1998 Mitsubishi ECLIPSE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
94 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
75,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 36 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 94 complaints (12.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 13.8% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 7.4% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 3.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 3.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 12 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 9 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 8 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 7 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 6 |
| Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) | 5 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 12; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 9; Air Bags:Frontal: 8; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint: 7; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 6; Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive): 5; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 3
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 58 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 13 |
| 2001 | 16 |
| 2002 | 14 |
| 2003 | 15 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
2000: 13; 2001: 16; 2002: 14; 2003: 15; 2004: 8; 2005: 13; 2006: 5; 2007: 3; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 2
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 13 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000870 · 2003-01-09 (January 9, 2003)
ENGINE BURNS OIL AT APPROX. 1 QT PER WEEK, ALSO HAS POSSIBLE LEAKS IN ENGINE WITH ONLY 69,000 MILES ON ENGINE. HAS HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES FOR LIFE OF ENGINE. BRAKE ROTORS WARPED AND NEED REPLACEMENT, UNSURE OF WHEN LAST CHANGED. TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND SHIFTS HARD WITH SLOW OR FAST ACCELERATION.
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000870 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004959 · 2003-01-30 (January 30, 2003)
ENGINE BURNS OIL AT APPROX. 1 QT PER WEEK, ALSO HAS POSSIBLE LEAKS IN ENGINE WITH ONLY 69,000 MILES ON ENGINE. THE CAR HAS BEEN RECALLED TWICE FOR SAME PROBLEM AND IT IS STILL HAPPENED AGAIN. HAS HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES FOR LIFE OF ENGINE. TRANSMISSION SOMETIMES STAYS ON LEVEL 2 AND 3 FOR UPTO 20MINUTES AT 60MPH DOES NOT CHANGE AND SHIFTS HARD WITH SLOW OR FAST ACCELERATION. LEAKS TRANSMISSION FLUID, HAS FUEL THROTTLE LEAKAGES AND CONTROL LEAKS FROM 45,000 MILES UP TO NOW THURSADY, JANUARY 30, 2003.
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004959 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002396 · 2003-01-08 (January 8, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TS THERE WAS AN ODOR IN THE VEHICLE, THE CLUTCH HAD GONE OUT, THE REAR BRAKES SQUEAKED, AND WATER LEAKED INTO THE INTERIOR ON THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE DEALER SOLD HER AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002396 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10107444 · 2005-03-28 (March 28, 2005)
WHEN DRIVING ANY SPEED, THE CONSUMER WOULD HEAR A CRACKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER OF A WORN LOWER BALL JOINT. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *JB THE CONSUMER CHECKED THE INTERNET AND SAW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON HER MODEL AND YEAR VEHICLE FOR FAULTY BALL JOINTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE CLOSEST MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AND REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS MADE. *BF *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10107444 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10149712 · 2006-02-08 (February 8, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED PRIOR TO PURCHASE THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE LOWER BALL JOINTS, #00V421001. THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED, BUT THE VEHICLE HAD THE FAILURE ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL AGAIN. SINCE PURCHASE, THE STEERING WAS POOR AND THEN THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE LOWER BALL JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149712 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10159663 · 2006-06-12 (June 12, 2006)
I BOUGHT MY 98 ECLIPSE, STANDARD, IN 2003, NOT EVEN A YEAR AFTER I HAD IT IT DIED ON ME ON THE FREEWAY ONE DAY. TURNED OUT IT WAS THE SPEED SENSOR THAT GOT ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE. ABOUT ANOTHER 6 MONTHS LATER THE FOUND AN OIL LEAK ON THE HEAD GASKET THAT WAS MAKING ME MISFIRE, THAT WAS FIXED. THE CAR WAS FINE UNTIL ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO WHEN THE ENGINE WENT OUT ON ME BECAUSE APPARENTLY THE ENGINE OIL AND COOLANT WERE SOMEHOW MIXING, MY HOSES WERE OUT, SO WAS MY WATER PUMP, O2 SENSOR AND FUEL PUMP SENSOR, ALL AT THE SAME TIME. WELL I…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10159663 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10163788 · 2006-07-28 (July 28, 2006)
ONE OF THE CYLINDERS HAS MISFIRED SEVERAL TIMES IN WHICH I REPLACED SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES. IT WAS DUE TO A FAULTY FUEL INJECTOR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10163788 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10809185 · 2015-12-09 (December 9, 2015)
BATTERY DISCHARGES OVERNIGHT AND ELECTROAUTOS CANNOT FIND ANY ELECTRICAL LEAKAGE BUT THEY SUSPECT THE STARTER SYSTEM DEVICE (AN OBLONG DEVICE THAT NEEDS TO BE PRESENTED TO A RED LIGHT TO GET THE STARTER TO FUNCTION). THE BATTERY HAS BEEN CHANGED SEVERAL TIMES BUT LEAKAGE CONTINUES. DUE TO AGE, NO SENSORS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO CHECK IT. VEHICLE IS STATIONARY IN GARAGE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10809185 at NHTSA ↗