1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse Owner Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND HAD IT TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM, AXLE, AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 206,000.

NHTSA ID

11186092

Incident

Mar 7, 2019

Mileage

206,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM, AXLE, AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 206,000.

NHTSA ID

11184936

Incident

Mar 5, 2019

Mileage

206,000 mi

APRIL 2010 WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE A 1999 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE RS HATCHBACK AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES PER HOUR, THE 1999 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE RS HATCHBACK SUDDENLY LOSS CONTROL AND CRASHED ONTO THE ROADWAY. I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE CAR INSTANTLY LOSS USE OF CONTROL IN STEERING AND THE CAR PROCEEDED TO LEAVE THE ROAD ONTO A GRASSY MEDIAN TO MY LEFT SIDE. I DISCOVERED THE FRONT CONTROL ARM WAS LYING ON THE ROADWAY DETACHED FROM THE AXEL AND TIRE. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WAS WEDGED AT AN ANGLE BETWEEN THE FRAME AND THE DISASSEMBLED PARTS OF THE CAR. I HAD THE 1999 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE TOWED HOME AND REPLACED THE FAULTY PARTS WITH ANOTHER FRONT CONTROL ARM & LOWER BALL JOINT PURCHASED FROM AUTO ZONE. IN 2011, THE SAME VEHICLE A 1999 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE RS HATCHBACK LOSES CONTROL WHILE IN MOTION AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES PER HOUR, AS I WAS TURNING LEFT ONTO A TWO LANE STREET. THE CAR LOST STEERING CONTROL SKIDDING OFF THE ROADWAY IN THE DIRECTION ON-COMING TRAFFIC. THE FRONT CONTROL ARM WAS LYING ON THE GROUND DETACHED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER?S SIDE WHEEL. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WAS WEDGED BETWEEN THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE AND THE ROAD. I CONTACTED A TOWING SERVICE TO TOW THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS. I BOUGHT AND REPLACED THE FAULTY CONTROL ARM & LOWER BALL JOINTS. JULY 2012, I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES PER HOUR, IN THE LEFT LANE OF A FOUR LANE MAIN THOROUGHFARE, WHEN THE 1999 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE RS HATCHBACK LOSS STEERING CONTROL AND CRASHED TO THE GROUND WHILE IN MOTION, CAUSING THE CAR TO LEAVE THE ROADWAY TOWARDS THE LEFT. I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE AND DISCOVERED THE FRONT CONTROL ARM DETACHED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL. THE CONTROL ARM WAS LYING ON THE GROUND AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL HAD BEEN DAMAGED FROM THE IMPACT AND SKIDDING ALONG THE ROADWAY. I CONTACTED A TOWING SERVICE TO REMOVE THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10473317

Incident

Apr 26, 2010

Mileage

200,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BANG UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR THE SAME REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V421001 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT) BUT HAD ALREADY BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED. THE CONTACT DENIED HAVING THE REPAIR PERFORMED PREVIOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID

10471765

Incident

Aug 15, 2009

Mileage

200,000 mi

MY 1999 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GSX HATCH WILL RELEASE BUT WILL NOT OPEN WHEN RELEASE FROM RELEASING HANDLE ON THE SIDE OF THE DRIVER SEAT FLOOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10258509

Incident

Jan 9, 2009

Mileage

163,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR A SAFETY ACT THAT WOULD REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS; HOWEVER, AFTER HE RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT IT WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT DUE TO THE TIRE ALIGNMENT. THE DEALER STATED THAT HE DID NOT NEED AN ALIGNMENT WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BALL JOINTS. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND ANOTHER MITSUBISHI DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT FOLLOWING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BALL JOINTS. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 91,000.

NHTSA ID

10238140

Incident

Aug 13, 2008

Mileage

91,000 mi

LOWER LATERAL BALL JOINT BROKE OFF AND TIRE CAME OFF OF CAR CAUSING MY DAUGHTER TO LOSE CONTROL OF CAR. FOUND OUT THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PART IN 2002 AND RECORDS SHOW THAT IT HAD BEEN CHANGED. EVIDENTLY THE SAME PART WAS DEFECTIVE AGAIN, I BELIEVE. CAR HAD TO BE FLATBEDDED TO REPAIR SHOP AND FIXED FOR $1100. THANKFULLY SHE WAS NOT GOING FAST AS AAA DRIVER SAID HE HAD GONE OUT ON SEVERAL CALLS FOR THIS CAR WITH THE SAME RESULT AND MANY INJURIES OCCURRED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10230064

Incident

May 7, 2008

Mileage

60,000 mi

TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE OF MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE 1999 GS DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF FROM THE INSIDE AND NOW I HAVE TO OPEN DOOR FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. CAR WAS TAKING BACK TO DEALERSHIP WHO DIRECTED ME TO THE MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP AND THEY REFUSED TO FIX THE DOOR LATCH STATING THAT IT WAS UNDER NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR CONDITIONS. THERE ARE TOO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE TO BE CONSIDERED NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS ITEM I AM HAVING BACK ISSUES DUE TO OPENING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10212440

Incident

Sep 10, 2005

I PURCHASED CAR IN 2003 AND WITHIN 6 MONTHS CERTAIN AREAS ON THE CAR THE PAINT BEGAN TO DIMINISH. TAKEN TO MITSUBISHI FOR EFFECTED AREAS AND THEY PAINTED CAR ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, (THE EFFECTED AREAS AT THAT TIME) BUT WHEN THE REST OF THE CAR CONTINUED TO DIMINISH MITSUBISHI REFUSED TO PAINT AFFECTED AREAS BECAUSE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL MITSUBISHI'S WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, AND I CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY MITSUBISHI DOESN'T PAINT THE ENTIRE CAR AT THE FIRST SIGN OF THIS PROBLEM. THE ENTIRE CAR IS PAINTED WITH THIS CLEAR COAT, SO THE ENTIRE CAR WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, MITSUBISHI DOESN'T PAINT THE ENTIRE VEHICLE ALL AT ONCE SO THAT THEIR CUSTOMERS WILL ONLY GO TO THE DEALER THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENS, AND WILL JUST PAY OUT OF THEIR POCKETS WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN! THIS SAVES THE GREEDY COMPANY MONEY! *TR

NHTSA ID

10195047

Incident

Jun 20, 2006

Mileage

32,000 mi

CAR WILL COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. WILL HAVE TO TRY TO RESTART THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. , .SEVERAL MECHANICS AND EVEN THE MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP HAD HOOKED IT UP TO THE COMPUTER, AND THEY WILL NOT GET ANY READINGS FOR THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID IT WAS BECAUSE OF BUILD UP IN THE EXHAUST, AND THEY CLEANED IT OUT, AND NOT EVEN 5 MILES DOWN THE ROAD IT STALLED AGAIN. REPLACED BELTS,GASKETS,SPARK PLUGS AND HOSES. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. WELL IF THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT I WOULDN'T BE SCARED TO DRIVE IT WITHOUT GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10193494

Incident

Aug 2, 2005

Mileage

70,000 mi

WHILE HAVING A BASIC OIL CHANGE AT THE MITSUBISIHI/CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP WAS INFORMED OF THE HEAD GASKET LEAK. AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE MOTORS AND A $1000 TO REPAIR.*AK

NHTSA ID

10187561

Incident

Jun 14, 2006

Mileage

35,000 mi

I WENT TO OPEN THE CAR DOOR BARELY HAD THE HANDLE LIFTED UP AND THE PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE SNAPPED OFF IN MY HAND. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE DID THE SAME THING. *NM

NHTSA ID

10182738

Incident

Feb 15, 2007

DRIVING ON THE NJ TURNPIKE, NOTICED SPEED DECREASING ON ITS OWN. WHILE MOVING OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE, THE REAR WHEELS LOCKED UP. *NM

NHTSA ID

10179140

Incident

Jul 26, 2006

BLACK GLUE SUBSTANCE THAT HOLDS THE PLASTIC BARRIER FILM INSIDE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR MELTS AND LEAKS DUE TO HIGH SUMMER TEMPERATURES. WATER ENTERS BETWEEN THE TRUNK DOOR, NOT SEALED PROPERLY. VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. VEHICLE STEERING IS NOT UP TO STANDARD. *NM

NHTSA ID

10173094

Incident

Nov 7, 2006

SIMILAR TO ODI 10080649 BUT RESULTED IN FIRE WITHIN ENGINE BAY WHICH WAS QUICKLY PUT OUT WITHOUT DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR. THREW A PISTON THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK. VEHICLE ONLY HAD 66K MILES. WORKING CAR FIRE FIRST REPORTED VIA 911 IN BRIDGEWATER NJ. REVISED STATUS WAS ALSO CALLED IN BUT WAS RESPONDED TO. STATE FARM INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER THE COST OF ENGINE EVEN WITH FULL COVERAGE INCLUDING COMPREHENSIVE. CAR STILL AT TOWED LOCATION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10172093

Incident

Oct 21, 2006

Mileage

66,000 mi

I STARTED HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE JUST A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE NEW. THE DRIVER DOOR HANDLE WOULD NOT "CATCH" SOMETIMES WHEN I TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT. A FEW WEEKS AFTER THAT I CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. SINCE THE DOOR HANDLE DID NOT ALWAYS DO THIS I JUST DEALT WITH IT AND DID NOT TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER. AFTER THE WARRANTY WAS UP THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLE COMPLETELY BROKE OFF AND NOW THE DRIVER SIDE HANDLE DOES NOT "CATCH" SO I CANNOT OPEN EITHER DOOR--I HAD TO CLIMB IN THROUGH THE HATCHBACK!! IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE DOOR HANDLES. ALSO, THE TRUNK/HATCH LOCK IS WEIRD, I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY TWICE EVERY TIME TO OPEN THE TRUNK--THE FIRST TIME THE TRUNK OPENS SLIGHTLY BUT REMAINS LOCKED...*NM

NHTSA ID

10171584

Incident

Sep 22, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE LEFT FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, THE DOOR HANDLE FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. WEEKS LATER, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, THE DOOR HANDLE FRACTURED AS WELL. THE DEALER WAS ALERTED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED.

NHTSA ID

10166313

Incident

Aug 23, 2006

Mileage

151,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS SLIGHT VIBRATION IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE FOR INSPECTION THE RIGHT REAR TIRE ROLLED ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THE SIDEWALL COMPLETELY DISINTERESTED AND THE TIRE CAME OFF THE RIM. THE PSI WAS AT 30 FOR HIGHWAY USE, BUT THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED PSI OF 40. THERE WERE NO OBVIOUS ROAD HAZARDS THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE TIRE WAS A TOYO, 22535ZR18. THE TIRE HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED DUE TO THE DAMAGE THE RIM SUSTAINED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10146752

Incident

Jan 1, 2006

Mileage

75,443 mi

TOOK CAR TO DMV AND IT WON'T PASS OBD-II TEST. I HAVE TRIED THREE TIMES. FOUND OUT THAT A TSB-03-13-005 WAS SENT OUT. WHICH STATES HOW TO RESET SO YOU CAN PASS THE EMISSION TEST. IF YOU DISCONNECT YOUR BATTERY YOU COMPUTER WON'T RESET TILL YOU TAKE IT TO THE DEALER WHO CHARGES YOU HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO RESET A PROBLEM THAT THEY KNOW ABOUT BUT REFUSE TO CORRECT. SO EVERY TIME I NEED TO GO TO THE DMV I FIRST NEED TO VISIT THE DEALER SO THAT HE CAN RIP ME OFF, AND BYPASS THE EMISSION SYSTEM. AGAIN THEY KNOW OF THE ISSUE THEY POSTED THE TSB 03-13-005. WON'T BUY OR RECOMMEND A MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE AGAIN. *NM

NHTSA ID

10141170

Incident

Oct 28, 2005

Mileage

78,864 mi

MY 1999 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE LEAKS WATER INSIDE MY CAR ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. I NOW HAVE MILDEW IN MY CAR AND BECAUSE OF THAT I HAVE HEADACHES. WHEN I BOUGHT MY CAR I LIVED IN CALIFORNIA AND IT DOESN'T REALLY RAIN THERE SO I NEVER NOTICED IT UNTIL I MOVED TO MO IT RAINS HERE ALL THE TIME AND DURING THE SUMMER ITS VERY HUMID AND MUGGY WHICH MAKES THE MOLD AND THE SMELL WORSE. I CALLED THE MITSUBISHI DEALER SHIP I ASKED THEM SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM CAN THEY FIX IT FOR ME THEY SAID NO AND THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF THAT PROBLEM THEY ARE BIG LIARS I'VE BEEN TO MANY WEB SITES ABOUT CAR LEAKS AND THEY NOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THE WEB SITE MITSUBISHI SUCKS.COM HAVE ALL THE COMPLAINTS THAT I FOUND ABOUT MY CAR I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS THESE PEOPLE. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER MITSUBISHI AGIAN UNFORNTILY I'M STUCK WITH MY CAR UNTIL I COULD AFFORD A NEW CAR.

NHTSA ID

10130009

Incident

Apr 6, 2004

Mileage

35,000 mi

DT: CONSUMER STATES HE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSFER CASE ON HIS 1999 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE TAIL SHAFT SEAL LEAKED, THERE WAS A RECALL FOR DIFFERENT MODEL YEARS NHTSA 98V069000. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE TRANSFER CASE DOWN, THERE WAS A BUNCH OF SHAVINGS AND NO FLUID LEFT. THE TRANSFER CASE LOCKED UP AND THAT IS WHY HE TOOK THAT DOWN. WHEN HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD HIM IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN THE VEHICLE LOCKED UP.*AK

NHTSA ID

10128152

Incident

Dec 24, 2004

Mileage

106,000 mi

1999 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT 33,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID

10125006

Incident

Apr 15, 2005

Mileage

33,000 mi

RECENTLY PURCHASED USED VEHICLE FOR COLLEGE STUDENT, WITH EXCELLENT SERVICE RECORD. HAS STALLED WITH NO WARNING WHILE OPERATING UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS THREE TIMES IN THE PAST 30 DAYS (5/15/05-6/10/05). MY SON STATES HE WAS TAKEN TOTALLY BY SURPRISE BY SUDDEN FAILURE. HE WAS MAKING A TURN AND REALIZED THAT HIS POWER STEERING WAS NOT OPERATING, ONLY TO NOTICE THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT ON. HE NEARLY LOST CONTROL, BUT WAS ABLE TO "MUSCLE" THE CAR THROUGH THE TURN. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE CAR, NO PROBLEMS FOUND.

NHTSA ID

10124875

Incident

Jun 4, 2005

MADE NORMAL TURN, STRAIGHTENED WHEELS, STEERING LOCKED UP, RAN OFF ROAD (ROAD VEERED LEFT, CAR DIDN'T) INTO TREE. TOTAL LOSS TO VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10122264

Incident

May 22, 2005

Mileage

103,500 mi

1ST INCIDENT: APRIL 2002: 1999 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GS LOCKS UP (TRANSMISSION) CONSTANTLY JUMPS AND THE SPEEDOMETER WILL SHUT OFF. THIS PROBLEM WAS CHECKED BY OFFICIAL MECHANICS OF MITSUBISHI AND SUPOSEDLY CORRECTED BY THEM AS WELL. *AK TODAY: MARCH 12, 2005: ON MY HOME, THE CAR LOCKS UP, JUMPS, BUT COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF, LUCKILY I WAS ONLY A BLOCK AWAY FROM MY HOME WHEN THIS HAPPENED. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS I DID START THE CAR AGAIN BUT THE SPEDOMETER IS NOT RESPONDING AND WHEN SHIFTING FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE OR REVERSE THE CAR JUMPS. SAME PROBLEM ALL OVER AGAIN. MITSUBISHI SAID THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED BACK IN APRIL OF 2002, PARTS WERE REPLACED. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A CAR ACCIDENT OR INJURY IF I WERE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID

10113982

Incident

Mar 12, 2005

Mileage

70,000 mi