RoadVitals

1998 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.
22
Latest Jun 12, 2006
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.
17%
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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

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 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 22 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

Driver assistanceEngineFuel system+2 more
Filed Jun 12, 2006

I BOUGHT MY 98 ECLIPSE, STANDARD, IN 2003, NOT EVEN A YEAR AFTER I HAD IT IT DIED ON ME ON THE FREEWAY ONE DAY. TURNED OUT IT WAS THE SPEED SENSOR THAT GOT ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE. ABOUT ANOTHER 6 MONTHS LATER THE FOUND AN OIL LEAK ON THE HEAD GASKET THAT WAS MAKING ME MISFIRE, THAT WAS FIXED. THE CAR WAS FINE UNTIL ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO WHEN THE ENGINE WENT OUT ON ME BECAUSE APPARENTLY THE ENGINE OIL AND COOLANT WERE SOMEHOW MIXING, MY HOSES WERE OUT, SO WAS MY WATER PUMP, O2 SENSOR AND FUEL PUMP SENSOR, ALL AT THE SAME TIME. WELL I HAD MAJOR WORK DONE EVERYTHING WAS PUT IN NEW, ABOUT A MONTH LATER MY DRIVER DOOR HANDLE FALLS OFF, THAT COST ME 150 DOLLARS! ONE MONTH AFTER THAT, NOW, MY SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING ALL OF A SUDDEN AND 2 WEEKS LATER MY TRANSMISSION GOES OUT. ALSO MY CLUTCH IS GOING OUT. SO NOW I CANT DRIVE THE CAR ANY HIGHER THAN 5TH GEAR BECAUSE IT THROWS MY GEAR OUT!!! SINCE I STILL OWE 6K ON THE CAR I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO FIX IT. WHICH IS GOING TO END UP COSTING ME, IN ALL I'VE SPENT AND AM ABOUT TO SPEND, AS MUCH AS I STILL OWE ON THE CAR! *NM

NHTSA ID
10159663
Incident
Apr 1, 2006
Mileage
100,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Apr 7, 2005

WHILE IDLING IN TRAFFIC THE DIFFERENTIAL EXPLODED AND KNOCKED A LARGE CHUNK OF METAL OUT. THIS RESULTED IN TRANSMISSION LOCKING UP AND OIL SPILLING. VEHICLE WILL ONLY ROLL BACKWARD.*AK TOWED VEHICLE TO CONSUMER'S HOME. DEALERSHIP WILL BE CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10117606
Incident
Apr 7, 2005
Mileage
80,000 mi
EngineTransmission
Filed Feb 7, 2004

VEHICLE HAS 90,000 MILES AND IS 1998 MANUFACTURING DATE. ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ARE BOTH COMPLETELY IRREPARABLE. NO EVIDIENCE OF LOW OIL LEVEL OR OTHER MAINTENANCE NEGLECT WHICH LED TO THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IS NOW SCRAP. ALTHOUGH FAILURE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, A COMPLETE VEHICLE FAILURE AT 90,000 MILES IS NOT NORMAL OR ACCEPTABLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10056723
Incident
Feb 6, 2004
Mileage
90,000 mi
Body & structureTransmission
Filed Mar 5, 2003

THE VEHICLE LEAKED TRANSMISSION FLUID, AND THE RAG TOP ROOF LEAKED WATER WHEN IT RAINED. DEALER REPAIRED BOTH PROBLEMS SIX TIMES. *JB

NHTSA ID
10009907
Incident
Mar 2, 2003
Mileage
54,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jan 30, 2003

ENGINE BURNS OIL AT APPROX. 1 QT PER WEEK, ALSO HAS POSSIBLE LEAKS IN ENGINE WITH ONLY 69,000 MILES ON ENGINE. THE CAR HAS BEEN RECALLED TWICE FOR SAME PROBLEM AND IT IS STILL HAPPENED AGAIN. HAS HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES FOR LIFE OF ENGINE. TRANSMISSION SOMETIMES STAYS ON LEVEL 2 AND 3 FOR UPTO 20MINUTES AT 60MPH DOES NOT CHANGE AND SHIFTS HARD WITH SLOW OR FAST ACCELERATION. LEAKS TRANSMISSION FLUID, HAS FUEL THROTTLE LEAKAGES AND CONTROL LEAKS FROM 45,000 MILES UP TO NOW THURSADY, JANUARY 30, 2003.

NHTSA ID
10004959
Incident
Jan 30, 2003
Mileage
65,000 mi
BrakesEngineTransmission
Filed Jan 9, 2003

ENGINE BURNS OIL AT APPROX. 1 QT PER WEEK, ALSO HAS POSSIBLE LEAKS IN ENGINE WITH ONLY 69,000 MILES ON ENGINE. HAS HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES FOR LIFE OF ENGINE. BRAKE ROTORS WARPED AND NEED REPLACEMENT, UNSURE OF WHEN LAST CHANGED. TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND SHIFTS HARD WITH SLOW OR FAST ACCELERATION.

NHTSA ID
10000870
Incident
Jan 1, 2003
Mileage
50,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedTransmission
Filed Oct 28, 2002

THE CAR JUST STOPPED MOVING IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY AND THEIR WAS NO WIERD SOUNDS TO FORWARN ME OF ANYTHING! THIS HAPPENED IN JANUARY 2001 AND THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE CLUTCH. THE DEALER WAS RUDE/MEAN, BUT THEN I CALLED MITSUBISHI MOTORS AND THEY TOLD THE DEALER TO CHANGE THE CLUTCH. HERE IT IS 22 MONTHS LATER, 10/2002, AND THE CLUTCH IS GOING OUT AGAIN THE DEALER IS TELLING ME. THE DEALERS SERVICE WOMEN TOLD ME I MUST BE A BAD DRIVER, AND I TOLD HER I'VE DROVE STICKS FOR 23 YEARS AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A CLUTCH BEFORE, LET ALONE 2 CLUTCHES! SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS CAR! 2ND PROBLEM THEY SAID AND MY TITLE SHOWS THE CAR TO BE A 1998, YET THE ORIGINAL STICKER ON THE BODY AROUND THE DOOR SAYS MANUFACTURED IN THE USA IN 1997. DT

NHTSA ID
769008
Incident
Oct 25, 2002
Transmission
Filed May 6, 2002

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SWITCH GEARS.*AK

NHTSA ID
8009274
Incident
Apr 22, 2002
Transmission
Filed Mar 5, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH A LOUD NOISE COMES FROM UNDER VEHICLE. PARTS DROPPED ONTO THE GROUND FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE, TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS ALSO ON THE GROUND. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8005046
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Feb 4, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE. VEHICLE WOULD SLIP FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER. DEALER CONTACTED. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
8003489
Incident
Feb 3, 2002
Transmission
Filed Jan 18, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THIS IS HIS THIRD TRANSMISSION IN 2 YEARS. *SLC

NHTSA ID
564030
Transmission
Filed Sep 24, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
752528
Incident
May 1, 2000
ElectricalEngineSuspension+2 more
Filed Sep 4, 2001

FOUR OF EIGHT RADIO SPEAKERS ARE INOPERATIVE.*JB

NHTSA ID
785511
Transmission
Filed Sep 1, 2001

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND DOWN SHIFTING/ TACH RED LINES BEFORE SHIFTING/ BURNT TRANSMISSION FLUID AT 19000 MILES ON THAT FLUID ALSO MY SPARK PLUGS WERE BURNT/ CHANGED FLUID ,FLUID HAS NOW TURNED YELLOW MILES ON FLUID 7942/ CAR IS RUNNING VER POORLY/DEALER CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM SEEMED VERY UPSET BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE THE CAR SERVICED THERE.WILL CHANGE TRANS FLUID TODAY THE LAST TIME I CHANGED THE FLUID IT DID SHIFT BETTER FOR A SHORT PERIOD. *AK

NHTSA ID
751508
Incident
Oct 6, 1999
Tires & wheelsTransmission
Filed Aug 31, 2001
1 injury reported

PINNED CONSUMER TO WALL. CONSUMER INITALLY STATED HE DID NOT PUT VEHICLE IN PARK BEFORE EXITING TRUCK. *DB 16-4140-919

NHTSA ID
6900427
Incident
Dec 3, 1996
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Aug 29, 2001

INTERMITTENTLY TRANSMISSION WILL STICK IN 2ND GEAR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD, AND HESITATE BETWEEN SHIFTS. DEALER IS BLAMING PROBLEM ON HOW THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. ONE YEAR AGO DEALER HAD TO REPLACE SOLENOID FOR SAME PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
895389
Incident
Aug 28, 2001
Transmission
Filed May 22, 2001

TRANSFER CASE FOR 4- WHEEL DRIVE LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, CAUSING WHEELS TO LOCK UP, AND VEHICLE TO SPIN AROUND NUMEROUS TIMES. DEALER CLAIMED DEFECT WAS CAUSED BY A MISSING BOLT. *AK

NHTSA ID
888842
Transmission
Filed Mar 16, 2001

VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL FROM TRANSFER CASE. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF NHTSA RECALL 98V069001 DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
883296
Incident
Mar 15, 2001
Transmission
Filed Jan 12, 2000

TRANSMISSION POPS OUT OF GEAR THIS IS THE 3RD TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID
717260
Incident
Nov 10, 1999
Transmission
Filed Oct 7, 1999

CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER CONCERNING NHTSA RECALL #98 V 069 001/TRANSFER CASE WHICH COULD LOCKUP DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION. MANUFACTURER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS RECALL. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
850193
Incident
Oct 4, 1999
Transmission
Filed Sep 8, 1999

TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ID
609620
Incident
Jul 1, 1998
Transmission
Filed Apr 20, 1998

A GRINDING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. ALSO A CRACKING NOISE WHEN DOWNSHIFTING INTO 2ND AND 1ST GEARS. DEALER SAID NO PROBLEM COULD BE FOUND.

NHTSA ID
530540

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 .