The 1991 Mitsubishi Eclipse has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 682,275 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 65 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the seat belts. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
POWER TRAIN98V0690011998-03-2624,275 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 BELTS95V1030041995-05-24658,000 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…
Complaints by component
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
7
1crashes1injuries
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
6
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
4
SUSPENSION:REAR
3
1crashes
POWER TRAIN
2
1fires
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
2
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
2
SEAT BELTS
2
Total complaints65
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Transfer case is damaged due to lack of fluid. I contacted mitsubishi concerning the recall on this vehicle for this defective part. The company representative denied that this vehicle was included in any recalls. The referenced recall, 98v168000, included all mitsubishi eclipse gsx models from…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1991 mitsubishi eclipse. The contact stated that while driving 68 mph, he heard a loud noise. He pulled over on the side of the road when he noticed smoke coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis. The dealer advised that they needed to have…”
“Tl * the contact owns a 1991 mitsubishi eclipse. While driving the vehicle at a speed of 50 mph, all four wheels locked up which caused a loss of vehicle control. The vehicle was no longer in drivable condition and was towed to a local mechanic. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired at…”
“Transfer case recall - 98v069001 safety recall was refused on the car. Transfer case is making an incredible whining sound. Local dealership and mitsubishi offices said there is no warranty on the recall due to the recall already being performed, even if the car was just inspected and no changes…”
“The owner stated that the vehicle had an outstanding recall and when the vehicle was taken to the dealer, the dealer refused to perform the service. The owner later contacted the manufacturer who told the owner that the recall for that vehicle had been performed previously. The owner is telling…”
“While shifting gears over drive light appeared on the dashboard and remained on. A loud clicking noise was heard coming from underneath dashboard. Consumer took vehicle to dealer for inspection, and mechanic was not able to duplicate or resolve the problem. *ak”
“Consumer noticed that transfer case was leaking. Dealer indicated there was no recall. *ak”
“Exact cause of bent wheel unknown unless it was a speed bump I took at low speed. The tire went flat overnight and I saw the damage the next morning.*ak”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA95004 Opened 1995-03-10 · closed 1995-08-01
TAKATA SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationEA98002 Opened 1998-01-30 · closed 1998-04-30
TRANSFER CASE LOCKUP
InvestigationEA98002 Opened 1998-01-30 · closed 1998-04-30
TRANSFER CASE LOCKUP
InvestigationPE97040 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.
InvestigationRQ98007 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.
InvestigationRQ98007 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.
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1991 Mitsubishi Eclipse as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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