NHTSA — Engine And Engine Cooling: Engine Problems

3.7

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
34,250 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse engine problems

engine problem

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1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Owner Comments

problem #12

Apr 012006

Eclipse 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 100,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I bought my 98 Eclipse, standard, in 2003, not even a year after I had it it died on me on the freeway one day. Turned out it was the speed sensor that got me stranded in the middle of no where. About another 6 months later the found an oil leak on the head gasket that was making me misfire, that was fixed. The car was fine until about 2 months ago when the engine went out on me because apparently the engine oil and coolant were somehow mixing, my hoses were out, so was my water pump, O2 sensor and fuel pump sensor, all at the same time. Well I had major work done everything was put in new, about a month later my driver door handle falls off, that cost me 150 dollars! one month after that, now, my speedometer stops working all of a sudden and 2 weeks later my transmission goes out. Also my clutch is going out. So now I cant drive the car any higher than 5th gear because it throws my gear out!!! since I still owe 6K on the car I have no choice but to fix it. Which is going to end up costing me, in all I've spent and am about to spend, as much as I still owe on the car!

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #11

Aug 102004

Eclipse

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
My car has been overheating, and burning coolant. My mechanic inspected the car and found a faulty head gasket. Mechanic claims he sees this a lot in the Eclipse. This is an expensive replacement job, and manufacturer will not warranty it.

- Palos Hills, IL, USA

problem #10

Jun 292004

Eclipse 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 85,000 miles
Lifter ticking at 85000 miles. Over $1000 to replace lifters. Have not yet replaced the old ones. Many people have said have same problem and the new lifters are revised. So why not change faulty old style ones?

- Skiatook, OK, USA

problem #9

Feb 102004

Eclipse 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 81,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Had recall done for lateral arm, dealer informed me head gasket was blown, two weeks later both door handles broke off, maybe the door handles shouldn't be made of plastic. The car has been through two alternator belts in the last two years. The car overheats and it melts them right off. You buy a product from Mitsubishi so you dont expect it to be made by Chrysler. My sister drives a Dodge avenger and we have the same exact engine, and guess what happened to it ---a blown head gasket. Maybe you people should stand behind your product and fix the ever so common problem. Everyone I know who drives an Eclipse has a blown head gasket. I am very unhappy and will never buy a car from Mitsubishi again.

- Cincinnati , OH, USA

problem #8

Feb 062004

Eclipse 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 90,000 miles
Vehicle has 90,000 miles and is 1998 manufacturing date. Engine and transmission are both completely irreparable. No evidience of low oil level or other maintenance neglect which led to the catastrophic failure. Vehicle is out of warranty and is now scrap. Although failure is out of warranty, a complete vehicle failure at 90,000 miles is not normal or acceptable.

- Summerville, SC, USA

problem #7

Jul 022003

Eclipse

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles
While having the vehicle serviced at the dealership, they indicated the engine head gasket had a oil leak and needed to be replaced. Common problem. It was discovered that the wrong oil filter was placed on the vehicle

- Bourbon, IN, USA

problem #6

Aug 252002

Eclipse

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Air conditioner froze up, snapping the belt, part of the belt went up into inside of timing cover and valve train and locked up other parts. Consumer feels this was very dangerous, could have had an accident.

- Chrystal River, FL, USA

problem #5

May 012002

Eclipse

  • miles
I was sold this car as a Mitsubishi, it has a Chrysler engine one step up from a neon. If I would have wanted a neon by Chrysler I would have purchased 2 for the price I paid for my Eclipse. The lower bearings went out. I have extended warranty. At 68,000 miles the radiator cracked, computer and alternater went out causing my car to overheat immediately and the engine wouldn't restart until it had cooled. Was hard to restart. It had slick 50 treatments 4 times during its life. It also has had 3 faulty clutches.

- Seminole, FL, USA

problem #4

Feb 212002

Eclipse 4WD

  • miles
Dealer replaced lifters at 34000 miles due to ticking, other consumers also complain about lifter tick. I have added mystery oil and prolong to oil and nothing seems to help.

- Vacaville, CA, USA

problem #3

Sep 042001

(reported on)

Eclipse

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
The engine valve lifter were replaced.

- Guayama, PR, USA

problem #2

Mar 282001

Eclipse

  • miles
Tensioner bolt snapped in two immediately timing belt shredded, car died, and extensive damage requiring total engine rebuild.

- Santa Maria, CA, USA

problem #1

Mar 012000

Eclipse

  • miles
When consumer started up vehicle white smoke came from uderneath vehicle, from exhaust pipe. Engine was replaced. But consumer had to take it back to dealer because there was a rattling noise. Noise came from exhaust pipe that was loose. Also, brakes rotors were warped. Every three months brakes needed to be replaced due to shaking.

- Beckley, WV, USA

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