1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 1995 Eclipse report a wide spread of problems on an aging platform, most often stalling or sudden engine shutdown, front lower ball joint and transfer case failures that tie back to known recalls, and fuel or exhaust odors reaching the cabin. Many complaints involve dealers declining repair because the vehicle's VIN was not included in a campaign, and the sampled mileages run from under 100,000 to over 200,000.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transfer case leaks, noise and lockup

   • 32 complaints (10%)
   • median 129,250 mi at 12.1 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2010

   Owners describe the transfer case leaking fluid and then making grinding or loud noises, jerking and shaking, or locking up while driving, sometimes leaving the car unable to move. Complaints frequently mention recall 98V069001: some say the case leaked or seized again after that repair was done, others say the dealer refused a repeat repair or declined coverage because the VIN was not included or because the transmission is manual. Dealers reportedly confirmed low or missing fluid in the case after the noise began. Sampled reports cluster from about 89,000 to 216,000 miles, often found during routine maintenance or on the road at ordinary driving speeds.

   Recall 98V069001

   What to check: Check the transfer case fluid level and look for oil weeping at the case seams, and ask whether recall 98V069001 was ever performed on this VIN. Any grinding or whine on a test drive warrants a closer inspection.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Whiledriving on highway vehicle started to downshift to 2nd gear.and had to shut off the car to get the gears working again. This problem reoccur every time I pull out . I had chance the trasmision twice already.”

   NHTSA complaint #10116699, filed 2005-04, 160,000 miles

   “On routine maintenance, transfer case oil leakage and dangerously low fluid level was detected on vehicle at 103,000 miles. Recall repair had been performed in 1999, however, the problem persists. The problem is identical to NHTSA campaign id number : 98v069001 , except the car is equipped with a manual transmission.”

   NHTSA complaint #10118031, filed 2005-04, 103,000 miles
2. 2
   Suspension

   Front lower ball joint separation (control arm)

   • 36 complaints (12%)
   • median 122,500 mi at 13.1 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2017

   Complaints describe clicking, popping or squealing from the front end during turns or over bumps, pulling to one side, and in some cases the front wheel folding under or coming away from the car. Owners repeatedly mention recalls 99V066001 and 00V421001, saying the dealer declined the repair because the VIN was not included, the boot was judged fine, or the part had supposedly already been replaced, and some say the joint failed again after a recall repair. Reported from low-speed parking-lot maneuvers up to highway driving, mostly on cars with well over 100,000 miles in the sample.

   Recall 00V421001Recall 99V066001

   What to check: Have the front lower ball joints and their rubber boots inspected on a lift, and ask for documentation that the ball joint recalls were completed. Test for clunks or popping while turning at low speed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The consumer received a recall notice # 00v421001. While on his way to the dealer driving approximately 55 MPH, the front left ball joint broke, he lost control of the vehicle and skidded off the road into a cornfield. When he went to dealer, they told him that they would not service the vehicle for the recall or cover the damages.”

   NHTSA complaint #10105539, filed 2004-12

   “Lower ball joint separated while consumer was pulling off from a stop sign, causing the front right wheel to break away from the vehicle. Consumer received an recall letter for the boot, but when the vehicle was taken to be repaired under the recall consumer was told that the ball joint boot was fine and did not need changing.”

   NHTSA complaint #856019, filed 2000-02
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Engine stalls or shuts off while driving

   • 46 complaints (15%)
   • median 108,000 mi at 9.2 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1995–2006

   Owners report the engine cutting out without warning at lights or at highway speed, with the car sometimes restarting after a wait and sometimes not. Several say mechanics and dealers could not find a cause after repeated diagnostic visits and parts replacement, while others point to the crankshaft position sensor and trigger plate or the engine control unit as the suspected source. Loss of power steering and power brakes when the engine stops is a common theme. Appears across the sample from roughly 90,000 to 166,000 miles, at both low speed and highway speeds, with no clear weather pattern.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the crankshaft position sensor, trigger plate or engine control unit have been replaced and whether any stall has been diagnosed with stored codes. A long test drive including highway speeds is worthwhile.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Car dies while driving at various speeds. This needs to be a recall. This can be very dangerous and the dealerships have no idea what the problem is. Have had numerous things replaced and it has been in the shop more then four times for this same reason. I know the tow truck driver by name. It's a shame that this hasnt been a recall. I guess there needs to be more accidents first!!!”

   NHTSA complaint #10003475, filed 2003-01, 90,000 miles

   “(1) ticking noise from the crankshaft pulley area with the clutch depressed. Kind of a swooshing tickey noise. This is the crankshaft position sensor trigger plate rubbing on the crankshaft position sensor. (2) stalling when the clutch is depressed. The trigger plate and crankshaft have been moving so much that the trigger plate is wearing through the sensor. Car lost power steering and put me and my family in danger.”

   NHTSA complaint #10104086, filed 2004-12, 112,000 miles
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Fuel or exhaust smell in and around the car

   • 16 complaints (5%)
   • median 93,500 mi at 8.7 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1999–2007

   Owners describe a strong gasoline or exhaust odor inside the cabin and around the rear of the car, sometimes present since the car was nearly new and worse in warm weather. Complaints reference recall 96V158001 for the fuel tank pump and gauge gaskets, but owners say the dealer told them their VIN was not covered or that no leak could be found even after the fuel lines were checked. Reported across a wide mileage range and often noted as worse in summer or shortly after refueling.

   Recall 96V1580012 related service bulletins

   What to check: Smell for fuel around the rear wheel area and inside the cabin after a fill-up, and check whether recall 96V158001 was applied to this VIN. Inspect the fuel pump and gauge unit gaskets for seepage.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “There is a recall (id# 96v158001) on this year / make vehicle. The dealer says it does not apply to my car. There has been a fuel smell coming from the right rear and inside of the car since shortly after it was new. The dealer said they couldn't smell it. Now there appears to be a recall that covers my cars problem and they say it doesn't apply to my car!”

   NHTSA complaint #743140, filed 2001-03

   “When I am driving my car smells alot like gas fumes it is overwhelming for my children,I called the dealership because we have inspected the car really well on all fuel lines and found no leaks,the dealer said that my car was not included in the recall,I have seen this happen to many other people on the internet,they talk about the same fumes smell but how the manufacturer will not fix the problem because of the VIN number not matching the one on the recall I think this one should also be on the list,cause now that it is summer it really …”

   NHTSA complaint #10124615, filed 2005-06, 110,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Crankshaft walk and bottom-end noise

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe ticking or rubbing noise from the crankshaft pulley area, a crankshaft position sensor that fails repeatedly, and in some cases a rod letting go and damaging the engine block. Complaints mention rebuilt or replaced engines and a repeated cycle of sensor, plate and bearing replacement. Some owners attribute the movement to crankshaft walk and note it can shut the engine off at speed. Seen in the sample from around 83,000 miles upward, often after a bottom-end rebuild or following a long period of noise.

   What to check: Listen for a rhythmic tick from the crank pulley at idle especially with the clutch pressed, and ask about any engine rebuild history. Have crankshaft end play measured during a pre-purchase inspection.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Hello..... I would like to alert you to a major problem reguarding all 1995-1999 mitsubish Eclipse cars. All cars are prone to crank walk which will on average do $2,000 to $6000 worth of damage to the engine, this is a technical service bullitan from mitsu... This is a large safety concern in my opinion, just like the recall on the transfercase. If crankwalk was to happen at highway speeds, local is 75, sudden shuttin off of the engine would cause power steering failure, not to mention a few other problems (ABS would fail)...... …”

   NHTSA complaint #735158, filed 2000-10

   “Crankshaft walk. 1995 mits. Eclipse 2wd turbo. My son bought this car directly from having the bottom end rebuilt. Within 200 miles of drive time the crankshaft sensor went out. The mechanic that did the rebuild said he did not replace the sensor so no warranty. After spending another 160.00 on a new crankshaft sensor and interrupter plate. It lasted for approximately. Another 200 miles and died at 60 miles an hour on the freeway. It went back to the mechanic who replaced the crank bearings plate and sensor. It only took him 8 weeks. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10010959, filed 2003-03, 83,000 miles

Buying note. This is a car old enough that condition and service history matter more than the model's reputation, so ask for paperwork on the ball joint and transfer case campaigns and have the front suspension and transfer case fluid checked before buying. Budget for aging electrical and cooling parts, and walk away from any example with an unexplained stall or a fuel smell in the cabin.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.