Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Steering 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.
13
Latest Mar 12, 2019
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.
11%
of 120 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.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2
What this page shows
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 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 steering
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
SteeringSuspension
Filed Mar 12, 2019
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
Powertrain (other)SteeringSuspension
Filed Mar 7, 2019
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
Body & structureOther / unspecifiedSteering+1 more
Filed Sep 2, 2012
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
SteeringSuspension
Filed Aug 14, 2008
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
Steering
Filed Nov 9, 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
Steering
Filed May 26, 2005
Crash reported2 injuries reported
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
Steering
Filed Feb 11, 2004
Crash reported
WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH DRIVER TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE A TURN, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. AS A RESULT, DRIVER LOST CONTROL, VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE AND LANDED IN A NEIGHBOR'S YARD. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK
NHTSA ID
10057909
Steering
Filed Feb 11, 2004
Crash reported
WHILE DRIVING AROUND A CURVE 20 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT VEHICLE LOST POWER, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. *AK
NHTSA ID
10057890
Steering
Filed Feb 10, 2004
Crash reported
WHILE TRAVELING 20 MPH CONSUMER TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL AND VEHICLE KEPT STRAIGHT. AS A RESULT CONSUMER HIT A TREE. *AK
NHTSA ID
10057790
Steering
Filed Aug 2, 2002
WHILE TURNING CORNER, STERRING GOES OUT, VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL CAR AND MAKE TURN. ONCE TURN IS COMPLETED STEERING SEEMS FINE AGAIN. THIS IS A INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. HAVE TAKEN TO THE DEAL FOR REPAIR BUT THEY STATE IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN WHILE "THEY" ARE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. IN THE LAST THREE WEEKS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED 6 TIMES. ALSO COMPLAINT ABOUT DRIVERS OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE FELL OFF WHILE OPENING DOOR. AGAIN TOOK TO DEALER BUT EXTENDED WARRANTY DIDN'T COVER SO I HAD TO PAY TO BUY NEW HANDLE AND GET PAINTED. VERY EXPENSIVE!!! *AK S
NHTSA ID
765100
Incident
Jun 15, 2002
Steering
Filed Oct 24, 2001
Crash reported
WHILE DRIVING AND TRYING TO TURN STEERING WHEEL COULDN'T DO IT. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT TUNRN IN THE DIRECTION THAT CONSUMER TURNED WHEEL. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER.*AK
NHTSA ID
898113
Incident
Jun 1, 1999
Steering
Filed Jan 24, 2001
THE STEERING RACK AND AND GEAR FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HANDLE POORLY AROUND CURVES, DEALER HAS REPLACED, HOWEVER CONSUMER STATES THIS ONE IS BROKE TOO, THERE IS A LOUD PINGING NOISE COMING FROM STEERING GEAR. NLM
NHTSA ID
784992
Incident
Oct 15, 1999
Heating & air conditioningSteeringTransmission
Filed Aug 28, 1999
TRANSMISSION GOT STUCK ON 2ND GEAR, THEN ANOTHER OCCASION IN 3RD GEAR, CAUSE: BLOWN CIRCUIT/SENSOR.... AIR COND. DOES NOT TURN ON AT ALL AT TIMES, NOT EVEN THE FAN, TURNS ON BY ITSELF AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 30 MINS, CAUSE: A/C FAN MOTOR..... CAR PULLS TO THE RIGHT, EVEN AFTER SEVERAL ALIGNMENTS AND TIRE ADJUSTMENTS, CAUSE: UNKNOWN, STILL EXISTS.
NHTSA ID
710650
Incident
Apr 1, 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