CarModelProblems.com

1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse Problems & Recalls

Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026

High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline — runs 2.2× the fleet median for that category across the 2583 model-years tracked on this site.
136Complaints
12Recalls
22Crashes
6Fires
16Injured
1Deaths

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 — Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline (12.5% of complaints) — has no NHTSA recall or open investigation on file.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline complaints here are 2.2× the median for that category across the 2583 model-years tracked on this site.

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 categoryReportsOfficial statusReference
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline17 · 12.5%No official action
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine15 · 11%No official action
Air Bags:frontal12 · 8.8%No official action
Power Train:automatic Transmission6 · 4.4%RecalledRecall 98V069001
Structure:body:roof And Pillars6 · 4.4%No official action
Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint6 · 4.4%RecalledRecall 00V421001

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

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE17 · 12.5%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE15 · 11%
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL12 · 8.8%
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION6 · 4.4%
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS6 · 4.4%
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT6 · 4.4%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL5 · 3.7%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING5 · 3.7%
SUSPENSION5 · 3.7%
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY4 · 2.9%

Percentages are the share of the 136 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 — 12 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

Seats:front Assembly:head Restraint

NHTSA campaign 97V081001 · 1997 · reported 05/12/1997

THE HEADREST SUPPORT BRACKET CAN BREAK, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY. 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 06E064000 · 2006 · reported 07/17/2006

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

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

Exterior Lighting

NHTSA campaign 06E044000 · 2006 · reported 05/22/2006

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

“ENGINE FAILS. HAPPENS EVERY 3 OR 4 MONTHS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND ENGINE QUITS. WAIT 3 OR 4 MINUTES AND CAR…”NHTSA complaint 768266 — filed 10/09/2002 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
“DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER VEHICLE. DRIVER STOPPED VEHICLE/ PUT VEHICLE IN PARK/ LOOKED UNDER CAR AND SAW OIL WAS LEAKING. WHEN PRESSING GAS…”NHTSA complaint 8003685 — filed 02/06/2002 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
“THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TWO ENGINE FAILURES WITHIN SIX MONTHS. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE THRUST BEARING WHICH HOLDS THE CAMSHAFT…”NHTSA complaint 564116 — filed 01/18/2002 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

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

Complaint trend by year filed

2119972218199920302001207200324102005242007212010212017

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse?

Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline issues are the most-reported category, cited in 17 of 136 NHTSA complaints (12.5%), followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (15), air bags:frontal (12), power train:automatic transmission (6). Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How many complaints does the 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse have?

136 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 22 involved a crash, 6 involved a fire, and 16 reported injuries. 1 deaths were reported.

Does the 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse have any recalls?

Yes — 12 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 1997 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.