The 1993 Mitsubishi Eclipse has 4 safety recalls and 36 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (13 complaints).
Recalls4safety recalls
Complaints36filed by owners
Crashes · fires2 · 1reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths3 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Exterior lighting › Headlights
NHTSA recall 09E025000 · May 11, 2009 · 42,540 vehicles · opened 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 lighting
NHTSA recall 09E012000 · Apr 7, 2009 · 16,270 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (OVSC)
Problem: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 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: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Exterior lighting
NHTSA recall 06E026000 · Mar 23, 2006 · 61,944 vehicles · opened 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 train › Automatic transmission
NHTSA recall 98V069001 · Mar 26, 1998 · 24,275 vehicles · opened 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
1993 Mitsubishi Eclipse 2-DR.
Overall
Not 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 / 20 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 train Automatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Column shift
13
0
0
0
—
Engine and engine cooling Engine › Gasoline; Engine
9
0
1
0
—
Structure Body › Door; Body › Hood
4
0
0
0
—
Seat belts Front › Retractor; Front › Webbing
4
2
0
3
—
Service brakes, hydraulic Foundation components; Foundation components › Disc › Rotor
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
May 10, 2007 · 112,000 milesVehicle speed control LATELY THE 1993 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE 1.8L HAS BEEN NOT CRANKING UP AFTER IT GETS HOT . I HAVE CHANGED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AND THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR WITH NO LUCK ON EITHER OF THOSE . SO THE OTHER DAY AROUND 5/10/07 I WAS ABOUT THREE MILES FROM MY HOUSE HEADING INTO TOWN BY MYSELF AND I HEAR A TICK/SPARK COME FROM AROUND THE DASH AND THE CAR JUST SHUTS COMPLETELY OFF AND I HAD NOTHING . NO THROTTLE . NO POWER STEERING . NOTHING !!! I BARELY MADE IT OFF THE ROAD . *AK
Sep 11, 2004 · 162,000 miles · crash · 1 injurySeat belts › Front WHEN REAR ENDED AT A STOP DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE CONSUMER. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER'S HEAD TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Oct 14, 2003Power train › Automatic transmission WHILE DRIVING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT PROPERLY FROM THE FIRST GEAR TO THE SECOND GEAR, WON'T SHIFT, AND MAKES NOISE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Sep 1, 2002Power train › Automatic transmission WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO ANOTHER GEAR. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NLM
Feb 1, 2002Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline ENGINE HAS FAILED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO REPLACE ENGINE ONCE AND REPAIR IT TWICE.CONSUMER IS ADDING 2 -3 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 500 MILES. PERIODICALLY, VEHICLE RUNS ROUGH AND SLUGGISH. DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM, BUT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HAS BEEN SERVICING THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
Sep 2, 2001Vehicle speed control WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE 55 MPH REAR TWO TIRES LOCKED UP. VEHICLE WAS MOVING UNCONTROLABLY. VEHICLE MOVED ABOUT 100 FEET UNTIL CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE, SKID MARKS OCCURRED ON STREET. PLEASE ADD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK
Aug 28, 2001Electrical system › Ignition › Module WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING DUE TO A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Jun 21, 2001Latches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch HOOD LATCH BROKE. THE HOOD FLEW UP, ALMOST CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THE HOOD CRACKED PART OF THE WINDSHIELD AND BEND THE TOP OF VEHICLE.
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
RQ98007 · opened May 11, 1998 · closed Aug 28, 1998 · led to recall 98V168001TRANSFER CASE LEAKAGE 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.
EA98002 · opened Jan 30, 1998 · closed Apr 30, 1998 · led to recall 98V069001TRANSFER CASE LOCKUP
PE97040 · opened Sep 4, 1997 · closed Jan 30, 1998TRANSFER CASE LOCKUP ALLEGED DRIVETRAIN FAILURE THAT CAN LEAD TO LOCK-UP OF THE REAR OR ALL WHEELS.