RoadVitals

1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure 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.
10
Latest Jan 20, 2005
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.
7%
of 136 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.
0
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 vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 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 body or structure

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

Body & structureElectricalFuel system+2 more
Filed Jan 20, 2005

FUEL RELAY SWITCH ON MY MITSUIBISHI ECLIPSE 1997 GS HAS FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. IN ORDER TO GET MY CAR TO START, I HAVE TO GO UNDER THE HOOD, "WIGGLE" THE RELAY SWITCH AND LIGHTLY TAP ON THE TOP OF IT. THIS FUEL RELAY HAS BEEN REPLACED BY DEALER AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO OCCUR, EVEN CAUSING THE CAR TO GO DEAD DURING TRAVEL. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THEY DO NOT KNOW WHY IT OCCURS. (20+ OCCURRENCES) ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF "BLUISH" GAS FUMES COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE, REGARDLESS OF IDLE OR IN MOTION. (ALWAYS OCCURRING) SUNROOF STICKS (5-10 OCCURRENCES) BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOWS RATTLE WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION AND AS THE DOOR IS BEING SHUT (CONTINUOUS OCCURRENCE) CLUTCH FAILURE, HARD SHIFTING (1 OCCURRENCE). *JB

NHTSA ID
10107645
Incident
Jan 1, 2004
Mileage
60,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 13, 2003

CONSUMER STATED WATER WAS LEAKING INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE ROOF.*JB

NHTSA ID
10002607
Incident
Dec 31, 2002
Body & structure
Filed Oct 11, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE 2 METAL PIECES IN THE MOVING PART OF HIS COVERTIBLE TOP IS BENT. HE ALSO STATES THAT THE MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT THE METAL WAS TOO SOFT FOR THAT KIND OF TOP. HE STATES THAT THE MANUFACTURER TOLD HIM THAT THEY RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM BUT DO NOT OFFER ANY KIND OF QUICK FIX OR RECALL. MR

NHTSA ID
8020749
Incident
Aug 11, 2002
Body & structure
Filed Sep 4, 2001

RETRACTED CONVERTIBLE COVER BLOWS OFF IN CROSS WIND INTO TRAFFIC. *AK

NHTSA ID
751645
Incident
Mar 10, 1997
Body & structure
Filed Nov 24, 2000

WHENEVER IT RAINED WATER POURED IN WHERE CONVERTIBLE CLIPS WERE LOCATED. DRIVER/PASSENGER SIDE WOULD GET VERY WET. POUCH OF WATER WOULD DEVELOP BETWEEN THE BACK SEAT & THE TRUNK. SPEAKERS IN THE REAR WOULD GET WET. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 11 TIMES & EACH TIME THE MECHANIC WAS SUPPOSE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, BUT IT WAS NEVER RESOLVED.*AK

NHTSA ID
875430
Incident
Jul 7, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Aug 26, 2000

THE FRONT BUMPER HAS CRACK IN HALF ON DRIVERSIDE TO LOW GROUND

NHTSA ID
729190
Incident
Aug 26, 2000
Body & structure
Filed May 9, 2000

TWO TOP BRACKETS IN THE CONVERTIBLE TOP HAVE BENT, PREVENTING TOP FROM LOWERING COMPLETELY. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM CAUSED BY STRETCHING IN A PAIR OF STRAPS IN THE TOP. THESE STRAPS HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN SUBSEQUENT MODELS. IF THIS IS A KNOWN DESIGN FAILURE, DO I AS THE CONSUMER HAVE ANY RECOURSE IN HAVING THIS REPAIRED? *AK

NHTSA ID
722464
Incident
Oct 5, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Mar 2, 2000

CONVERTIBLE TOP ALLOWS WATER TO LEAK UNDER SEAL , WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN THEN WATER SPILLS ONTO DRIVER WHICH CAUSES AN UNSAFE CONDITION / MITSUBISHI IS UNCOOPERATIVE IN CORRECTING PROBLEM ..... ALSO, WE HAVE DISCUSSED PROBLEM WITH OTHER ECLIPSE OWNERS AND THEY HAVE REPORTED SAME PROBLEM(S) . THE FAULTY TOP APPEARS AS THOUGH MITSUBISHI HAS A SERIOUS DESIGN PROBLEM. BESIDES THE SAFETY ISSUE I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIO , CARPET AND MATS AT ONLY 30,000 MILES .A HIGH AND UNECESSARY EXPENSE DUE TO WATER DAMAGE . AFTER REPORTING SAFETY ISSUE TO MITSUBISHI NO-ONE HAS CONTACTED ME .CLEARLY WE HAVE A CAR COMPANY THAT JUST DOES NOT CARE ABOUT ITS CUSTOMERS . *AK

NHTSA ID
719570
Incident
Mar 30, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Feb 3, 2000

CONVERTIBLE TOP BRACKET IS BENT ; WAS TOLD IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM; TOP WILL NOT DROP COMPLETELY; DEFECTIVE BRACKETS IN FRAME OF TOP. *AK

NHTSA ID
718271
Incident
Nov 1, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Jul 30, 1999

THE VEHICLE WOULD LEAK INSIDE & IN THE TRUNK FOR NO REASON WHEN IT RAINS. HAS BEEN TO DEALER, BUT DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE LEAKAGE. HAD SPECIALIST CHECK THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
843963
Incident
Jan 2, 1999

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 .