CarModelProblems.com

1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse Problems & Recalls

Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/12/2026

Typical complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Air Bags:frontal — is about in line with the fleet median for that category across the 1998 model-years tracked on this site.
159Complaints
11Recalls
25Crashes
5Fires
10Injured
0Deaths

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

Is this problem acknowledged?

The most-reported problem — Air Bags:frontal (10.1% of complaints) — recall and investigation status for this vehicle is currently unavailable.

Complaint categoryReportsOfficial statusReference
Air Bags:frontal16 · 10.1%not available
Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint15 · 9.4%RecalledRecall 00V421001 · Recall 99V066001
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine14 · 8.8%not available
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor11 · 6.9%not available
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline8 · 5%not available
Power Train:automatic Transmission6 · 3.8%RecalledRecall 98V069001

Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Complaints by component

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL16 · 10.1%
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT15 · 9.4%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE14 · 8.8%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR11 · 6.9%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE8 · 5%
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION6 · 3.8%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL6 · 3.8%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP6 · 3.8%
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS5 · 3.1%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS5 · 3.1%

Percentages are the share of the 159 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.

Recalls — 11 campaigns

Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

NHTSA campaign 00V421001 · 2000 · reported 12/18/2000

THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. THIS CAMPAIGN SUPERCEDES MMC'S PREVIOUS SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN, SEE 99V-066. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Power Train:automatic Transmission

NHTSA campaign 98V069001 · 1998 · reported 03/26/1998

THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Fuel System, Gasoline

NHTSA campaign 96V158001 · 1996 · reported 08/27/1996

IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, THE FUEL LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

NHTSA campaign 99V066001 · 1999 · reported 04/05/1999

THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting

NHTSA campaign 06E060000 · 2006 · reported 06/29/2006

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting:headlights

NHTSA campaign 09E025000 · 2009 · reported 05/11/2009

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting:headlights

NHTSA campaign 06E023000 · 2006 · reported 03/13/2006

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting

NHTSA campaign 09E012000 · 2009 · reported 04/07/2009

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting

NHTSA campaign 06E049000 · 2006 · reported 05/24/2006

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

NHTSA campaign 07E055000 · 2007 · reported 07/26/2007

IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FUEL LEAK COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting

NHTSA campaign 06E026000 · 2006 · reported 03/23/2006

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What owners report

“CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER BECAUSE SRS AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER STATED THAT BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED…”NHTSA complaint 8014625 — filed 07/24/2002 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
“CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 40 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.”NHTSA complaint 847356 — filed 09/09/1999 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
“VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. IT SLID OFF THE ROAD INTO AN ENBANKMENT AND ROLLED OVER INTO A COMPLETE TURN. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE…”NHTSA complaint 837435 — filed 05/04/1999 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Complaint trend by year filed

491997141719992926200115820031672005242007222010312017

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse?

Air bags:frontal issues are the most-reported category, cited in 16 of 159 NHTSA complaints (10.1%), followed by suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint (15), engine and engine cooling:engine (14), service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor (11). Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How many complaints does the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse have?

159 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Of those, 25 involved a crash, 5 involved a fire, and 10 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.

Does the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse have any recalls?

Yes — 11 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 00V421001. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Has NHTSA acted on the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse's reported problems?

Recall or investigation data is partly unavailable for this vehicle right now — check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the authoritative answer.

Is a complaint proof of a defect?

No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.