The 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 904,438 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 220 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SUSPENSION00V4210012000-12-18567,432 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, DIRT AND WATER CAN INTRUDE. ALSO, MMC HAS ADDED THE POTENTIAL OF LEAKING MOISTURE, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE BALL STUD TO CORRODE.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. THIS CAMPAIGN SUPERCEDES MMC'S PREVIOUS SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN, SEE 99V-066.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT FOR WEAR. BALL JOINTS THAT EXHIBIT WEAR BEYOND THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY DESIGNED LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS. BALL JOINTS THAT ARE WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE CLEANED AND A SPECIAL SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED TO PREVENT…
SUSPENSION99V0660011999-04-05307,000 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, DIRT AND WATER CAN INTRUDE.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE RUBBER BOOTS, AND IF THE BOOT IS DAMAGED, THEY WILL REPLACE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM AND BALL JOINT ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.
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…
THE FUEL TANK GASKETS FOR THE FUEL PUMP AND/OR GAUGE UNIT GASKET COULD HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY INSTALLED ALLOWING FUEL OR FUMES TO ESCAPE.
Consequence
IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, THE FUEL LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK AND IF THE GASKETS ARE FOUND TO BE LEAKING, REPLACE THE FUEL TANK, CAPS AND GASKETS.
Complaints by component
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
16
13crashes6injuries
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
15
2crashes
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
14
1fires
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
11
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
8
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
6
2crashes
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
6
2crashes
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
6
1crashes
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
5
2crashes1injuries
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
5
Total complaints220
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 mitsubishi eclipse. While driving approximately 55 mph, the vehicle stalled and the rear wheels seized. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transfer case was defective and needed to be replaced. The…”
“Electronic control modual while driving all power to car just lost. *tr”
“Electronic control modual while driving all power to car just lost. *tr”
“Electronic control modual while driving all power to car just lost. *tr”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1996 mitsubishi eclipse. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 mph, the transfer case suddenly stalled and locked all four wheels; he was unable to get the vehicle to move. The vehicle was towed to a dealer who informed the contact that he needed to replace…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 mitsubishi eclipse. While driving approximately 60 mph, the vehicle began to exhibit an abnormal vibration and it made an unusual noise. The contact drove onto the emergency lane and upon further inspection, found that the front drive shaft had fractured from the…”
“10/26/01 l front lwr control arm broke, the car bounced down the road when susp came apart. Gville mitz replaced the parts at the cost of the manf. The vehicle had 104000 mi at that time. Items listed on repair invoice: arm assy (fr susp), shaft assy (fr axl), shield kit splash, air dam side fr…”
“10/26/01 l front lwr control arm broke, the car bounced down the road when susp came apart. Gville mitz replaced the parts at the cost of the manf. The vehicle had 104000 mi at that time. Items listed on repair invoice: arm assy (fr susp), shaft assy (fr axl), shield kit splash, air dam side fr…”
Defect investigations
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.
InvestigationRQ00015 Opened 2000-08-02 · closed 2001-04-20
LOWER CONTRTOL ARM BALL JOINT
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationRQ00015 Opened 2000-08-02 · closed 2001-04-20
LOWER CONTRTOL ARM BALL JOINT
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationRQ00015 Opened 2000-08-02 · closed 2001-04-20
LOWER CONTRTOL ARM BALL JOINT
There is no summary currently available
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 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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