1996 Mitsubishi ECLIPSE: complaints, problems and recalls

I BOUGHT A 1996 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE AND ON THE WAY HOME IT BROKE DOWN COMPLETELY. I RESEARCHED THE CAR AND FOUND EVIDENCE THAT THE ODOMETER HAS EITHER BEEN DISCONNECTED OR ROLLED BACK. THE REASON THAT I SAY THIS IS BECAUSE ON WWW.CARFAX.COM IT REPORTS THAT IN 2001 WHEN THIS PERSON PURCHASED THIS CAR IT HAD 51,717 MILES ON IT. THEN IT SAYS THAT OVER A YEAR LATER IN 2002 THAT THE CAR REPORTED 51,719 MILES ON IT. WHAT ARE SOME OTHER THINGS I CAN DO TO MAKE MORE PROOF OF THIS HAPPENING. WHAT CAN I GET OUT OF THE SELLER IF THIS IS THE CASE... ALL MY…

Owner-reported narrative. 51,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002884 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET TRAVELING 30MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG!!! MY CAR SLAMMED TO A HALT IN THE FRONT YARD OF SOME UNKNOWN HOUSE. ONLY TO SEE THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF MY CAR IS NOW RESTING THE WHEEL WELL ON THE TIRE, THE TIRE ABOUT TO JUST FALL OVER, MY FRAME BY THE DOOR ALL CRUSHED BACK FROM THE TIRE, AND MY AXEL ON THE GROUND. HAD I BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY I COULD HAVE JUST KISSED MYSELF GOODBYE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY MITSUBISHI NEVER INFORMED ME OF THIS. I LOOKED FOR THE PROBLEM ONLINE AND HERE'S WHAT I FOUND - PROBLEM:~>WHEE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005147 at NHTSA ↗

1996 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. *****DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****770819.*AK *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006575 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 70 ON THE INTERSTATE, I PULLED OFF ONTO THE ACCESS ROAD. MY CAR FELT VERY UNSTABLE. I WAS COMING DOWN A HILL INTO A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION, AND I WAS EASING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND MY CAR FELL UPON ITS TIRE. THE WHEEL WELL COLLAPSED ONTO THE TIRE, AND I COULD NOT MOVE. THE TOWING PEOPLE SAID THEY HAD SEEN MANY ECLIPSES WITH THIS PROBLEM. I AM NOW TERRIFIED TO DRIVE MY ECLIPSE (EVEN AFTER IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED). I HAD TAKEN MY CAR TO SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS AND MANY REPAIR SHOPS, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010346 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLES LEFT HEADLIGHT HAD A WHITE FILM OVER IT WHICH CAUSED THE LIGHT NOT TO EXTEND THE FULL DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *NLM SCC

Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10012147 at NHTSA ↗

BOTH DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF IN MY HAND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DOOR.

Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020675 at NHTSA ↗

MY 1996 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE WAS IN FOR SERVICING THE TIMING BELT. THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLED ME TO ASK IF I WOULD APPROVE AN UPGRADE FOR AN IDLER PULLEY FOR THE AC/POWER STEERING BELT. SINCE THE COST WAS ABOUT $190, I SAID "NO." AFTER PICKING THE CAR UP AND DRIVING HOME, THE AC/POWER STEERING BELT CAME OFF AND I LOST THE POWER STEERING. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE THE $190 UPGRADE DONE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL PART IS DEFECTIVE, AND MITSUBISHI KNOWS T…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039602 at NHTSA ↗

OWNER HAS HARDLY EVER USED THE CONVERTIBLE TOP. THE CONVERTIBLE TOP IS SEPARATING FROM THE FRAME,IT IS BULGING OUT. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040009 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-12-18 (December 18, 2000)

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 INTRUSION OF MOISTURE.

Reported: 1996-08-27 (August 27, 1996)

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.

Reported: 1998-03-26 (March 26, 1998)

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 REPLACED. IF THE TRANSFER CASE SHOWS OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION, THE TRANSFER CASE WILL BE REPLACED.

Reported: 1999-04-05 (April 5, 1999)

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.