FaultScore

1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse transmission problems

30 of the 174 complaints about the 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse are about the transmission — 17% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 74,000 miles.

B

30

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Automatic Transmission 10 33.3%
Manual Transmission 6 20.0%
Transfer Case (4-WHEEL Drive) 5 16.7%
Column Shift 3 10.0%
Power Train 2 6.7%
Clutch Assembly 2 6.7%
Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch 1 3.3%
Differential Unit 1 3.3%

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 100,000 miles SAN Jose, CA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

I BOUGHT MY 98 ECLIPSE, STANDARD, IN 2003, NOT EVEN A YEAR AFTER I HAD IT IT DIED ON ME ON THE FREEWAY ONE DAY. TURNED OUT IT WAS THE SPEED SENSOR THAT GOT ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE. ABOUT ANOTHER 6 MONTHS LATER THE FOUND AN OIL LEAK ON THE HEAD GASKET THAT WAS MAKING ME MISFIRE, THAT WAS FIXED. THE CAR WAS FINE UNTIL ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO WHEN THE ENGINE WENT OUT ON ME BECAUSE APPARENTLY THE ENGINE OIL AND COOLANT WERE SOMEHOW MIXING, MY HOSES WERE OUT, SO WAS MY WATER PUMP, O2 SENSOR AND FUEL PUMP SENSOR, ALL AT THE SAME TIME. WELL I HAD MAJOR WORK DONE EVERYTHING WAS PUT IN NEW, ABOUT A MONTH LATER MY DRIVER DOOR HANDLE FALLS OFF, THAT COST ME 150 DOLLARS! ONE MONTH AFTER THAT, NOW, MY SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING ALL OF A SUDDEN AND 2 WEEKS LATER MY TRANSMISSION GOES OUT. ALSO MY CLUTCH IS GOING OUT. SO NOW I CANT DRIVE THE CAR ANY HIGHER THAN 5TH GEAR BECAUSE IT THROWS MY GEAR OUT!!! SINCE I STILL OWE 6K ON THE CAR I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO FIX IT. WHICH IS GOING TO END UP COSTING ME, IN ALL I'VE SPENT AND AM ABOUT TO SPEND, AS MUCH AS I STILL OWE ON THE CAR!

NHTSA complaint #10159663 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fremont, CA

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

DT: THE CONSUMER HAD MANUFACTURER'S RECALL C9803T REPAIRS DONE. AFTER THE RECALL WORK WAS DONE THE VEHICLE LEAKED OIL AND THE TRANSFER CASE BROKE. WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD HIM TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THEY WOULD SEND HIS COMPLAINT # 375 625 FOR REVIEW. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ON 8-30-05.

NHTSA complaint #10134797 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 68,000 miles Houston, TX

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

1) NONE 2) TRANSFER CASE BEGAN LEAKING (HASN'T LOCKED UP YET) 3) NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE, DEALER WILL NOT RECALL FOR A 2ND TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10124142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,000 miles Carlsbad, NM

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

WHILE IDLING IN TRAFFIC THE DIFFERENTIAL EXPLODED AND KNOCKED A LARGE CHUNK OF METAL OUT. THIS RESULTED IN TRANSMISSION LOCKING UP AND OIL SPILLING. VEHICLE WILL ONLY ROLL BACKWARD.*AK TOWED VEHICLE TO CONSUMER'S HOME. DEALERSHIP WILL BE CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #10117606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,000 miles Carlsbad, NM

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE IDLING IN TRAFFIC THE DIFFERENTIAL EXPLODED AND KNOCKED A LARGE CHUNK OF METAL OUT. THIS RESULTED IN TRANSMISSION LOCKING UP AND OIL SPILLING. VEHICLE WILL ONLY ROLL BACKWARD.*AK TOWED VEHICLE TO CONSUMER'S HOME. DEALERSHIP WILL BE CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #10117606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 123,000 miles Austin, TX

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

I WAS EXITING AN INTERSTATE AND APPROACHING A TRAFFIC SIGNAL. THE REAR WHEELS OF THE VEHICLE LOCKED UP DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE TRANSFER CASE. THIS IS THE DIRECT RESULT OF THE TRANSFER CASE HAVING INADEQUATE DESIGN AND/OR MANUFACTURING ERROR (REF NHTSA RECALL ID: 98V069001). BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER ARE REFUSING TO PERFORM RECALL WORK AT NO CHARGE CITING THAT THE RECALL SERVICE WAS PERFORMED ONCE BEFORE. DEFECTIVE PARTS WITHIN THE TRANSFER CASE WERE REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL NOTICE ONCE BEFORE HOWEVER MANUFACTURING FLAWS IN THE TRANSFER CASE DESIGN WERE NEVER CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE FAILURE OF THE TRANSFER CASE WAS ONLY DELAYED, NOT CORRECTED, THROUGH THE INITIAL RECALL SERVICE. TELEPHONE INQUIRIES MADE TO NHTSA AND THE TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL?S OFFICE RESULTED IN FEEDBACK SUPPORTING THIS POSITION.

NHTSA complaint #10112120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 62,000 miles Riverside, CA

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING NOISE FORM THE TRANSFER CASE. THE REAR TIRE LOCKED UP, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #10109734 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Summerville, SC

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE HAS 90,000 MILES AND IS 1998 MANUFACTURING DATE. ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ARE BOTH COMPLETELY IRREPARABLE. NO EVIDIENCE OF LOW OIL LEVEL OR OTHER MAINTENANCE NEGLECT WHICH LED TO THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND IS NOW SCRAP. ALTHOUGH FAILURE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, A COMPLETE VEHICLE FAILURE AT 90,000 MILES IS NOT NORMAL OR ACCEPTABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10056723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 54,000 miles Beaver Falls, PA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE VEHICLE LEAKED TRANSMISSION FLUID, AND THE RAG TOP ROOF LEAKED WATER WHEN IT RAINED. DEALER REPAIRED BOTH PROBLEMS SIX TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #10009907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,000 miles Bolingbrook, IL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ENGINE BURNS OIL AT APPROX. 1 QT PER WEEK, ALSO HAS POSSIBLE LEAKS IN ENGINE WITH ONLY 69,000 MILES ON ENGINE. THE CAR HAS BEEN RECALLED TWICE FOR SAME PROBLEM AND IT IS STILL HAPPENED AGAIN. HAS HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES FOR LIFE OF ENGINE. TRANSMISSION SOMETIMES STAYS ON LEVEL 2 AND 3 FOR UPTO 20MINUTES AT 60MPH DOES NOT CHANGE AND SHIFTS HARD WITH SLOW OR FAST ACCELERATION. LEAKS TRANSMISSION FLUID, HAS FUEL THROTTLE LEAKAGES AND CONTROL LEAKS FROM 45,000 MILES UP TO NOW THURSADY, JANUARY 30, 2003.

NHTSA complaint #10004959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles Fayetteville, NC

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ENGINE BURNS OIL AT APPROX. 1 QT PER WEEK, ALSO HAS POSSIBLE LEAKS IN ENGINE WITH ONLY 69,000 MILES ON ENGINE. HAS HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES FOR LIFE OF ENGINE. BRAKE ROTORS WARPED AND NEED REPLACEMENT, UNSURE OF WHEN LAST CHANGED. TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND SHIFTS HARD WITH SLOW OR FAST ACCELERATION.

NHTSA complaint #10000870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Long Beach, CA

POWER TRAIN

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TS THERE WAS AN ODOR IN THE VEHICLE, THE CLUTCH HAD GONE OUT, THE REAR BRAKES SQUEAKED, AND WATER LEAKED INTO THE INTERIOR ON THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE DEALER SOLD HER AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. SCC

NHTSA complaint #10002396 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gleandale, CA

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

WHILE DRIVING ALL THE VEHICLES WHEELS LOCKED UP, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK FROM THE TRANSFER CASE. *TS *JG *NLM

NHTSA complaint #8023363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Whiteland, IN

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

THE CAR JUST STOPPED MOVING IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY AND THEIR WAS NO WIERD SOUNDS TO FORWARN ME OF ANYTHING! THIS HAPPENED IN JANUARY 2001 AND THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE CLUTCH. THE DEALER WAS RUDE/MEAN, BUT THEN I CALLED MITSUBISHI MOTORS AND THEY TOLD THE DEALER TO CHANGE THE CLUTCH. HERE IT IS 22 MONTHS LATER, 10/2002, AND THE CLUTCH IS GOING OUT AGAIN THE DEALER IS TELLING ME. THE DEALERS SERVICE WOMEN TOLD ME I MUST BE A BAD DRIVER, AND I TOLD HER I'VE DROVE STICKS FOR 23 YEARS AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A CLUTCH BEFORE, LET ALONE 2 CLUTCHES! SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS CAR! 2ND PROBLEM THEY SAID AND MY TITLE SHOWS THE CAR TO BE A 1998, YET THE ORIGINAL STICKER ON THE BODY AROUND THE DOOR SAYS MANUFACTURED IN THE USA IN 1997. DT

NHTSA complaint #769008 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fleetwood, PA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER STATES THIS IS HIS THIRD TRANSMISSION IN 2 YEARS. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #564030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

South SAN Franciso, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SWITCH GEARS.

NHTSA complaint #8009274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Savanah, GA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH A LOUD NOISE COMES FROM UNDER VEHICLE. PARTS DROPPED ONTO THE GROUND FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE, TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS ALSO ON THE GROUND. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8005046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Delmont, PA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE. VEHICLE WOULD SLIP FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER. DEALER CONTACTED. PLEASE ADD VIN.

NHTSA complaint #8003489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fleetwood, PA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER STATES THIS IS HIS THIRD TRANSMISSION IN 2 YEARS. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #564030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Guayama, PR

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

CONSUMER STATES MANUAL TRANSMISSION (CLUTCH) WENT OUT IN 1 YEAR AT 20,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #785511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Palm Desert, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #752528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wilmer, AL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND DOWN SHIFTING/ TACH RED LINES BEFORE SHIFTING/ BURNT TRANSMISSION FLUID AT 19000 MILES ON THAT FLUID ALSO MY SPARK PLUGS WERE BURNT/ CHANGED FLUID ,FLUID HAS NOW TURNED YELLOW MILES ON FLUID 7942/ CAR IS RUNNING VER POORLY/DEALER CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM SEEMED VERY UPSET BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE THE CAR SERVICED THERE.WILL CHANGE TRANS FLUID TODAY THE LAST TIME I CHANGED THE FLUID IT DID SHIFT BETTER FOR A SHORT PERIOD.

NHTSA complaint #751508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Palm Desert, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

INTERMITTENTLY TRANSMISSION WILL STICK IN 2ND GEAR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD, AND HESITATE BETWEEN SHIFTS. DEALER IS BLAMING PROBLEM ON HOW THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. ONE YEAR AGO DEALER HAD TO REPLACE SOLENOID FOR SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #895389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sterling, VA

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

TRANSFER CASE FOR 4- WHEEL DRIVE LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, CAUSING WHEELS TO LOCK UP, AND VEHICLE TO SPIN AROUND NUMEROUS TIMES. DEALER CLAIMED DEFECT WAS CAUSED BY A MISSING BOLT.

NHTSA complaint #888842 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Travis AF Base, CA

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

VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL FROM TRANSFER CASE. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF NHTSA RECALL 98V069001 DUE TO VIN.

NHTSA complaint #883296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oxnard, CA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION POPS OUT OF GEAR THIS IS THE 3RD TIME.

NHTSA complaint #717260 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Memphis, TN

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

CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER CONCERNING NHTSA RECALL #98 V 069 001/TRANSFER CASE WHICH COULD LOCKUP DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION. MANUFACTURER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS RECALL. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.

NHTSA complaint #850193 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Diego, CA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #609620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Anaheim, CA

POWER TRAIN

GEAR EXPERIENCING VIBRATION.

NHTSA complaint #606806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chandler, AZ

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

A GRINDING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. ALSO A CRACKING NOISE WHEN DOWNSHIFTING INTO 2ND AND 1ST GEARS. DEALER SAID NO PROBLEM COULD BE FOUND.

NHTSA complaint #530540 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse problems

← Full 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse report