1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse
This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
COMPLAINTS PER YEAR
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1986 | 0 |
| 1987 | 0 |
| 1988 | 0 |
| 1989 | 2 |
| 1990 | 46 |
| 1991 | 54 |
| 1992 | 49 |
| 1993 | 36 |
| 1994 | 34 |
| 1995 | 307 |
| 1996 | 159 |
| 1997 | 136 |
| 1998 | 129 |
| 1999 | 120 |
| 2000 | 308 |
| 2001 | 209 |
| 2002 | 73 |
| 2003 | 124 |
| 2004 | 14 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 99 |
| 2007 | 107 |
| 2008 | 71 |
| 2009 | 42 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 8 |
KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS
10% of complaints: air bags — 16 distinct reports on file.
CRASH INJURY9% of complaints: suspension — 14 distinct reports on file.
CRASHShow complaint excerpts
WHILE TRAVELING DOWN OUR STREET, MY LOWER BALL JOINT ON MY 1996 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GS FAILED. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. MY VEHICLE PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT BEFORE THE FAILURE.
NHTSA ODI report, 20040113
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.
NHTSA ODI report, 20030312
9% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 14 distinct reports on file.
FIRE7% of complaints: service brakes, hydraulic — 11 distinct reports on file.
5% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 8 distinct reports on file.
SAFETY TIMELINE
THE FUEL TANK GASKETS FOR THE FUEL PUMP AND/OR GAUGE UNIT GASKET COULD HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY INSTALLED ALLOWING FUEL OR FUMES TO ESCAPE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK AND IF THE GASKETS ARE FOUND TO BE LEAKING, REPLACE THE FUEL TANK, CAPS AND GASKETS.
Campaign 96V158001 — check if this car was fixed
TRANSFER CASE LOCKUP
TRANSFER CASE LOCKUP
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. LOCKUP OF THE TRANSFER CASE CAN OCCUR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION.
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, T
Campaign 98V069001 — check if this car was fixed
TRANSFER CASE LEAKAGE
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.
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.
Campaign 99V066001 — check if this car was fixed
LOWER CONTRTOL ARM BALL JOINT
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 ADD
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 JOIN
Campaign 00V421001 — check if this car was fixed
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER S
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
Campaign 06E026000 — check if this car was fixed
CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM
Remedy: ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.
Campaign 06E023000 — check if this car was fixed
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE N
Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
Campaign 06E049000 — check if this car was fixed
CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE RE
Remedy: AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.
Campaign 06E060000 — check if this car was fixed
CERTAIN AIRTEX FUEL PUMP MODULE ASSEMBLIES, P/N E7081H, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE WALL OF THE FLARED FITTING OF THE FUEL PUMP IS NOT THICK ENOUGH TO PRE
Remedy: AIRTEX WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AIRTEX AUTOMOTIVE AT 800-880-3056.
Campaign 07E055000 — check if this car was fixed
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Campaign 09E012000 — check if this car was fixed
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
Campaign 09E025000 — check if this car was fixed
BUY-SMART CHECKLIST
1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse — pre-purchase inspection
- Test/inspect for air bags issues (16 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for suspension issues (14 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (14 reports on file for this year).
- Verify recall 96V158001 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
- Verify recall 98V069001 (power train) has been completed.
- Verify recall 99V066001 (suspension) has been completed.
- Verify recall 00V421001 (suspension) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E026000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E023000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E049000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 06E060000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 07E055000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
- Verify recall 09E012000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 09E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL
BEST YEARS
WORST YEARS
FAQ
Is the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse is rated "worse than typical".
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse?
The most-reported component is air bags:frontal, accounting for 10% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse have?
11 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.