PICK UP SPEED. GAS PEDAL WOULD STICK. HAPPENED AFTER TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED DUE TO HIGH IDLING. WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY WOULD PULSATE. INTERFERING WITH BRAKING ABILITY DUE TO RUST & WARPING. VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE AT 55MPH. VEHICLE WAS UNBALANCED.
COMPUTER FAILS CAUSING CAR TO SURGE AND STOP, USUALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. BRAKE ROTORS WARP AND CAUSE STEERWHEEL VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSFER CASE IS DAMAGED DUE TO LACK OF FLUID. I CONTACTED MITSUBISHI CONCERNING THE RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART. THE COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE DENIED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE REFERENCED RECALL, 98V168000, INCLUDED ALL MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GSX MODELS FROM 1990-1998. MY 1991 GSX WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. SEEKING ADVICE ON HOW TO PROCEED WITH HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED UNDER THE TERMS OF THIS RECALL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 68 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE. HE PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THEY NEEDED TO HAVE THE TRANSFER CASE AND THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V069001 (POWER TRAIN) WAS CLOSED AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 253,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN FIRST STARTING OUT AT 20MPH TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER. THEN WOULD SLOW DOWN & PICK UP SPEED. GAS PEDAL WOULD STICK. HAPPENED AFTER TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED DUE TO HIGH IDLING. WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY WOULD PULSATE. INTERFERING WITH BRAKING ABILITY DUE TO RUST & WARPING. VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE AT 55MPH. VEHICLE WAS UNBALANCED.
WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL ALL THE WAY THE THROTTLE GETS STUCK AT 2500RPM. I HAD TO USE MY E BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR SO I CAN GET UNDER THE HOOD TO TURN THE THROTTLE CABLE BACK BY HAND. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSFER CASE RECALL - 98V069001 SAFETY RECALL WAS REFUSED ON THE CAR. TRANSFER CASE IS MAKING AN INCREDIBLE WHINING SOUND. LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND MITSUBISHI OFFICES SAID THERE IS NO WARRANTY ON THE RECALL DUE TO THE RECALL ALREADY BEING PERFORMED, EVEN IF THE CAR WAS JUST INSPECTED AND NO CHANGES MADE. *JB
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT TRANSFER CASE WAS LEAKING. DEALER INDICATED THERE WAS NO RECALL. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT A SPEED OF 50 MPH, ALL FOUR WHEELS LOCKED UP WHICH CAUSED A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER IN DRIVABLE CONDITION AND WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 97,000.
EXACT CAUSE OF BENT WHEEL UNKNOWN UNLESS IT WAS A SPEED BUMP I TOOK AT LOW SPEED. THE TIRE WENT FLAT OVERNIGHT AND I SAW THE DAMAGE THE NEXT MORNING.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
NOTICED RAW GAS FUMES ENTERING INTO INTERIOR AND PUDDLE UNDERNEATH OF VEHICLE, INDEPENDENT GARAGE FOUND LEAK CAME FROM STRAP WHICH HOLDS UP TANK, FIXED. *AK
DURING VEHICLE OPERATION SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE, RELATED TO THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY!! IF NOT FOR THE LOW SPEED, I'D BE DEAD. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING/STOPPED AND VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. WHEELS LOCKED UP, AND THERE WAS SOME LEAKAGE UNDER THE AUTOMOBILE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
TIMING BELT WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING UP INCLINE; LOST ALL VEHICLE POWER; WOULD NOT RESTART; TOWED TO DEALERSHIP; SPEED 55 MPH. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .