RoadVitals

1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse Transmission Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Transmission reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Jun 1, 2010
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 159 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming transmission

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Transmission
Filed Jun 1, 2010

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 CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

NHTSA ID
10334018
Incident
Apr 20, 2010
Mileage
122,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Dec 22, 2007

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

NHTSA ID
10212547
Incident
Dec 4, 2007
Mileage
71,250 mi
EngineTransmission
Filed Jan 7, 2004

CRANKSHAFT HAS REPOSITIONED ITSELF CAUSING THE CLUTCH TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10053502
Incident
Jan 2, 2004
Mileage
76,360 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 14, 2002
Crash reported

MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE TRAVELING BETWEEN 60 &65 AT 6:30AM MAY 21, 2002 WHEN I NOTICED A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR, INSTANTANEOUSLY THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP AND THE CAR WENT INTO A SPIN. (THE 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION THROUGH A GEAR OUT THE BOTTOM OF THE HOUSING CAUSING THE FRONT WHEELS TO LOCK) I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL, IN AS WELL, HIT A BANK CAUSING MINOR DAMAGES TO THE PASSENGER SIDE FENDER. (EST. $350.00). PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS, COMPLETELY UNAWARE. I SPOKE TO MITSUBISHI ON MAY 24, 2002 TO SEE IF THIS WAS AN ISSUE AND HOW TO SOLVE THIS FROM HAPPINING AGAIN. THEY WERE PROFESSIONAL AND AFTER 15 CONVERSATIONS WITH 15 DIFFERENT PEOPLE, THEY ADVISED ME THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR RESPONSABILITY, THAT THE CAR'S WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THAT THEY HAD NO COMPLAINTS ON THIS TRANSMISSION. I INVESTIGATED THIS FURTHER TO FIND THAT THREE LOCAL MITSUBISHI DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT MANAGERS TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE REPLACED THESE TRANSMISSIONS IN THE ECLIPSE, THAT THE PIN WORKS LOOSE CAUSING FAILURE. I DECIDED TO HAVE MY CAR FIXED AND BUY A NEW TRANSMISSION. I CONTACTED A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP PRIDE & JOY AUTO REPAIR (540-633-0202). THEY EVALUATED THE CONDITION AND CALLED MITSUBISHI TO FIND OUT THAT THESE TRANSMISSIONS WERE ON BACK ORDER UNTIL SEPT. 30, 2002. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MY CAR FOR 3 MONTHS. NLM

NHTSA ID
767161
Incident
May 24, 2002
Transmission
Filed Sep 4, 2002

AT 65 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE, FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP, AND VEHICLE WENT IN CIRCLES. DEALER DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TRANSMISSION IS ON BACKORDER AT THIS TIME.*AK

NHTSA ID
8017876
Incident
Jun 28, 2002
Transmission
Filed Sep 13, 2000

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT VEHICLE NEEDED TRANSMISSION REPLACED. *AK TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *YH

NHTSA ID
870428
Incident
Sep 8, 2000
Transmission
Filed Aug 24, 2000

42 DAYS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF MY VEHICLE(USED), I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND COULD NOT GO INTO 1ST GEAR TO PULL FORWARD. THE CAR WOULDN'T GO INTO ANY GEAR WHILE THE CAR WAS RUNNING. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME THE CLUTCH "EXPLODED." I WAS TREATED VERY POORLY AT THE DEALERSHIP, THEY ACCUSED ME OF DOING THE DAMAGE AND CHARGED ME FOR THE REPAIRS. EXACTLY ONE YEAR LATER THE THROW OUT BEARING WENT OUT ON THE YEAR OLD CLUTCH. I WENT TO ANOTHER REPAIRMAN AFTER THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID
728923
Incident
May 21, 1999
Fuel systemOther / unspecifiedSteering+1 more
Filed Mar 25, 1999

AFTER REPAIR OF RIGHT FRONT AXLE SEAL THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
544602
ElectricalTransmission
Filed Dec 21, 1998

CLUTCH LINE HAS BLOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. DEALER REPLACED THE SHORT BLOCK WHICH ONLY TEMPORARILY REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA ID
832502
Transmission
Filed Nov 18, 1998

TRANSMISSION MAKES A LOUD REVVING NOISE, AND HAS A SHIFTING PROBLEM. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
830959
Incident
Nov 12, 1998
BrakesInterior & seatsTransmission+1 more
Filed Jun 4, 1997

TRANSMISSION WON'T PULL OR GO INTO GEAR DUE TO A FAILED PRESSURE PLATE.

NHTSA ID
517758
Incident
Nov 22, 1996
Transmission
Filed Jan 23, 1996
Crash reported

FAILURE OF THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL FREELY. TT

NHTSA ID
978100
Incident
Jan 20, 1996

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .