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1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse Recalls, Complaints & Specs

4 safety recalls list the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse, and owners have filed 159 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

4
safety recalls
159
owner complaints to NHTSA
25 / 5
complaints citing a crash / fire
19–24
MPG combined (EPA)

4 safety recalls for the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Suspension: lower ball joint

    NHTSA 00V421001 Reported 567,432 vehicles potentially affected MITSUBISHI AMERICA

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. If the rubber boots on the lower lateral arm ball joints of the front suspension were damaged during assembly, dirt and water can intrude. Also, mmc has added the potential of leaking moisture, which can cause the ball stud to corrode.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the lower lateral arm ball joint for wear. Ball joints that exhibit wear beyond the established tolerance will be replaced with newly designed lateral arm ball joints. Ball joints that are within…

  2. Suspension: lower ball joint

    NHTSA 99V066001 Reported 307,000 vehicles potentially affected MITSUBISHI AMERICA

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. If the rubber boots on the lower lateral arm ball joints of the front suspension were damaged during assembly, dirt and water can intrude.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rubber boots, and if the boot is damaged, they will replace the lower lateral arm and ball joint on the affected vehicles.

  3. Automatic transmission (power train)

    NHTSA 98V069001 Reported 24,275 vehicles potentially affected MITSUBISHI AMERICA

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Lockup of the transfer case can occur due to insufficient lubrication.

    Remedy: 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…

  4. Fuel system, gasoline

    NHTSA 96V158001 Reported 5,731 vehicles potentially affected MITSUBISHI AMERICA

    The fuel tank gaskets for the fuel pump and/or gauge unit gasket could have been incorrectly installed allowing fuel or fumes to escape.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the fuel tank and if the gaskets are found to be leaking, replace the fuel tank, caps and gaskets.

159 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse have filed 159 complaints with NHTSA; 25 describe a crash and 5 describe a fire. Reports cite 10 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 93,859 miles. Complaints peaked in 1997 with 25 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 mitsubishi eclipse. While driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle stalled and the rear wheels seized. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was towed to the d”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 4, 2017 · Power train

“Electronic control modual while driving all power to car just lost. *tr”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 12, 2011 · Electrical system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse (Eclipse Convertible). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined19–24 mpg
City / Highway17–21 / 23–29
FuelPremium, Regular
EPA classMinicompact Cars, Subcompact Cars
Engine4 cyl, 2/2.4 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Mitsubishi Eclipse model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Mitsubishi Eclipse model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1989 Mitsubishi Eclipse02
1990 Mitsubishi Eclipse546
1991 Mitsubishi Eclipse254
1992 Mitsubishi Eclipse149
1993 Mitsubishi Eclipse136
1994 Mitsubishi Eclipse134
1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse5307
1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse4159
1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse3136
1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse4129
1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse2120
2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse7308
2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse7209
2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse273
2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse3124
2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse414
2005 Mitsubishi Eclipse36
2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse499
2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse4107
2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse171
2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse142
2010 Mitsubishi Eclipse01
2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse01
2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse08

Checking a specific 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse

How do I know if my 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Mitsubishi dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 00V421001).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Mitsubishi models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.