FaultScore

1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse body problems

10 of the 185 complaints about the 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse are about the body and structure — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 60,000 miles.

A

10

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Roof AND Pillars 6 60.0%
Door 1 10.0%
Frame AND Members 1 10.0%
Body 1 10.0%
Bumpers 1 10.0%

Body & Structure across every Mitsubishi Eclipse year

1995 14 7.6%
1996 11 6.0%
1997 10 5.4%
1998 11 6.0%
1999 24 13.0%
2000 41 22.3%
2001 25 13.6%
2002 16 8.7%
2003 32 17.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 60,000 miles Fort Walton Beach, FL

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

FUEL RELAY SWITCH ON MY MITSUIBISHI ECLIPSE 1997 GS HAS FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. IN ORDER TO GET MY CAR TO START, I HAVE TO GO UNDER THE HOOD, "WIGGLE" THE RELAY SWITCH AND LIGHTLY TAP ON THE TOP OF IT. THIS FUEL RELAY HAS BEEN REPLACED BY DEALER AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO OCCUR, EVEN CAUSING THE CAR TO GO DEAD DURING TRAVEL. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THEY DO NOT KNOW WHY IT OCCURS. (20+ OCCURRENCES) ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF "BLUISH" GAS FUMES COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE, REGARDLESS OF IDLE OR IN MOTION. (ALWAYS OCCURRING) SUNROOF STICKS (5-10 OCCURRENCES) BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOWS RATTLE WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION AND AS THE DOOR IS BEING SHUT (CONTINUOUS OCCURRENCE) CLUTCH FAILURE, HARD SHIFTING (1 OCCURRENCE).

NHTSA complaint #10107645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Indianapolis, IN

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

CONSUMER STATED WATER WAS LEAKING INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE ROOF.

NHTSA complaint #10002607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tacoma, WA

STRUCTURE:BODY

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE 2 METAL PIECES IN THE MOVING PART OF HIS COVERTIBLE TOP IS BENT. HE ALSO STATES THAT THE MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT THE METAL WAS TOO SOFT FOR THAT KIND OF TOP. HE STATES THAT THE MANUFACTURER TOLD HIM THAT THEY RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM BUT DO NOT OFFER ANY KIND OF QUICK FIX OR RECALL. MR

NHTSA complaint #8020749 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cambria, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

RETRACTED CONVERTIBLE COVER BLOWS OFF IN CROSS WIND INTO TRAFFIC.

NHTSA complaint #751645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baltimore, MD

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

WHENEVER IT RAINED WATER POURED IN WHERE CONVERTIBLE CLIPS WERE LOCATED. DRIVER/PASSENGER SIDE WOULD GET VERY WET. POUCH OF WATER WOULD DEVELOP BETWEEN THE BACK SEAT & THE TRUNK. SPEAKERS IN THE REAR WOULD GET WET. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 11 TIMES & EACH TIME THE MECHANIC WAS SUPPOSE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, BUT IT WAS NEVER RESOLVED.

NHTSA complaint #875430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Antonio, TX

STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS

THE FRONT BUMPER HAS CRACK IN HALF ON DRIVERSIDE TO LOW GROUND

NHTSA complaint #729190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jacksonville, FL

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

TWO TOP BRACKETS IN THE CONVERTIBLE TOP HAVE BENT, PREVENTING TOP FROM LOWERING COMPLETELY. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM CAUSED BY STRETCHING IN A PAIR OF STRAPS IN THE TOP. THESE STRAPS HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN SUBSEQUENT MODELS. IF THIS IS A KNOWN DESIGN FAILURE, DO I AS THE CONSUMER HAVE ANY RECOURSE IN HAVING THIS REPAIRED?

NHTSA complaint #722464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Highpoint, NC

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

CONVERTIBLE TOP ALLOWS WATER TO LEAK UNDER SEAL , WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN THEN WATER SPILLS ONTO DRIVER WHICH CAUSES AN UNSAFE CONDITION / MITSUBISHI IS UNCOOPERATIVE IN CORRECTING PROBLEM ..... ALSO, WE HAVE DISCUSSED PROBLEM WITH OTHER ECLIPSE OWNERS AND THEY HAVE REPORTED SAME PROBLEM(S) . THE FAULTY TOP APPEARS AS THOUGH MITSUBISHI HAS A SERIOUS DESIGN PROBLEM. BESIDES THE SAFETY ISSUE I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIO , CARPET AND MATS AT ONLY 30,000 MILES .A HIGH AND UNECESSARY EXPENSE DUE TO WATER DAMAGE . AFTER REPORTING SAFETY ISSUE TO MITSUBISHI NO-ONE HAS CONTACTED ME .CLEARLY WE HAVE A CAR COMPANY THAT JUST DOES NOT CARE ABOUT ITS CUSTOMERS .

NHTSA complaint #719570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fort Worth, TX

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

CONVERTIBLE TOP BRACKET IS BENT ; WAS TOLD IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM; TOP WILL NOT DROP COMPLETELY; DEFECTIVE BRACKETS IN FRAME OF TOP.

NHTSA complaint #718271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Elkridge, MD

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

THE VEHICLE WOULD LEAK INSIDE & IN THE TRUNK FOR NO REASON WHEN IT RAINS. HAS BEEN TO DEALER, BUT DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE LEAKAGE. HAD SPECIALIST CHECK THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #843963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse problems

← Full 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse report