FaultScore

1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse transmission problems

24 of the 185 complaints about the 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse are about the transmission — 13% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 90,000 miles.

D

24

Complaints

2

Crashes

1

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Automatic Transmission 6 25.0%
Manual Transmission 3 12.5%
Axle Assembly 3 12.5%
Clutch Assembly 3 12.5%
Transfer Case (4-WHEEL Drive) 3 12.5%
Power Train 1 4.2%
Column Shift 1 4.2%
Cooling Unit AND Lines 1 4.2%
Seal 1 4.2%
Constant Velocity Joint 1 4.2%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Mitsubishi Eclipse year

1990 27 8.6%
1991 21 6.7%
1992 23 7.3%
1993 13 4.1%
1994 12 3.8%
1995 55 17.5%
1996 19 6.1%
1997 24 7.6%
1998 30 9.6%
1999 28 8.9%
2000 19 6.1%
2001 21 6.7%
2003 22 7.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 90,000 miles Colubus, GA

POWER TRAIN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 1997 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN 1997, THE VEHICLE'S SPEED HAS NOT EXCEEDED 35MPH. ON THREE OCCASIONS, A MECHANIC ADJUSTED THE TRANSMISSION TIMING; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT IT WAS BEST TO CRASH THE VEHICLE SINCE THE COST FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS EQUIVALENT TO A NEW VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA complaint #10252739 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 103,000 miles Kempner, TX

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

CONSTANT OVER HEATING AND FLUID COMING OUT OF THE RADIATOR CAP, ALSO SEVERE SHAKING IN THE STERRING WHEEL AND 4TH GEAR. WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT?

NHTSA complaint #10146542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 1,000 miles Schaumburg, IL

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

I OWN A 1997 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GSX ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE. I HAVE A LEAK IN THE TRANSFER CASE, WHICH PREMATURELY CAUSES WEAR ON THE CASE HOUSING AND CAN LEAD TO A PART FAILURE RESULTING IN WHEEL LOCKAGE WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD AND THE DEALERSHIP IN MY AREA HAS IGNORED MY CONCERNS AND CAUSING ME GROW VERY CONCERNED WHEN I DRIVE MY VEHICLE. CAN YOU PLEASE INTERVENE HERE AND HAVE THEM FIX THIS PROBLEM?

NHTSA complaint #10129615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles Fort Walton Beach, FL

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

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.

at 158,065 miles Cyril, OK

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I HAVE OWNED MY CARE FOR 3 YEARS. IN THAT TIME I HAVE HAD A LEAKING SUNROOF, BROKEN PASSENGER REAR VIEW MIRROR, BROKEN PASSENGER WINDOW "WONT ROLL UP", NUMEROUS TIRE CHANGES, BAD VIBRATION, HORRIBLE NOISES WHEN TURNING WHEEL, HAVE REPLACED 2 TRANSMISSIONS, BOTH TIE ROD ENDS, 1 LOWER BALL JOINT AND CONTROL ARM SUSPENSION BAR"MORE INFO ON THIS BELOW", ALTERNATOR, BOTH HEADLIGHTS, 4 DIFFERANT SEATS OF BREAKS, 2 SEATS CONSTINTLY RUNNING LOW ON OIL, REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER, SEAT BELTS DON'T STOP, BATTERY CABLES KEEP CARODING, REPLACE SPARK PLUGS ATLEAST 3 TO 4 TIMES A YEAR, VIBRATES WHEN GOING DOWN ROAD. THOSE ARE JUST THE THINGS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD THAT I HAVE DONE TO THIS CAR. NOW TO THE ACCIDENT. AFTER I GOT OFF WORK I WAS ON MY WAY HOME WHEN I DECIDED TO GO TO MY FRIENDS SO WHILE DRIVING TO HER HOUSE I HEAR A LOUD POP AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW MY CAR IS CONTROLING ITSELF AND I CAN'T STEER IT. THIS WAS ALL DO TO MY LOWER BALL JOINT SHATTERING AND MY WHEEL ALMOST COMPLETLY DETACHING FROM MY CAR. NOW THE OTHER SIDE IS STARTING TO MAKE THAT HORRIBLE NOISE. THE CONTROL ARM SWUNG ON THE BOTTUM OF MY CAR AFTER IT BROKE DURING THIS AND TORE OUT MY OIL FILTER, OIL PAN, AND OXYGEN SENSEOR. HAVE YET TO RECIEVE ANY INFORMATION FROM MITSUBISHI.

NHTSA complaint #10090522 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lima, OH

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT OF GEAR I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF PASSING A LONG LINE OF TRUCKS AND HAD TO PULL OFF INTO THE LEFT SIDE BREAKDOWN LANE AND WAS NEARLY HIT BY NUMEROUS CARS DUE TO SENSORS IN THE CAR SHUTTING THE TRANSMISSION OFF DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAVE REPLACED 4 TRANSMISSIONS IN THE LAST 2 YEARS AND AM GETTING RID OF THIS CAR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. ITS A VERY RELIABLE CAR EXCEPT FOR THE TRANSMISSIONS, THEY ARE TOTAL JUNK AND MITSUBISHI SHOULD RECALL ALL OF THEM. THEY DEFINATELY ARE A SAFETY HAZARD AND I HAVE HAD TRANSMISSIONS LOCK UP ON ME GOING THROUGH INTERSECTIONS JUST ABOUT COLLIDING INTO OTHER VEHICLES. IM SURPRISED THAT CAR HASNT CAUSED A WRECK YET.

NHTSA complaint #10058781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LOS Gatos, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO VISIBLE WARNINGS AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10034212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Round Lake Beach, IL

POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS

DRIVEAXLE AND DRIVEAXLE HUB NUT CORRODED THROUGH.

NHTSA complaint #756563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Round Lake Beach, IL

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

DRIVEAXLE AND DRIVEAXLE HUB NUT CORRODED THROUGH.

NHTSA complaint #756563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Portland, TN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THESE CARS ARE NOT WORTH THE MONEY USED TO MAKE THEM!!!!. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED.

NHTSA complaint #751748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Topeka, KS

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH MANUAL TRANSMISSION WILL STAY IN ONE GEAR, AND CLUTCH PEDAL WILL ALWAYS GO TO FLOOR AND WILL STAY THERE UNTIL ENGINE IS TURNED OFF, THEN RESTARTED. VEHICLE WILL START WORKING AGAIN. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED MASTER AND SLAVE CYLINDER. TRANSFER CASE LEAKS AND THE CONSUMER WAS STILL EXPERIENCING GEAR SHIFTING PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #878474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Topeka, KS

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH MANUAL TRANSMISSION WILL STAY IN ONE GEAR, AND CLUTCH PEDAL WILL ALWAYS GO TO FLOOR AND WILL STAY THERE UNTIL ENGINE IS TURNED OFF, THEN RESTARTED. VEHICLE WILL START WORKING AGAIN. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED MASTER AND SLAVE CYLINDER. TRANSFER CASE LEAKS AND THE CONSUMER WAS STILL EXPERIENCING GEAR SHIFTING PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #878474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

North Tazewell, VA Crash 1 injured

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30MP RIGHT FRONT AXLE BROKE DUE TO POOR METAL, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND GAS TANK TO RUPTURE.

NHTSA complaint #874694 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

North Tazwell, VA

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

WHILE DRIVING AXLE BROKE, CAUSING A FUEL LEAK WHICH COUILD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #874225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ventura, CA

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

IN JUNE OF 1998 I BEGAN EXPERIENCING THE CLUTCH INTERMITTENTLY STICKING (SOMETIMES TO THE GROUND AND I WOULD HAVE TO MANUALLY PULL THE CLUTCH UP WHILE DRIVING) AT SPEEDS OF ANYWHERE FROM 5 TO 65 MILES AN HOUR. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO FIX MY CAR IN A PERIOD OF FOUR MONTHS THE DEALER I HAVE BEEN HAVING MY CAR SERVICED AT (TODEY MITSUBIHI IN VENTURA, CA) HAS FINALLY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY ENGINE, APPARENTLY THE ENGINE IS ACTUALLY SHIFTING AND THIS WAS CAUSING MY CLUTCH PROBLEMS. I AM AWARE THAT TODEY MITSUBISHI HAS SEEN AT LEAST ONE OTHER VEHICLE WITH THIS SAME ENGINE FLAW (SHIFTING) MANIFESTING ITSELF IN A FLUID LEAK.

NHTSA complaint #714691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Toms River, NJ

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

1 AND 1/2 YEARS AFTER I BOUGHT MY "BRAND NEW" CAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. I WAS TOLD THAT MY WATER PUMP AND GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ONE WEEK LATER I EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING, I WAS TOLD THE POWER STEERING PULLY, BRACKET AND BELT HAD GONE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD THE BRAKE PADS AND THE ROTERS RESURFACED MORE TIMES THEN I CARE TO REMEMBER. ON JULY 26, 1999, I HAD NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH MY TRANSMISSION. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TRANS WAS "OPERATING TO MANUFACTURE'S SPECS". ON NOVEMBER 3, 1999 THE DEARLERSHIP ADVISES ME I NEED A NEW TRANS.

NHTSA complaint #714417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Woburn, MA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #705295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Troy, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER'S SON WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT. HE WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO THE INTERSECTION, AND A CAR WAS SITTING IN TRAFFIC AND HIS FRONT WHEEL DRIVE DID NOT WORK. ALSO, ANTI LOCK BRAKES LOCKED UP AND HE COULDN'T STOP.

NHTSA complaint #829085 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cambria, CA

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT

CV BOOT WAS LIFTED OUT OF PLACEFLYING BACKWARD INTO TRAFFIC DUE TO BEING WRONGLY INSTALLED.

NHTSA complaint #541465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

White Plai, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

TRANSFER CASE LEAKS/LOCKS UP.

NHTSA complaint #534313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Clayton, OH

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL

TRANSFER CASE LEAKS FLUID OUT OF REAR SEAL.

NHTSA complaint #534307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rutland, MA

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

TRANSFER CASE SEAL LEAKS.

NHTSA complaint #531859 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Scranton, PA Crash

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT IN DRIVER SEAT. CLUTCH MALFUNCTION. VEHICLE HAS SURGED CAUSING CRASH. EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. NO NOTICE OF RECALL 97V08100 OR 97V081001.

NHTSA complaint #527465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sarasota, FL Fire

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND LEFT IT PARKED, FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DUE TO A TRANSMISSION LEAK.

NHTSA complaint #810792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse problems

← Full 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse report