RoadVitals

1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Airbags Problems

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

Data refreshed

Airbags 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.
18
Latest Oct 29, 2014
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.
14%
of 129 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.
19
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
12

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 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 airbag

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

Airbags
Filed Oct 29, 2014

RECENTLY, RELOCATED TO FLORIDA WITH IN 18 MONTHS I NOTICE MY PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IS PROTRUDING OUT FROM THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY IN SW FLORIDA. ORIGINALLY HAD CAR IN NEW YORK AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IT EXPLODING WHILE I AM DRIVING. NOTICE ON RECENT RECALL CONCERNING AIR BAGS DIDN'T INCLUDE MY MAKE AND MODEL. THIS 1998 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GST IS MAKING A TRUE STATEMENT ON THE ABOVE AIR BAG ISSUE AND ALL STATEMENTS ARE TRUE. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE ABOVE MAKE AND MODEL IDENTIFY SAME ISSUES WITH AIR BAG BEING EXPOSED TO HIGH HEAT CLIMATES IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER I BELIEVE THIS MAKE AND MODEL SHOULD BE ON THE RECALL LIST, THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID
10650912
Incident
Oct 28, 2014
Mileage
109,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 15, 2006
Crash reportedFire reported

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, A VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT CAUSING THE CONTACT TO HIT THIS VEHICLE ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE FROM THE WHEEL FORWARD. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG GOT STUCK TO THE BACK PLATE AND DID NOT DEPLOY. THE AIR BAG BEGAN TO SMOKE AND WAS BURNED BEYOND REPAIR. AS A RESULT, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW CRACKED. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN.

NHTSA ID
10165499
Incident
Aug 9, 2006
Mileage
103,737 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 6, 2005
Crash reportedFire reported

AFTER CRASHING IN A MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE THE AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG CAUGHT FIRE. TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO PULL APART THE DASH IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE WIRES FROM THE AIRBAG. *JB

NHTSA ID
10138882
Incident
Sep 21, 2005
Airbags
Filed Jan 6, 2004
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

NHTSA ID
10053446
Incident
Jan 6, 2004
Mileage
800,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 13, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

AIR BAG PREMATURELY DEPLOYED WHICH KNOCKED ME OUT, CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OVER CAR AND AFTER THAT I GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
746764
Incident
Apr 25, 2001
Airbags
Filed Feb 21, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40MPH ON A SIDE STREET AND ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO CPNSUMER'S VEHICLE FROM SIDE AND T-BONED VEHICLE. AIRBAGS DIDN'T GO OFF. CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ID
881030
Incident
Nov 22, 2000
Airbags
Filed Feb 15, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION GOING ABOUT 40 MILES PER HOUR. I WAS IMMEDIATLEY TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND COULD NOT LOOK AT THE CAR FOR ABOUT A WEEK. ONCE I SAW THE CAR I FIGURED THAT THE AIRBAGS MUST HAVE DEPLOYED. HOWEVER, I WAS WRONG. THE PERSON THAT FIXED MY CAR GOT A SCMATIC THAT SHOWED WHERE THE AIRBAG SENSORS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE. THERE WAS NO SENSORS IN THAT LOCATION. I MADE SURE THAT ONE THE SALES SLIP THAT IT STATED THAT THE CAR DID HAVE AIRBAGS, AND INDEED IT DID. TODAY, FEB. 15, 2001 I NOTICED IN SEVERAL PLACES ON THE NET THAT MISTUBISHI IS NOW RECALLING 1.3 MILLION CARS BECASUE OF DEFAULTY AIRBAGS AND THE ECLIPSE IS ONE OF THEM. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY REFUSE TO PROVIDE SERVICE FOR ME. CAN ANYONE HELP ME? CAN ANYONE INVESTIGATE THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE HEARD THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT LIKE RENN KIRBY AND I HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
740923
Incident
Nov 22, 2000
Airbags
Filed Aug 21, 2000
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH HAD A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, IT DID NOT PROTECT OCCUPANTS IN THE CRASH. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT WILLING TO HELP OR INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM. NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
868222
Incident
Aug 4, 2000
Airbags
Filed Jun 14, 2000
Crash reported

WHILE MAKING A TURN ANOTHER VEHICLE RERARENDED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID
863565
Airbags
Filed Feb 8, 2000
Crash reported2 injuries reported

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH HAD A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT, AND DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANTS IN THIS CRASH. DRIVER/PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA ID
855039
Incident
Jan 4, 2000
Airbags
Filed Jan 26, 2000
Crash reported1 injury reported

I WAS DRIVING TO MANCHESTER FROM CONCORD. I HIT A PATCH OF SNOW OR BLACK ICE, I COULDN'T TELL, AND HIT A GUARDRAIL HEAD-ON GOING APPROXIMATELY 55 MILES PER HOUR. THE FRONT END OF MY CAR WAS PUSHED IN AND THE FRONTAL IMPACT WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO POP OPEN THE TRUNK. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND I ALMOST WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. I DIDN'T HAPPEN TO HAVE MY SEATBELT ON THIS TIME. THE ONLY THING THAT KEPT ME FROM GOING THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD WAS THE FACT THAT I SIT SO CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL THAT MY LEGS CAUGHT ON IT AND PUSHED ME DOWN. MY HEAD HIT THE WHEEL AND THEN BOUNCED BACK TO HIT THE METAL BARS ON MY HEADREST WHEREAS IT HAD POPPED UP ON IMPACT. I WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE I WAS TREATED FOR MINOR CONCUSSION, BRUISED RIBS, AND BACK AND NECK PAIN. THE BACK AND NECK PAIN ARE STILL HERE AND I AM TAKING MEDICATION FOR IT. I HAVE ASKED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT IT AND THEY ARE GIVING ME RUN-AROUND ANSWERS. I DO NOT THINK THAT IT SHOULD TAKE MORE THAN THAT TO SET OFF THE SENSORS. ANYMORE AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. I AM VERY THANKFUL NOONE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OR THEY VERY WELL MIGHT HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE LOOKED AT THE REPORTS AND HAVE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE AIRBAGS, COULD YOU PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS IT IS SERIOUS AND THE MANUFACTURER IS TELLING ME THAT IF I WANT IT INVESTIGATED THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. PLEASE E-MAIL ME OR FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR RESULTS. THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ID
717926
Incident
Jan 16, 2000
AirbagsOther / unspecified
Filed Jul 23, 1999
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING ON SMOOTH LANE,AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND CAUSED THE WHEEL TO LOCK UP. WHEEL LUGS: NUTS CAME OFF, CAUSING A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

NHTSA ID
843185
Incident
Jul 18, 1999
Airbags
Filed Mar 13, 1999
Crash reported1 injury reported

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
704380
Incident
Mar 12, 1999
Airbags
Filed Mar 12, 1999
Crash reported1 injury reported

PREMATURE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG WHILE DRIVING, KNOCKED CONSUMER UNCONSCIOUS, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
835770
Airbags
Filed Dec 1, 1998
Crash reported

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 20MPH AND HAD A FRONT END COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND THE AIR AGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
831513
Incident
Nov 25, 1998
Airbags
Filed Nov 16, 1998
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END CRASH TRAVELING AT 65 MPH, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS. *AK

NHTSA ID
830862
Incident
Nov 15, 1998
Airbags
Filed Oct 6, 1998
Crash reported1 injury reported

AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING CRASH CAUSING THE DRIVER'S HEAD TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUFFER A MILD CONCUSSION.

NHTSA ID
780724
Incident
Sep 28, 1998
Airbags
Filed Jul 28, 1998
Crash reported1 injury reported

AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN VEHICLE SLID IN BACK OF A MAIL TRUCK AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON A WET ROAD CONDITION . DEALER NOTIFIED. CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES ON NECK/SHOULDER/KNEE AND CHIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
825930
Incident
Jul 8, 1998

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 .