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Engine & cooling

1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse Engine problems

Owners have filed 21 complaints about the 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 16% of all its complaints, most recently on April 11, 2007. They describe 0 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
0

Engine complaints

Engine & cooling

While having a basic oil change at the mitsubisihi/chrysler dealership was informed of the head gasket leak. Automotive technician stated that this was a common problem with these motors and a $1000 to repair.*Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10187561
Engine & coolingFire

Similar to odi 10080649 but resulted in fire within engine bay which was quickly put out without damage to the interior. Threw a piston through the engine block. Vehicle only had 66k miles. Working car fire first reported via 911 in bridgewater nj. Revised status was also called in but was responded to. State farm insurance will not cover the cost of engine even with full coverage including comprehensive. Car still at towed location. *Nm

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10172093
Engine & coolingEquipment & accessories

Took car to dmv and it won't pass obd-ii test. I have tried three times. Found out that a tsb-03-13-005 was sent out. Which states how to reset so you can pass the emission test. If you disconnect your battery you computer won't reset till you take it to the dealer who charges you hundreds of dollars to reset a problem that they know about but refuse to correct. So every time I need to go to the dmv I first need to visit the dealer so that he can rip me off, and bypass the emission system. Again they know of the issue they posted the tsb 03-13-005. Won't buy or recommend a mitsubishi eclipse again. *Nm

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · EquipmentNHTSA 10141170
Engine & cooling

1999 Mitsubishi eclipse. Head gasket failure at 33,000 miles.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10125006
Engine & cooling

I went out to start my 1999 eclipse spyder and the drive belt came off. Took the car to a dealer was informed that the harmonic balancer had broken off. *Jb

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10110668
Engine & cooling

At 58,500 miles head gasket began leaking. Took it to dealer they stated was past 5yr mark from purchase. Mitsubishi is so loyal to their customers not. *Jb

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10100339
Engine & cooling

After pulling off from a red light, shifting into second we heard a loud bang (like glass breaking). We pulled off the road. A mechanic happened to be traveling right behind us and stopped. The car had a trail of oil a foot wide and parts strewn all over the road. The mechanic looked under the car and said that it threw a pisten through the engine block and into the transmission. There were parts of the block, pisten, gears...........Etc. That we picked-up off the road. I have them in a bag. The car is five...

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years old (just paid for). It has approx 72,000 miles on it. This car is totally babied, with regular oil changes and not driven by a maniac teenager (i'm 36 years old and female). I can tell you I'll never buy another mitsubishi even though I loved the car. The mechanic who stopped said he estimated 3-4 thousand dollars for repair. I haven't heard the actual estimate yet. What a shame, it seemed like such a solid car but I got 160,000 miles on my last car (a ford mustang). I'm calling the dealership in the am but I'm no longer under warranty.*Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10080649
Engine & cooling

My car just started making a squeaky noise one day right after it started raining and I had only had the car for 4 months.But I thought nothing of it seeing that it would stop 2 days after it rained kinda like it had to dry out.But after a while it starte getting worse I changed my belts it stopped but then it came right back.In feb2002 the belts was changed with my timing belt the noise stopped but came back a month later.These noises have continued til now 2004 I've just been waiting on a recall to solve the problem because replacing belts is costly.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10067982
Engine & cooling

HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT AT 80,000 MILES. *JB

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10055001
Engine & cooling

Main bearing failure @ 65,000 miles. Dealership would not replace, or repair. This is a common problem with this model. I am on my 2nd motor with the same problem.*Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10049713
Engine & cooling

The upper pulley has squealed for some time now. I took it the dealer where they replaced the belts and blamed the problem on them. This stopped the problem for a short time and has persisted since. I have tried tightening the belt, using belt dressing, and lubrication the pulley. Most times the sound stops, only to return. It occurs mostly when it rains or heavy moisture is in the air. The date of first incident is inaccurate, I am not sure of the first occurrence at this time. *Jb

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10018483
Engine & cooling

While at a repair shop for other repairstechnician informed consumer that engine had a blown head gasket. Dealer and manufacturer were notified. Feel free to provide any further information.*Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 8012089
Engine & coolingElectrical system

Driving on freeway when battery light came on. Shortly after highlights would not turn off. Then vehicles lights in dash turn on and off, wipers turn on and off, and vehicle completely loses power at 75 mph. Battery appeared to have exploded. Battery acid over entire engine compartment. Will not start after new battery is tried.

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Electrical systemNHTSA 762328
Engine & cooling

Crankshaft/ pulley failed, inner & outer rings separated.*Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 761044
Engine & cooling

Crankshaft pulley failed because inner and outer rings separated. Dealership contacted and reported that they are seeing this on a frequent bases. Mechanic and dealership agee that insuffencient glue used to seal rings together.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 751913
Engine & cooling

While driving vehicle suddendly lost power, and was barely running at 400-500 rpms, and then it will work as normal. Cause is unknown. *Ak the dealer replaced the spark plugs and wires when the vehicle stall the third time but it did not solve the problem. *Yh

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 881675
Engine & cooling

Engine check light keeps coming on. Vehicle has died a couple of times. Consumer states vehicle shakes. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Unknown or otherNHTSA 877257
Engine & cooling

Occurred for third time today. Engine lost power, engine light flashed, regained power. I now have to return to the dealer yet again as this is how the other two power failures started. Not a happy mitsubishi owner and no trust in my cars ability to maintain speed, a defiinite safety problem. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 716687
Engine & cooling

Oil was leaking out of doors and onto the interior. Consumer took car to dealer, and dealer said that it was not under the warranty. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 850270
Engine & cooling

Consumer was driving at 40 mph and vehicle shut down without warning in the middle of traffic. Dealer has not been contacted. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 839171
Engine & cooling

I had changed the oil in my mitsubishi on 12/20/98 and on 1/7/99 while driving, with cruise control on, my car sounded a knock and completely stopped. I had the car towed to freehold mitsubishi, and the service manager has told me that he visually detected that I had used an oil filter that was for the turbo model of the eclipse. He told me that because I had used the wrong filter which has the wrong threading for my car. Mitsubishi is not covering this under warranty. I have had a mechanic look at the two...

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types of filters for this vehicle and there does not show any difference in the threading on either of them. The vehicle is only 2 months old and I have not been given any proof from mitsubishi that using an oil filter, made for the car with the same specifications for turbo and non-turbo, could possibly be the cause of breaking a connecting rod. What is my warranty for? There could be something wrong with the engine. I have paid in full for this car. I can not afford repairs. They have gotten th

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 702201

Mitsubishi Eclipse engine complaints by year

Eclipse engine problems, every year

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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

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