Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Suspension27
- Engine and engine cooling26
- Service brakes, hydraulic24
- Air bags17
- Power train16
- Structure11
- Electrical system9
- Steering9
- Tires6
- Wheels6
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 10 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse failed the safety check 2.68% of the time — 83% more often than the average 1996 passenger car (1.47%). Median odometer at inspection: 116,832 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
36 first registered in 1996 are on Dutch roads; 42% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Remleiding door corrosie aangetast6
- Band beschadigd5
- Stofhoes stuurinrichting beschadigd, dicht niet af5
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect5
- Waarschuwingsinrichting antiblokkeersysteem geeft defect aan5
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm4
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht4
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen4
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
1 cars built in 1996 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 6 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In New Zealand
1 1996 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
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.
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. LOCKUP OF THE TRANSFER CASE CAN OCCUR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION.
THE FUEL TANK GASKETS FOR THE FUEL PUMP AND/OR GAUGE UNIT GASKET COULD HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY INSTALLED ALLOWING FUEL OR FUMES TO ESCAPE.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mitsubishi told its dealers about the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637066 | SUBJECT REGARDING REPLACEMENT CRANK ANGLE SENSOR WIRE COLORS. *TT |
| 636929 | SUBJECT REGARDING MANUAL TRANSMISSION FLUID. *TT |
| 636895 | VEHICLE TECHNICAL INFORMATION REGARDING MANUAL TRANSMISSION FLUID. *TT |
| 634624 | SUBJECT REGARDING CORRECTED AIR CONDITIONER MAGNETIC CLUTCH SERVICE PROCEDURES. *JG |
| 622435 | SUBJECT REGARDING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1390 PCM RELEARN. *TT |
| 618250 | SUBJECT REGARDING POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACEMENT. *JB |
| 618219 | SERVICE MANUAL REVISION ON REVOLUTION PICK-UP SENSOR RESISTANCE. *JB |
| 615981 | THIS BULLETIN DESCRIBES HOW TO INSTALL THE NEW POWER SEAT SLIDE MOTOR. *TT |
| 614011 | THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS OBD-II DRIVE CYCLE PROCEDURES AND WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION FOR OBD-II DRIVE CYCLE ON AFFECTED VEHICLES. *TT |
| 610451 | INFORMATION AND RELATED INSTALLATION PROCEDURES ABOUT A NEW, IMPROVED HEAD GASKET FOR VEHILCES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.0L, NON-TURBO, 420A ENGINE. *TT |
| 6088731 | THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS RECOMMENDED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION / TRANSAXLE MAINTENANCE INFORMATION. *TT |
| 6088726 | THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS RECOMMENDED MANUAL TRANSMISSION / TRANSAXLE MAINTENANCE INFORMATION. *TT |
| 606606 | INFORMATION REGARDING INTERMITTENT LOSS OF CRUISE CONTROL. *TT |
| 606603 | SUBJECT REGARDING CHRYSLER REPROGRAMMING CATRIDGE ROUND-UP. *TT |
| 606596 | INFORMATION REGARDING CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS FOR REMANUFACTURED SHORT BLOCKS. *TT |
| 604262 | PCM REPROGRAMMING & REPLACEMENT SUMMARY (420A ENGINE). *TT |
| 604258 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF A SQUEAKING, A HARD RUBBING NOISE, AND / OR A LIGHT TAPPING OR KNOCKING SOUND FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS. *TT |
| 604256 | VEHICLES EXHIBITING POPPING AND/OR CREAKING NOISE IN DOOR WINDOW GLASS. *TT |
| 602933 | SUBJECT REGARDING POWER STEERING BELT ALIGNEMENT AND TROUBLESHOOTING PROCEDURES. *YC |
| 602932 | CONCERNS WITH DELAYED TRANSAXLE ENGAGEMENT. *YC |
| 602928 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE FRONT WINDSHIELD WASHER NOZZLE LEAKAGE. *YC |
| 602458 | THIS BULLETIN DESCRIBES THE OPERATION OF THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL LEAK DETECTION SYSTEM AND HOW TO DIANOSE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES RELEVANT TO THIS SYSTEM. *YC |
| 602049 | BRIEF INFORMATION ON ADHESION PROMOTERS. *YC |
| 602046 | EXPERIENCING LEAKAGE FROM WINDSHIELD WASHER NOZZLE. *YC |
| 602044 | INFORMATION ON CONVERTIBLE TOP SIDE RAIL FOAM SEAL INSTALLATION. *YC |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
LOWER CONTRTOL ARM BALL JOINT
TRANSFER CASE LEAKAGE
TRANSFER CASE LOCKUP
TRANSFER CASE LOCKUP
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation