The 1994 Mitsubishi Eclipse has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 24,275 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 53 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
POWER TRAIN98V0690011998-03-2624,275 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. LOCKUP OF THE TRANSFER CASE CAN OCCUR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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 AMOUNT OF OIL WILL BE ADDED. IF THERE IS TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AFFECTED COMPONENTS WILL BE…
Complaints by component
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
4
SUSPENSION:FRONT
4
2crashes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
3
2crashes2injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
3
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
2
2fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2
POWER TRAIN
2
Total complaints53
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Day time appx. 60-80 mi. From el paso, tx , lic. Driver driving appx. 70 mi. P/hr (80 mi. Day is speed limit) just before chk. Point sierra blanca, front passenger side tierod breaks causing a major 1 car rollover injuring 3 people (1 w/minor injuries, 1 serious injuries, 1 critical injury). 1994…”
“Day time appx. 60-80 mi. From el paso, tx , lic. Driver driving appx. 70 mi. P/hr (80 mi. Day is speed limit) just before chk. Point sierra blanca, front passenger side tierod breaks causing a major 1 car rollover injuring 3 people (1 w/minor injuries, 1 serious injuries, 1 critical injury). 1994…”
“Vehicle suddenly accelerated. Dealer has yet to be contacted. Please provide further details.*ak”
“Vehicle lost all braking powe r while attempting a gradual stop on dry road conditions. Dealer has yet to be contacted. Please provide further details.*ak”
“Transfer case yoke is leaking fluid. Consumer experienced the same problem as mentioned in recall on the automatic transmission. *ak”
“I just bought this car and drove it about a week and the transmission went out on me now I'm stuck with a lemon and no one want's to fix it. To take advantage of someone like this should never cross anyone's mind. Can you please help me in this matter thank you, dale lynne hartshorne”
“Driver's side automatic restraint belt is inoperable. Dealer has been notified.*ak *slc”
“Air conditioner stopped blowing cold air, turned out it had begun leaking. Also, the dealer had told us (and the owner's manual states) that we had the new freon-free system when in reality we do not. We will have to convert it at our expense if we choose to. Seat belts are not retracting…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA98002 Opened 1998-01-30 · closed 1998-04-30
TRANSFER CASE LOCKUP
InvestigationEA98002 Opened 1998-01-30 · closed 1998-04-30
TRANSFER CASE LOCKUP
InvestigationPE97040 Opened 1997-09-04 · closed 1998-01-30
TRANSFER CASE LOCKUP
ALLEGED DRIVETRAIN FAILURE THAT CAN LEAD TO LOCK-UP OF THE REAR OR ALL WHEELS.
InvestigationRQ98007 Opened 1998-05-11 · closed 1998-08-28
TRANSFER CASE LEAKAGE
THE TRANSFER CASE OF THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD), MITSUBISHI GALANT, ALLEGEDLY LEAKS OIL CAUSING ONE OR MORE WHEELS TO LOCKUP; OR THE INABILITY TO TRANSMIT ENGINE POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS.THE VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME TRANSFER CASE DESIGN AS THE ECLIPSE VEHICLES WHICH HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME ALLEGED DEFECT.
InvestigationRQ98007 Opened 1998-05-11 · closed 1998-08-28
TRANSFER CASE LEAKAGE
THE TRANSFER CASE OF THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD), MITSUBISHI GALANT, ALLEGEDLY LEAKS OIL CAUSING ONE OR MORE WHEELS TO LOCKUP; OR THE INABILITY TO TRANSMIT ENGINE POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS.THE VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME TRANSFER CASE DESIGN AS THE ECLIPSE VEHICLES WHICH HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME ALLEGED DEFECT.
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1994 Mitsubishi Eclipse as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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