Model year record

1992 Mitsubishi Eclipse recalls & problems

The 1992 Mitsubishi Eclipse has 3 safety recalls and 49 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (23 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints49filed by owners

Crashes · fires3 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths3 · 1reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Exterior lightingMay 11, 2009

Headlights

Recall 09E02500042,540 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

Problem: DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Exterior lightingMar 23, 2006

Exterior lighting

Recall 06E02600061,944 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

Problem: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Power trainMar 26, 1998

Automatic transmission

Recall 98V06900124,275 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. LOCKUP OF THE TRANSFER CASE CAN OCCUR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION.
Risk: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR ADEQUACY OF THE TRANSFER CASE OIL VOLUME, TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AND OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION OF THE TRANSFER CASE MECHANISM. IF OIL VOLUME IS INSUFFICIENT, THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF OIL WILL BE ADDED. IF THERE IS TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AFFECTED COMPONENTS WILL BE REPLACED. IF THE TRANSFER CASE SHOWS OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION, THE TRANSFER CASE WILL BE REPLACED.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

1992 Mitsubishi Eclipse 2-DR.

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Eclipse

24mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 29 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel

Eclipse

23mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 28 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel

Eclipse

22mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel

Eclipse

21mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 25 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel

Eclipse

21mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,900/year to fuel

Eclipse

20mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,100/year to fuel

Eclipse

19mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel

Eclipse

18mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 19 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Power trainAutomatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Column shift; Automatic transmission	23	1	1	0	73,000 mi
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline	9	0	0	0	—
Electrical systemIgnition; Wiring › Interior/under dash	6	0	0	0	—
TiresTread/belt	6	5	0	5	—
Seat beltsFront › Webbing; Front › Anchorage	5	2	0	2	—
Vehicle speed controlLinkages	3	0	0	0	—
Unknown or other	3	0	0	0	—
SuspensionFront	2	0	0	0	—
StructureFrame and members	2	0	0	0	—
VisibilityGlass, side/rear; Windshield	2	0	0	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components	1	0	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineFuel injection system	1	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Power train › Manual transmissionFire
TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAL WAS LEAKING FROM THE TRANSFER CASE. IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE FAILURE, THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE SEALS. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V069001 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000. KMJ
May 1, 2011 · 130,000 miles
Power train › Automatic transmission
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 MITSHUBISHI ECLIPSE. AFTER VISITING THE NHTSA WEBSITE NOTICED RECALL#98V069001 WAS RELATED TO THIS VEHICLE CONCERNING POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. ALSO. THERE WAS A LEAK COMING FROM THE TRANSFER CASE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL RELATED TO THIS VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,500. *AK
Mar 1, 2007 · 73,000 miles
Power train
1992 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION, NEW ENGINE, AND COOLING SYSTEM. **CC *NM
Jan 1, 1901
Electrical system › Starter assembly
THE STARTER IN THE CONSUMER'S 1992 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE FAILED. *NM *SB *NM
Jan 1, 2005
Power train › Transfer case (4-wheel drive)
THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK. THE CONSUMER WAS NEVER CONTACTED ABOUT A RECALL RELATED TO THIS FAILURE AND REQUESTED ASSISTANCE IN REPLACING DEFECTIVE PARTS (RECALL # 98V0069001). THE TIRE BELTS OF THREE TIRES BROKE. THE TIRES WERE UNDER ONE YEAR OLD AND HAD 37,000 MILES ON THEM. THE DEALER REFUSED TO GIVE THE CONSUMER A CREDIT FOR THE DEFECTIVE TIRES (GOODYEAR CONCORDE) ( REFERENCE# 10011917-NVS216GH). *SCC *NLM
Jul 3, 2003
Wheels › Rim
THE RIMS BENT WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE AT HIGH SPEEDS. *NLM
May 1, 2003 · 68,000 miles
Structure
THE VEHICLES STRAP LINK FAILED AND CAUSED THE CONVERTIBLE TOP TO BE INOPERATIVE. *NLM
Jan 1, 2003 · 61,000 miles
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and associated pulleys
THE VEHICLES CRANK PULLEY SHAFT CAME APART WHILE DRIVING. *NLM
May 1, 2002 · 49,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

TRANSFER CASE LEAKAGEClosedLed to recall 98V168001
THE TRANSFER CASE OF THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD), MITSUBISHI GALANT, ALLEGEDLY LEAKS OIL CAUSING ONE OR MORE WHEELS TO LOCKUP; OR THE INABILITY TO TRANSMIT ENGINE POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS.THE VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME TRANSFER CASE DESIGN AS THE ECLIPSE VEHICLES WHICH HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME ALLEGED DEFECT.
RQ98007 · opened May 11, 1998 · closed Aug 28, 1998
TRANSFER CASE LOCKUPClosedLed to recall 98V069001
EA98002 · opened Jan 30, 1998 · closed Apr 30, 1998
TRANSFER CASE LOCKUPClosed
ALLEGED DRIVETRAIN FAILURE THAT CAN LEAD TO LOCK-UP OF THE REAR OR ALL WHEELS.
PE97040 · opened Sep 4, 1997 · closed Jan 30, 1998