RecallRepo

1990 Mitsubishi Eclipse Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1990 Mitsubishi Eclipse has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 688,178 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 59 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

POWER TRAIN 98V069001 1998-03-26 24,275 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. LOCKUP OF THE TRANSFER CASE CAN OCCUR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR ADEQUACY OF THE TRANSFER CASE OIL VOLUME, TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AND OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION OF THE TRANSFER CASE MECHANISM. IF OIL VOLUME IS INSUFFICIENT, THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF OIL WILL BE ADDED. IF THERE IS TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AFFECTED COMPONENTS WILL BE…

SEAT BELTS 95V103004 1995-05-24 658,000 affected
Defect

THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.

Consequence

THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS…

VISIBILITY 90V106002 1990-06-01 26 affected
Defect

DILUTED PRIMER MAY HAVE BEEN USED ON THE WINDSHIELD OPENING FLANGES PRIOR TO WINDSHIELD GLASS INSTALLATION WHICH WOULD NOT PROVIDE THE RETENTION REQUIRED BY FMVSS 212.

Consequence

WINDSHIELDS WOULD NOT PREVENT EJECTION OF VEHICLEOCCUPANTS DURING A VEHICLE CRASH, WHICH CAUSES SERIOUS INJURIES AND FATALITIES.

Remedy

REPLACE WINDSHIELDS, ASSOCIATED PARTS, AND PRIMER.

VISIBILITY 90V056002 1990-03-21 367 affected
Defect

OPERATION OF SUNROOF IN "NON-STANDARD" MANNER MAY CAUSE MALE HINGE DISENGAGEMENT FROM THE ROOF HINGE RECEIVER.

Consequence

THE SUNROOF GLASS COULD DETACH FROM THE ROOF AND RESULT IN INJURY TO OCCUPANTS OR PERSONS IN THE VICINITY, ESPECIALLY IF THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.

Remedy

REPLACE MALE HINGE WITH A MODIFIED VERSION TO INCREASE ROOF HINGE RECEIVER RETENTION ABILITY.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 89V128000 1989-07-31 5,510 affected
Defect

WIRING HARNESS FOR THE HEADLAMPS MAY BREAK DUE TO THE STRESS CREATED BY THE HEADLAMP POP UP DEVICES.

Consequence

BREAKAGE OF THE WIRING HARNESS CAUSES LOSS OFHEADLAMP ILLUMINATION WHICH COULD HAVE A POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy

HEADLAMP WIRING HARNESS ROUTING WILL BE MODIFIED AND DAMAGED WIRES REPAIRED.

Complaints by component

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
13
1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
5
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
5
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
4
1injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
2
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
2
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
2
SEAT BELTS
2
1crashes2injuries
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
2
2crashes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
1
Total complaints59

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Consumer states that left headlight is shorting out. Dealer notified.*ak”

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH · reported 2003-06-12

“Headlamp failure due to wiring harness malfunctioning. Consumer was seeking reimbursement since the headlights were on recall. *yh....*ak”

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS · reported 2002-08-22

“Headlamp failure due to wiring harness malfunctioning. Consumer was seeking reimbursement since the headlights were on recall. *yh....*ak”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING · reported 2002-08-22

“The timing belt was on recall. However, the consumer was not notified of the recall. Consumer then found out about the recall, after the repair was made.*yh”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE · reported 2002-08-22

“Consumer stated that the blower motor was inoperative. *yh”

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER · reported 2002-08-22

“Both rear brake calipers need to be replaced. Calipers were previously replaced .*ak”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER · reported 2001-03-15

“As I was driving down the road, the driver's door opened without reason. That caused the seatbelt assembly to retract and then, the seatbelt assembly hit me in the eye. This caused me to react and sent me off the road, down an embankment. I was injured resulting in the loss of my left arm. *ak”

SEAT BELTS · reported 2001-03-12

“While driving, bridgestone potenza right front tire p255/70r16 experienced tread separation, causing vehicle to shake. *slc”

TIRES:TREAD/BELT · reported 2001-01-17

Defect investigations

Investigation EA95004 Opened 1995-03-10 · closed 1995-08-01

TAKATA SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE

There is no summary currently available

Investigation EA98002 Opened 1998-01-30 · closed 1998-04-30

TRANSFER CASE LOCKUP

Investigation EA98002 Opened 1998-01-30 · closed 1998-04-30

TRANSFER CASE LOCKUP

Investigation PE97040 Opened 1997-09-04 · closed 1998-01-30

TRANSFER CASE LOCKUP

ALLEGED DRIVETRAIN FAILURE THAT CAN LEAD TO LOCK-UP OF THE REAR OR ALL WHEELS.

Investigation RQ98007 Opened 1998-05-11 · closed 1998-08-28

TRANSFER CASE LEAKAGE

THE TRANSFER CASE OF THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD), MITSUBISHI GALANT, ALLEGEDLY LEAKS OIL CAUSING ONE OR MORE WHEELS TO LOCKUP; OR THE INABILITY TO TRANSMIT ENGINE POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS.THE VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME TRANSFER CASE DESIGN AS THE ECLIPSE VEHICLES WHICH HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME ALLEGED DEFECT.

Investigation RQ98007 Opened 1998-05-11 · closed 1998-08-28

TRANSFER CASE LEAKAGE

THE TRANSFER CASE OF THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD), MITSUBISHI GALANT, ALLEGEDLY LEAKS OIL CAUSING ONE OR MORE WHEELS TO LOCKUP; OR THE INABILITY TO TRANSMIT ENGINE POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS.THE VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME TRANSFER CASE DESIGN AS THE ECLIPSE VEHICLES WHICH HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME ALLEGED DEFECT.

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1990 Mitsubishi Eclipse as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.