- The 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.
- The risk
- Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
- The 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.
Vehicle safety record
1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 168 complaints about the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse with NHTSA, most often about the suspension (28) and the engine & cooling (25). Those complaints describe 27 crashes, 6 fires and 12 injuries. It is covered by 11 recalls, the latest in May 2009 for the headlights. For comparison, the 1995 has 314 and the 1997 has 164.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical Eclipse year, for its age
#37 most complained-about 1996 vehicle
- Complaints
- 168
- Recalls
- 11
- Crashes
- 27
- Fires
- 6
- Injuries
- 12
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse problems
Share of all 168 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse recalls 11
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The 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.
- The risk
- Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
- The 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.
- The problem
- Certain airtex fuel pump module assemblies, p/n e7081h, sold for use as replacement equipment for the vehicles listed above. The wall of the flared fitting of the fuel pump is not thick enough to prevent the mating threaded fittings from bottoming out before an adequate seal is achieved. This condition may result in leakage of fuel at the connection of the vehicle fuel line and the fuel pump module assembly.
- The risk
- In the presence of an ignition source, a fuel leak could result in a fire.
- The fix
- Airtex will notify owners and replace the fuel pumps free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during july 2007. Owners can contact airtex automotive at 800-880-3056.
- The problem
- Certain aai motorsports combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above list passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
- The risk
- Lack of amber side reflectors in the lamps will decrease lighting visibility to other drivers and may possibly result in a vehicle crash
- The fix
- Aai motorsports will notify owners and replace the lamps free of charge. The recall began on august 1, 2006. Owners may contact aai motorsports at 909-923-9188.
- The problem
- Certain ck motorsports combination headlights, clear corner, bumper, and side marker lights sold as replacement lamps for use on the 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.
- The risk
- Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
- The fix
- Ck motorsport will notify owners and replace the noncompliant lamps free of charge. The recall began on july 1, 2006. Owners may contact ck motorsport at 1-909-610-7211.
- The 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.
- The risk
- Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
- The 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.
- The problem
- Certain anzo combination headlamp assemblies sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles. Some combination lamps are not equipped with amber side reflectors which fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
- The risk
- Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Anzo will notify owners and replace the headlamps free of charge. The recall began may 9, 2006. Owners may contact anzo usa at 909-468-3688.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- 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.
- The fix
- 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 the established tolerance will be cleaned and a special sealant will be applied to prevent intrusion of moisture.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- This condition could cause the lower lateral arm ball joint to separate, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Lockup of the transfer case can occur due to insufficient lubrication.
- The risk
- This condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The 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.
- The problem
- The fuel tank gaskets for the fuel pump and/or gauge unit gasket could have been incorrectly installed allowing fuel or fumes to escape.
- The risk
- If an ignition source were present, the fuel leakage could result in a fire.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect the fuel tank and if the gaskets are found to be leaking, replace the fuel tank, caps and gaskets.
What owners say
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168 complaints about the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 7.
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 dealer where it was diagnosed that the transfer case was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was previously repaired per an unknown recall. The failure mileage was approximately 89,200.
Electronic control modual while driving all power to car just lost. *Tr
My mitsubishi magna 1996 had very little mechanical problems before last year when I was driving along and noticed and overrev and sudden bump into 3rd gear and over time it faded out to nothing and then I was driving it and then lost 3rd gear completely...It trys to go into the 3rd gear but won't go in and falls into neutral I've asked many auto transmission places and they have no idea but were going to charge me 1000 bucks to look at it so I haven't had it fixed and am now getting another car but I still want closure. *Ln
Tl*the contact owns a 1996 mitsubishi eclipse. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 mph, the transfer case suddenly stalled and locked all four wheels; he was unable to get the vehicle to move. The vehicle was towed to a dealer who informed the contact that he needed to replace transfer case and that they could not assist with repair expenses as the vehicle was not included in recall 98v069001 (power train: automatic transmission). The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000. The vin was unavailable.
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 mitsubishi eclipse. While driving approximately 60 mph, the vehicle began to exhibit an abnormal vibration and it made an unusual noise. The contact drove onto the emergency lane and upon further inspection, found that the front drive shaft had fractured from the transfer case. The vehicle was towed to a local repair shop where it was inspected but not repaired. The vehicle was driven to an authorized dealer where the drive shaft yoke and rear transfer housing were replaced at the...
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contacts expense. The failure recurred 1,500 miles after the vehicle was repaired. The dealer had possession of the vehicle when the complaint was filed. The contact inquired about nhtsa recall campaign id 98v069001 (power train: automatic transmission) and when contacting the manufacturer, he was advised that the recall repairs were completed by the previous owner in 1998. The manufacturer would not provide any additional assistance. The failure mileage was 122,000 and the current mileage was 124,000.
Passenger seat only locks in one position. If you think the seat is locked and it's not, the seat does move/slide backward and forward as you are driving. You must hear the "locked in place noise" or it is not locked!!!! This is important especially if you have a passenger riding in this seat. *Tr
10/26/01 L front lwr control arm broke, the car bounced down the road when susp came apart. Gville mitz replaced the parts at the cost of the manf. The vehicle had 104000 mi at that time. Items listed on repair invoice: arm assy (fr susp), shaft assy (fr axl), shield kit splash, air dam side fr lh, end assy, tie rod, fender fr lh 12/8/07 susp broke again. While driving I thought the drv side front tire had popped. I let off the gas/ tried to pull the vehicle over. I was in the l lane near an interstate...
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entrance. When I was near the barrier the vehicle jumped left. It made contact with the concrete wall, I pulled the wheel back towards the right. When I did this the broken left front susp/tire went beneath the car. The auto was catapulted onto the concrete barrier on it's nose. The car was completely airborne at this time (for appx 150-200 ft) part of the car hit the concrete pillar of the underpass and flung my car back to the ground. Both airbags deployed when the vehicle came down. Even with my restraint on my body slid under the steering wheel when the car catapulted on the concrete ledge. When the driverside airbag deployed the got the left side of my head where my abdomen should have been. The damages: bumper assembly, front, cover, front bumper, headlamp assy, halog headlamps aim/lamp, side marker, fender front, skirt, inner fendert wheel, front l, knuckle, steering l/f, arm, lower control l/f windshield, airbag, steering wheel, airbag, instrument pnl panel, rocker lt, pnl, front door out, repair I received a concussion from the airbag/back problems etc this car is up for auction on the 18th, it is my hopes that it is not placed back on the roadways. Who knows what other types of damage the vehicle sustained, the crash was never correctly evaluated. The local police listed I hit a metal guard rail. The vehicle damages does not indicate contact with a metal guard rail(it does not have marks on it). Appx 50 pics avail. *Tr
I was going about 65 miles per hour on the freeway, when the transmission started to make a loud revving noise and began to down shift at an accelerated rate. The eclipse now has a shifting problem to where the car does not have the drive to move forwards nor backwards. I was told by a transmission specialist and close friend, that all my gears were all wiped out all at the same time and that the throttle cable was either loose or broken. He also mentioned that he found in the transfer case, of the transmission, shavings or little pieces of metal or aluminum. *Tr
Driving on hwy. 80 On dry road at approx. 60-65 Mph, in fast lane, car started to shake, as we pulled over to the side of freeway, tire blew out...Complete separation of belt from sidewalls,both side walls still on rim, belt (intact) rolled down freeway. Tires less than 1 year old, and lots of tread left on tire. This caused damaged to the rim which is no longer usable. We will have to replace the tire and rim, but thank god no one was hurt. *Tr
I have a black 1996 mitsubishi eclipse rs the clear coat is totally coming off of the car leaving white spots all over. The car is suppose to be black but it looks like a dalmation. *Nm
Dt*: the contact stated while applying brake pressure at various speeds, there was a popping noise. The vehicle was seen by a dealer and it was determined the lower control arm ball joints needed replaced. A nhtsa recall, #00v421001 was performed on the vehicle concerning, the suspension however, the recall did not remedy the problem. The dealership would not offer a second repair without charge under the recall.
Re: dealership complaint: refusal to honor existing nhtsa campaign id numbers: 00v421001, 99v066001 mitsubishi eclipse, suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint I recently took my 1996 eclipse to my local dealership (arnold mitsubishi, roseville, mi) to make an appointment for this recall as there is serious 'clunking' in my front ball joints. I was told my vin number was not included in the recalls. Your database seems to indicate that this was an 'across the board' recall. I've been warned that this is a lousy dealership. Are they correct, or am i? And what should I do? *Nm
I have researched this site and deduced that mitsubishi has produced a defective product in the 1996 mitsubishi eclipse re: defective head gasket and which leads to worn out valve seals . On july 29th 2005 the mitsubishi corporation sued its previous presidents and former executives for defect and recall cover ups for "64,000 complaints filed by car owners dating back to 1977." Anyone interested in a class action law suit? Contact me!! *Nm
(1) Bought car used, it had a bad rear main seal. (2) Car passes georgia emission inspection (3) replace rear main seal (4) now vehicle blows smoke while standing still in traffic. (5) Repair of leaking valve cover gasket (6) still smoking while in gear (7) informed of valve seals being bad.. (8) Never buy mistubishi again. *Jb
Dt: front passenger side ball joint failure. Contact said the wheel and ball joint fell off. Caller received recall 04v421001 concerning ball joints when caller took vehicle to dealer about 2 years ago the dealer said it was okay. Then on t july 0, 2005 she heard a pop and the vehicle dropped. Caller was going about 40 mph. Caller had to have it towed to the dealer. She has not spoken to them yet. Manufacturer has not been contacted. *Ak
Vehicle experienced a leak within the transfer case. Owner contacted the dealer and the manufacturer, and was told that because the vehicle was inspected for the recall once already dealership and manufacturer will not inspect again the vehicle for this defect. Owner was told that this problem was the owner's responsibility. *Ak
Car was idling at a very low rpm. I had the car serviced and was still idling very low. When coming to a stop, the car wanted to stall. Meaning the rpms dropped to zero and then the idle jumped extremely high for a few seconds. A few days later the car started to stall when stopping or going around turns at a very slow speed. I took the car to a dealership to have them hook the car up to a diagnostic machine. Nothing registered on the machine. Car did not stall for the dealer, but did stall for me every time...
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after leaving the dealership or mechanics garage. I then paid more attention to when the car would stall. It would only stall or shut off during the very cold winters and every time it rained.... After two days or so after a rain, the car seemed to dry out and run fine. I later was told that the throttle bottle needs to be cleaned out. I had this done and the car improved. I have to clean the carb out of the car after we have rainy days. I was paying about $60 for a mechanic to do this for me. I would only resort to a mechanic after I cant deal with pressing the brake and gas pedal at the same time when stopping or turning at a slow rate of speed. So today 7-25-04, I went to the local auto parts store and bough carb cleaner and sprayed about 1/4 of the can and cleaned out what I could reach of the gum and build-up in the carb. At first the car does not want to start but then after pressing the gas pedal a few times, tons of white smoke poor out of the exhaust. Then the car ideals much better than before, meaning I don't have to press both the brake and gas at the same time. I was told about a year ago, that this problem is caused by something that deals with the throttle body. I do not have $300 + to fix this, but I do have 1/2 hour a couple times a month to clean the carb out of my car. This is the biggest complait besides, my rotors, that I have with my car. The car is not enjoyable anymore.*Ak
Bought car in nov 1996. About 5 months or so after purchasing the car, the drivers side sun visor can detached from the ceiling. I was told that this is not a covered warranty service. I was told that the threads needed to be redone and that they were stripped. My car only had 16,000 miles on it at this time. So the dealer apparently fixed it. But they didn't. When I put my sun visor down the visor slips out of the plastic holder and flies forward. Sometimes this has almost cost me many accidents. So I...
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leave the visor forward until I can grab it and try to put it back in place and hope it stays. The unit is not fully secure. You can tell by looking at it, that the visor holder was reinstalled, poorly. The visor does not stay locked in place when in use or not in use.*Ak
Maintained regular oil changes and was notified that I had an oil leak in my engine. I saved enough money to have the head gasket replaced to fix the oil leak. The head gasket was replaced (new) in march of 2000. 4 Months later my car started to smoke from the exhaust when standing still in traffic. I contacted the dealership about the problem because I thought that this was due to the work that they did. I was then informed that I need my value guides replaced. I was going to have this work done until I was...
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informed that in order to replace the value guides in the engine, I must purchase another new head gasket. I asked why this was not inspected at the time that the head gasket was replaced. My answer was that I did not ask them to check the value guides. If this would of been corrected at this time, I would not be spending tons of money on oil for my vehicle. Since 2000, I check the oil in my car every other day and add oil to the engine. This has been a major problem for me. I do not have another $1000 plus to fix this. I've spoke with other friends and people who own the same type of vehicle and they as well have problems with their leaking head gasket and value guides, making the car smoke.*Ak
Constant pulsating of brakes when applying them. Took car to the dealership the 1st time and had the rotors replaced. Mitsubishi paid for 1/2 of the cost and I paid the rest. This was in 1998. The first time that I have the rotors replaced, the vibrating of the brake pedal came back within 2 weeks. Since then, I have replaced and/or turned down my rotors on my front wheels over 7 times. I do not ride my brakes either. I've had my rotors replaced by numerous garages. The rotors improved twice due to the...
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recall of ball joints. When I had my car in the dealership for this recall and I drove the car home, the brake pedal did not pulsate for about 3 to 4 weeks after the recall was made good. I have spent so much money on having the rotors replaced. It's gotten to the point where I cannot keep spending hundreds of dollars on rotors. I just deal with the vibrating brakes at this times. *Ak
While at a stop front passenger side ball joint failed. Vehicle was towed. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *Ak
Consumer took vehcile to the dealership to be inspected, and mechanic determined that lower control arms were wearing out prematurely. *Ak
While driving at normal speed right ball joint broke. As a result, consumer's vehicle was involved in a collision. *Ak
While sitting at an intersection another driver on the opposite side of the street ran a red light and hit the vehicle head on. The vehicle's air bags did not deploy and the driver and passenger sustained minor injuries. *Mr
While driving the vehicle the the ball joint slipped out. This caused the drivers side tire to fall off and the vehicle fell to the ground on the drivers side. *Mr
Mitsubishi Eclipse: every year compared
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 308 | 10 | F |
| 1999 | 135 | 11 | D |
| 1998 | 151 | 13 | F |
| 1997 | 164 | 12 | F |
| 1996 | 168 | 11 | F |
| 1995 | 314 | 12 | F |
| 1994 | 36 | 4 | B |
| 1993 | 37 | 4 | B |
| 1992 | 49 | 3 | C |
1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse | 168 | 11 | F | |
| 1996 Mitsubishi Galant | 144 | 4 | F | Compare |
| 1996 Mitsubishi Mirage | 31 | 1 | D | Compare |
| 1996 Mitsubishi Montero | 27 | 2 | D | Compare |
| 1996 Mitsubishi 3000GT | 25 | 1 | C | Compare |
| 1996 Mitsubishi Mighty Max | 3 | 0 | A | Compare |
| 1996 Mitsubishi Spyder | 2 | 2 | C | Compare |
| 1996 Mitsubishi Expo | 1 | 1 | B | Compare |
| 1996 Mitsubishi Lancer | 1 | 0 | A | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse
Does the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 11 recalls for the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse: headlights (May 2009); exterior lighting (April 2009); fuel pump (July 2007); exterior lighting (June 2006) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the suspension (28), engine & cooling (25), brakes (24).
How many complaints has the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse had?
168 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on January 23, 1996 and the latest on May 4, 2017. Of these, 27 describe a crash and 6 a fire, and together they report 12 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 17 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Mitsubishi Eclipse year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Mitsubishi Eclipse years have the most complaints?
1995 (314), 2000 (308), 2001 (300). See every Mitsubishi Eclipse year compared.
What should I do if my 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data