1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse Suspension Problems

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 VEHICLE CAME DOWN. EVEN WITH MY RESTRAINT ON MY BODY SLID UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE CAR CATAPULTED ON THE CONCRETE LEDGE. WHEN THE DRIVERSIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED THE GOT THE LEFT SIDE OF MY HEAD WHERE MY ABDOMEN SHOULD HAVE BEEN. THE DAMAGES: BUMPER ASSEMBLY, FRONT, COVER, FRONT BUMPER, HEADLAMP ASSY, HALOG HEADLAMPS AIM/LAMP, SIDE MARKER, FENDER FRONT, SKIRT, INNER FENDERT WHEEL, FRONT L, KNUCKLE, STEERING L/F, ARM, LOWER CONTROL L/F WINDSHIELD, AIRBAG, STEERING WHEEL, AIRBAG, INSTRUMENT PNL PANEL, ROCKER LT, PNL, FRONT DOOR OUT, REPAIR I RECEIVED A CONCUSSION FROM THE AIRBAG/BACK PROBLEMS ETC THIS CAR IS UP FOR AUCTION ON THE 18TH, IT IS MY HOPES THAT IT IS NOT PLACED BACK ON THE ROADWAYS. WHO KNOWS WHAT OTHER TYPES OF DAMAGE THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED, THE CRASH WAS NEVER CORRECTLY EVALUATED. THE LOCAL POLICE LISTED I HIT A METAL GUARD RAIL. THE VEHICLE DAMAGES DOES NOT INDICATE CONTACT WITH A METAL GUARD RAIL(IT DOES NOT HAVE MARKS ON IT). APPX 50 PICS AVAIL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10220327

Incident

Dec 8, 2007

Mileage

261,362 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10153538

Incident

Mar 23, 2006

Mileage

77,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10134692

Incident

Mar 1, 2005

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

NHTSA ID

10130753

Incident

Jul 30, 2005

Mileage

120,000 mi

WHILE AT A STOP FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINT FAILED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10082132

Incident

Jun 28, 2004

Mileage

105,000 mi

CONSUMER TOOK VEHCILE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE WEARING OUT PREMATURELY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10067399

Incident

Apr 15, 2004

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE THE BALL JOINT SLIPPED OUT. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVERS SIDE TIRE TO FALL OFF AND THE VEHICLE FELL TO THE GROUND ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. *MR

NHTSA ID

10066667

Mileage

120,000 mi

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR BALL JOINTS IN SEPTEMBER 2000. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT DID NOT REPAIR THE BALL JOINTS. DEALER INDICATED BALL JOINTS DID NOT NEED REPLACEMENT OR REPAIR. HOWEVER, IN DECEMBER 2001 THE BALL JOINTS COLLAPSED. IN JANUARY 2002 DEALER REPAIRED THE BALL JOINTS, BUT DID NOT REPLACE THE ENTIRE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY. CURRENTLY, FRONT END SQUEAKS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10061252

Mileage

140,000 mi

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN OUR STREET, MY LOWER BALL JOINT ON MY 1996 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GS FAILED. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. MY VEHICLE PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT BEFORE THE FAILURE. I DID NOT REALIZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT THE TIME, SO I CORRECTED THE PULL BY TURNING THE WHEEL BACK TO THE LEFT. WITHIN SECONDS OF CORRECTING, THE BALL JOINT FAILED. MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE WAS FORCED INTO THE WHEEL WELL AND VERY NEARLY TORN OFF. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE SAME DEALER TWICE PRIOR REGARDING THE LBJ RECALL. IT UPSETS ME TO KNOW THAT THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THEM WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED FOR THE SECOND TIME. HOWEVER, I FEEL THAT THE DEALERSHIP IN QUESTION WAS NEGLIGENT IN ITS INSPECTION AND DID NOT PERFORM THE REQUIRED INSPECTION FULLY. I HAVE, HOWEVER, RECEIVED SOME ASSISTANCE FROM MITSUBISHI. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS BACK AT THE DELAERSHIP DUE TO OTHER PROBLEMS THAT SURFACED AFTER THE CAR WAS RETURNED. THESE PROBLEMS DID NOT OCCUR BEFORE THE LBJ FAILURE. I AM STILL FIGHTING WITH THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE PROBLEMS RESOLVED. THE DEALER HAS DECIDED TO SWITCH THE BURDEN OF PROOF REGARDING THESE NEW CONDITIONS TO ME, THE CONSUMER. THIS IS HIGHLY UNETHICAL.

NHTSA ID

10053105

Incident

Dec 12, 2003

Mileage

104,020 mi

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 70 ON THE INTERSTATE, I PULLED OFF ONTO THE ACCESS ROAD. MY CAR FELT VERY UNSTABLE. I WAS COMING DOWN A HILL INTO A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION, AND I WAS EASING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND MY CAR FELL UPON ITS TIRE. THE WHEEL WELL COLLAPSED ONTO THE TIRE, AND I COULD NOT MOVE. THE TOWING PEOPLE SAID THEY HAD SEEN MANY ECLIPSES WITH THIS PROBLEM. I AM NOW TERRIFIED TO DRIVE MY ECLIPSE (EVEN AFTER IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED). I HAD TAKEN MY CAR TO SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS AND MANY REPAIR SHOPS, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. THE RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION SEPARATED.*JB

NHTSA ID

10010346

Incident

Feb 13, 2003

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE FRONT BALL JOINT ARE WORN AND THE CONSUMER CAN HEAR A LOUD POPPING NOISE. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

NHTSA ID

8021119

Incident

Oct 4, 2002

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY OR MAKING A TURN STEERING HAS VIBRATION INSIDE OF THE WHEEL. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

8012421

Incident

Jan 1, 2001

ON JANUARY 14 I TOOK MY CAR TO PUNTE HILLS MITSUBISHI FOR A RECALL ON THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS. SINCE I WAS THERE I ASKED THEM TO INSPECT MY CAR FOR ANYTHING THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AT THIS POINT THEY RECOMMENDED THE TIMING AND BALANCER BELTS, TENSIONERS, LEFT TIE ROD, AND A BROKEN AIR VALVE WHICH I DID AT A COST OF $736.52. UPON RECEIVING MY CAR I HEARD A CHIRPING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHICH THEY TOLD ME WAS THE TIMING BELT WAS NEW AND NEEDED TO BE BROKEN IN, WHICH I TOOK THEIR WORD FOR. WITHIN THE FOLLOWING MONTH THE CHIRPING BECAME LOUDER AND LOUDER TO THE POINT I CALLED AND REQUESTED THEY LOOK AT IT AGAIN. ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER MY CAR JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT . AFTER LIFTING THE HOOD I NOTICED THE TIMING BELT COVER SPLIT OPEN ON THE TOP REVEALING THE TIMING BELT WAS NOT ON PROPERLY. AFTER TOWING MY CAR TO THE DEALER A QUICK INSPECTION CONCLUDED THAT MY CRANK PULLEY HAS "WALKED" INTO THE TIMING BELT COVER BURNING A HOLE THROUGH IT CAUSING THE DISASSEMBLING OF THE TIMING UNIT AND MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE HEADS, PISTONS, ETC...I ASKED THE MECHANIC WHY WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR IN JUST A LITTLE MORE THAN A MONTH AGO THEY DIDN'T LET ME KNOW MY CRANK PULLEY HAD SUCH SIGNIFICANT WEAR. HIS RESPONSE WAS THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL A CRANK PULLEY IS GOING BAD. I DID RESEARCH OF MY OWN AND FOUND OUT THIS IS HAPPENING TO MOST ECLILPSE, ALL YEARS AND THAT THERE IS A WAY TO TELL IF THE CRANK PULLEY IS GOING BAD BY MEASURING THE AMOUNT OF MOVEMENT SIDE TO SIDE MAKING SURE IT MEET THE MANUFACTURER REQUIREMENTS. OBVIOUSLY THE CRANK PULLEY HAD VERY SIGNIFICANT WEAR SEEING THAT THE PULLEY CAME APART. I DID RESEARCH ON THIS MATTER AND FOUND OUT MITSUBISHI KNOWS THESE PARTS ARE DEFECTED BUT COVERS MOST OF THEM UNDER WARRANTY SO IT BRINGS DOWN THE NUMBERS. I FEEL THE REPAIRS SHOULD BE COVERED AND WOULD LIKE TO OPEN AND INVESTIGATION ON "CRANKPULLEY/SHAFT WALKING" HOPEFULLY LEADING TO A RECALL. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID

759384

Incident

Mar 7, 2002

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 00V421001 ON FRONT END FOR LOWER BALL JOINTS . SINCE LAST MONTH FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAS WORN DOWN TO STEEL BELT. WIRES WERE COMING OUT OF TIRES. CONTACT DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THEY DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH TIRE PROBLEM.*AK MICHELIN DOT 4M39DV6X3700 195/70R14 91T M+S. *NLM

NHTSA ID

896509

Incident

Aug 9, 2001

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 25MPH, GOING AROUND A CURB, AND THERE WAS A BRIEF NOISE. HE FELT VIBRATION FROM UNDERNEATH OF VEHICLE BECAUSE BALL JOINT BROKE, AND VEHICLE SLID INTO A LIGHT POLE. PASSENGER'S WHEEL WAS LAYING UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

895795

Incident

Sep 2, 2001

THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT WERE DEFECTIVE CAUSING PREMATURE AND EXCESSIVE WEAR TO THE TIRES, THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE ALSO NOTICED EXTREME VIBRATION COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHEN BRAKING, ALSO AS A RESULT OF THE DEFECTIVE BALL JOINT ALL FOUR STRUTS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE LEAKING. NLM

NHTSA ID

562157

Incident

Jul 11, 2001

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE NHTSA 00V421001/MANUD TO PERFORM REPAIRS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE SIDE THAT WAS DEFECTIVE WAS N0T THE SIDE STATED IN THE RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

892740

POSSIBLE BALL JOINT FAILURE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 99V-066 MAY HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENT IN WHICH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK GARBAGE CANS, UTILITY BOX AND FIRE HYDRANT, THE BALL JOINTS WERE NOT EXAMINED TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY WERE THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT BECAUSE THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE RECALL. NLM

NHTSA ID

556948

Incident

Aug 24, 2000

OWNER WOULD LIKE TO MAKE MANUFACTURE AWARE, THAT THIS IS THE FIRST AND ONLY RECALL NOTIFICATION (99V066) HE RECEIVED, OWNER STATES THAT MANUFACTURE TOOK A LONG TIME NOTIFING CONSUMERS ABOUT SUCH A MAJOR LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. *CJ

NHTSA ID

556897

RECALL IN NOVEMBER ON BALL JOINT, HAD AUTO CO. CHECK, SAID IT WAS NO PROBLEM. SUNDAY WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM CURB, HEARD LOUD POPPING SOUND, GOT OUT AND LOOKED, DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG, WENT TO BACK UP, AND BALL JOINT BROKE, CAR CRASHED ON TO PAVEMENT. LEFT TIRE WENT INTO FENDER. THIS VEHICLE WAS USED ON NORMAL PAVED ROADS ONLY. VEH. IS 4 YEARS OLD, 71,000 MILES. COMPANY IS DENYING FAULT. WHY RECALL IN NOV. ON BALL JOINTS IF THERE ISN'T A PROBLEM. THIS SITUATION, WITH COLLAPSING BALL JOINT, COULD INJURY OR KILL SOMEONE. I AM VERY LUCKY. MITSUBISHI, WHO DESIGNED THESE BALL JOINTS FOR THE ECLIPSE, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR DESIGN. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I AM EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT I WASN'T KILLED OR INJURED. THE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE IS SEVERE. I CALLED MITSUBISHI, AND EXPLAINED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL, AND THEY SAID SINCE IT WAS CHECKED THEN IT WAS ALRIGHT. BALL JOINTS JUST DON'T BREAK FROM NORMAL DRIVING. THERE WAS 17,000 MILES PUT ON SINCE THEY CHECK IT. TO SAY THAT IT BROKE BECAUSE OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR IS RIDICULOUS. BALL JOINTS JUST TO BREAK WITH ONLY 17,000 MILES ON THEM. THERE IS A FLAW, OR BAD DESIGN WITH THEIR BALL JOINT. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED, AND THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR DESIGN OF THE BALL JOINTS. NUMEROUS OTHER MAKES AND MODELS OF CARS' BALL JOINTS DON'T BREAK IN 4 YEARS AFTER IT WAS MADE. PLEASE ADVISE ME AS TO WHAT I SHOULD DO. THANK YOU.*AK

NHTSA ID

732575

Incident

Sep 24, 2000

I TOOK MY 96 ECLIPSE TO A MITSUBISHI DEALER (CARLSBAD MITSUBISHI) NEARLY A YEAR AGO TO FOLLOW UP ON A BALL JOINT RECALL I HAD HEARD ABOUT. THE DEALERSHIP BRIEFLY LOOKED INOT MY CAR AND TOLD ME THE BALL JOINT WAS FINE. ABOUT 4 MONTHS LATER I BEGAN TO HEAR A "CLICK" WHILE IN LOW SPEEDS, AND THE HANDLING FELT UNSTABLE DURING NORMAL FREEWAY AND STREET DRIVING. I TOOK MY CAR TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, WHO SAID HE COULD NOT DO A NORMAL ALIGNMENT ON MY CAR BECAUSE THE FRONT BALL JOINTS WERE TOO DAMAGED. THE MECHANIC WAS AWARE OF THE RECALL AND ADVISED TO RETURN TO THE MITSUBISHI DEALER TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED. I WENT TO HELLER MITUSBISHI IN ESCONDIDO AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION. A MECHANIC SPENT A BRIEF AMOUNT OF TIME WITH MY CAR AND TOLD ME THAT THE BOOTS WERE NOT LEAKING AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT BE COVERED. PLEASE INFORM ME OF HOW I CAN HOLD MITSUBISHI ACCOUNTABLE FOR A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT WHICH COULD IMPACT MY SAFETY. THANK YOU. CHRISTINE HANSEN. *AK

NHTSA ID

730973

CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER IN REFERNCE TO RECALL 99V066001/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL SR99002/ LOWER BALL JOINT BOOTS. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE, NO PARTS REPLACED, CONSUMER NOTED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT BOOTS BROKE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

862315

CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS ON RECALL #9089. WHILE HE WAS DRIVING LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE BECAUSE BALL JOINT BROKE. *AK

NHTSA ID

856441

CONSUMER WAS DENIED REPAIR UNDER RECALL #99-002, DEALERSHIP REFUSED DUE TO WORN PART RATHER THAT CRACKED OR SPLIT. *MJS

NHTSA ID

550292

Incident

Nov 30, 1999

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR, PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE (MFR SR-99-002). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALL SO NO REPAIRS WERE DONE. HOWEVER, AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP, THE TIRE WAS SEPERATED FROM THE VEHICLE & THE BALL JOINTS COLLAPSED CAUSING FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID

852575

Incident

Oct 26, 1999