Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
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) — has no NHTSA recall or open investigation on file.
2 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 4 rest on owner reports alone.
Complaint category
Reports
Official status
Reference
Air Bags:frontal
16 · 10.1%
No official action
—
Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
15 · 9.4%
Recalled
Recall 00V421001 · Recall 99V066001
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
14 · 8.8%
No official action
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor
11 · 6.9%
No official action
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline
8 · 5%
No official action
—
Power Train:automatic Transmission
6 · 3.8%
Recalled
Recall 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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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 itPark 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
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 07/14/2026. 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?
2 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
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 07/14/2026.
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