1999 Mitsubishi ECLIPSE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
101 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 35 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body:Door is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 101 complaints (13.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 17 | 16.8% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 11.9% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 5.0% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 4.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 4.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body:Door | 14 |
| Steering | 9 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 8 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 6 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 5 |
| Suspension | 5 |
| Wheels:Rim | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
Structure:Body:Door: 14; Steering: 9; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 8; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 6; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 5; Suspension: 5; Wheels:Rim: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 12 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 6
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 66 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 | 12 |
| 2001 | 18 |
| 2002 | 23 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 17 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
2000: 12; 2001: 18; 2002: 23; 2003: 5; 2004: 17; 2005: 8; 2006: 5; 2007: 6; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2012: 2; 2019: 2
Pattern summary
Structure:Body:Door leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 17 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000572 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)
MY 99 ECLIPSE HAS NOW 84,000 MILES. ON NOVEMBER 8 2002 MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LOST THIRD GEAR, I HAD IT REPLACED AND NOW THE SECOND TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THE FIRST TRANSMISSION HAD THE INPUT AND OUTPUT SPEED SENSORS REPLACED TWICE ALONG WITH THE IGNITION BOX. THE TRANSMISSION I HAVE NOW THE DEALER STATES,"THE CODE READS FAULTY OVER-DRIVE SOLENOID BUT MY TECHNICIAN BELIEVES IT IS INTERNAL." I HAVE HAD ALL THE MAINTENANCE COMPLETED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OWNERS MANUAL AND STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 83,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000572 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000617 · 2002-12-27 (December 27, 2002)
MY CAR IS LEAKING BLACK SEALING ON BOTH DOORS. THE BLACK SEALANT MELTS FROM SOMEWHERE INSIDE THE DOOR PLASTIC COVER AND COMES OUT ON THE BOTTOM. IT HARDENS AND LOOKS LIKE STICKY TAR. TRIED TO CLEAN IT, BUT IT WILL NOT SCRUB OFF OR SCRAPE OFF CLEANLY. FIRST TIME I SAW LITTLE BLACK SPOTS, I BROUGHT IT UP TO THE DEALERSHIP TO ASK IF THIS WOULD BE A PART OF MY WARRENTY COVERAGE. I READ MY WARRENTY BOOK MANY TIMES AND I COULDN'T FIND THAT TYPE OF DEFECT ANY WHERE LISTED. THE GUY TOLD ME THAT IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRENTY, AND SINCE THE SPOTS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000617 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008782 · 2002-04-16 (April 16, 2002)
THE SEAT BROKE WHILE DRIVER WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SERVICE PERSON INDICATED THAT SEAT BROKE DUE TO OVER HEATING DURING THE WELDING. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE WELDING IS PERFORMED BY ROBOTS, AND I WONDER HOW MANY SEATS WILL BREAK BEFORE THE THREE YEAR PERIOD. ****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****760780. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008782 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018483 · 2003-05-09 (May 9, 2003)
THE UPPER PULLEY HAS SQUEALED FOR SOME TIME NOW. I TOOK IT THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE BELTS AND BLAMED THE PROBLEM ON THEM. THIS STOPPED THE PROBLEM FOR A SHORT TIME AND HAS PERSISTED SINCE. I HAVE TRIED TIGHTENING THE BELT, USING BELT DRESSING, AND LUBRICATION THE PULLEY. MOST TIMES THE SOUND STOPS, ONLY TO RETURN. IT OCCURS MOSTLY WHEN IT RAINS OR HEAVY MOISTURE IS IN THE AIR. THE DATE OF FIRST INCIDENT IS INACCURATE, I AM NOT SURE OF THE FIRST OCCURRENCE AT THIS TIME. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018483 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024337 · 2003-06-18 (June 18, 2003)
THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A RECALL 00V421001 REPAIR ON 4/12/2001 CONCERNING LOWER BALL JOINT BOOT. DEALER INSPECTED THE PARTS AND RESEALED THE JOINT. RECENTLY, CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE WHILE DRIVING AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. ON 6/7/2003 DEALER STATED BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024337 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025536 · 2003-07-07 (July 7, 2003)
CLUTCH FAILED AT 51,000 MILES AS A RESULT OF A BAD MASTER CLUTCH CYLINDER. WITHIN 30 MILES, HARMONIC BALANCER FAILED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025536 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029320 · 2003-07-27 (July 27, 2003)
MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. STICK SHIFT WOULD POP OUT OF 5TH GEAR ON OCCASSION AND THEN STARTED TO POP OUT OF GEAR IN 4TH THEN COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CAR HAS LESS THAN 43000 MILES ON IT. I'VE HEARD OF SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. ALSO DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE FELL OFF, AGAIN HEARD SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM. OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 42,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029320 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055001 · 2004-01-27 (January 27, 2004)
HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT AT 80,000 MILES. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055001 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V421001 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗04V428000 · Equipment:Other:Labels
Reported: 2004-09-01 (September 1, 2004)
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH REMOVABLE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS AFFIXED TO THE DASH AND TO THE SUNVISOR DO NOT MEET THE SIZE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Remedy: MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL CURRENT 2000-2004 NATIVA OWNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. THE NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIVA OWNERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL OR MAY 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.
NHTSA campaign record ↗