RoadVitals

1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Electrical Problems

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

Data refreshed

Electrical 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.
8
Latest Dec 9, 2015
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.
6%
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.
3
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 electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. 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. 8 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 electrical

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

Electrical
Filed Dec 9, 2015

BATTERY DISCHARGES OVERNIGHT AND ELECTROAUTOS CANNOT FIND ANY ELECTRICAL LEAKAGE BUT THEY SUSPECT THE STARTER SYSTEM DEVICE (AN OBLONG DEVICE THAT NEEDS TO BE PRESENTED TO A RED LIGHT TO GET THE STARTER TO FUNCTION). THE BATTERY HAS BEEN CHANGED SEVERAL TIMES BUT LEAKAGE CONTINUES. DUE TO AGE, NO SENSORS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO CHECK IT. VEHICLE IS STATIONARY IN GARAGE.

NHTSA ID
10809185
Incident
Oct 12, 2015
ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 6, 2011
Fire reported

1998 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE, UNIT 1 WAS TRAVELING EAST ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE NEAR THE 54 MILEPOST. UNIT 1 FILLED WITH SMOKE. UNIT 1 PULLED TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND STOPPED. THE DRIVER OF UNIT 1 EXITED AND OPENED THE HOOD AND OBSERVED FIRE. THE DRIVER OF UNIT 1 WAS CHARGED WITH OVI. BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0046-89)*JB UPDATED 04/22/11 *BF

NHTSA ID
10395090
Incident
Feb 2, 2011
ElectricalEngineInterior & seats
Filed Apr 30, 2004

HAD RECALL DONE FOR LATERAL ARM, DEALER INFORMED ME HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN, TWO WEEKS LATER BOTH DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF, MAYBE THE DOOR HANDLES SHOULDN'T BE MADE OF PLASTIC. THE CAR HAS BEEN THROUGH TWO ALTERNATOR BELTS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. THE CAR OVERHEATS AND IT MELTS THEM RIGHT OFF. YOU BUY A PRODUCT FROM MITSUBISHI SO YOU DONT EXPECT IT TO BE MADE BY CHRYSLER. MY SISTER DRIVES A DODGE AVENGER AND WE HAVE THE SAME EXACT ENGINE, AND GUESS WHAT HAPPENED TO IT ---A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. MAYBE YOU PEOPLE SHOULD STAND BEHIND YOUR PRODUCT AND FIX THE EVER SO COMMON PROBLEM. EVERYONE I KNOW WHO DRIVES AN ECLIPSE HAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. I AM VERY UNHAPPY AND WILL NEVER BUY A CAR FROM MITSUBISHI AGAIN. *LA

NHTSA ID
10068125
Incident
Feb 10, 2004
Mileage
81,000 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Jul 2, 2002

I WAS SOLD THIS CAR AS A MITSUBISHI, IT HAS A CHRYSLER ENGINE ONE STEP UP FROM A NEON. IF I WOULD HAVE WANTED A NEON BY CHRYSLER I WOULD HAVE PURCHASED 2 FOR THE PRICE I PAID FOR MY ECLIPSE. THE LOWER BEARINGS WENT OUT. I HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY. AT 68,000 MILES THE RADIATOR CRACKED, COMPUTER AND ALTERNATER WENT OUT CAUSING MY CAR TO OVERHEAT IMMEDIATELY AND THE ENGINE WOULDN'T RESTART UNTIL IT HAD COOLED. WAS HARD TO RESTART. IT HAD SLICK 50 TREATMENTS 4 TIMES DURING ITS LIFE. IT ALSO HAS HAD 3 FAULTY CLUTCHES. *AK

NHTSA ID
763732
Incident
May 1, 2002
Electrical
Filed May 15, 2002
Fire reported

CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM BETWEEN SUNROOF AND REARVIEW MIRROR. ALSO, FROM UNDERHOOD WHILE IN CARWASH. DOORS AND WINDOWS WERE LOCKED AND CONSUMER COULD NOT GET OUT OF VEHICLE. GAUGES STOPPED WORKING. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL WIRES BEFORE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. HAD TO TAKE A HAMMER AND PRY OPEN DOOR GET OUT. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
8009907
ElectricalEngineSuspension+2 more
Filed Sep 4, 2001

FOUR OF EIGHT RADIO SPEAKERS ARE INOPERATIVE.*JB

NHTSA ID
785511
Electrical
Filed Sep 15, 1999
Fire reported

VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED 6 HOURS WHEN FIRE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLED & PUT FLAMES OUT. INDICATED FIRE ORIGINATED FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAUSE UNDETERMINED. VEHICLE TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA ID
847837
Incident
Jul 18, 1999
Electrical
Filed Jun 17, 1999

TURN SIGNALS ARE INOPERABLE. THE DEALER HAS PUT SENSORS THROUGH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
840351
Incident
Jun 10, 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 .