NHTSA lists 12 safety recalls and 164 owner complaints for the 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse. Most complaints involve engine and engine cooling (47) and power train (28). The EPA rates it 19–24 mpg combined.
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.
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.
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.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Eclipse model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 168 |
| 1997 | 164 |
| 1998 | 151 |
| 1999 | 135 |
| 2000 | 311 |
| 2001 | 300 |
| 2002 | 104 |
| 2003 | 166 |
| 2004 | 14 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 99 |
| 2007 | 107 |
| 2008 | 71 |
| 2009 | 42 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 8 |
“SQUEALING BELTS AT STARTUP, INCONSISTENT SMALL LEAKS OF COOLANT, HESITATION AT 2K RPM WERE ONLY PRE-CURSORS. OUT OF NOWHERE, WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, I LOOKED AT GAUGES FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON....NOTICED THE TEMPERATURE WAS RISING, EVENTUALLY GOING AS FAR AS IT COULD ABOVE H. SO I LOOK FOR SMOKE IN REAR VIEW....NOTHING. I TURN DOWN THE RADIO TO LISTEN FOR NOISES......NOTHING. EVERYTHING SEEMS FINE. HOPING THAT AIR THROUGH THE RADIATOR WOULD COOL THE ENGINE......NOT WORKING. I DECIDED I BETTER PULL OVER.....THE SECOND I SAFELY STOPPED, HUGE PUFFS OF WHITE SMOKE BILLOWED OUT THE HOOD EDGES. I JUMPED OUT, OPENED THE HOOD......HUGE CLOUDS OF SMOKE AND SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER, I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. ONCE THE SMOKE SETTLED, OIL COULD BE SEEN SPLATTERED ALL OVER THE ENGINE. TOW TRUCK COMES AND WHILE PUTTING ON FLATBED.....OIL DRAINED OUT LIKE A WATER FAUCET. FOUND OUT LATER FROM THE DEALER THAT OIL LINE BURST, CAUSING THE HEAD GASKETS TO BLOW AND MOST LIKELY DAMAGED TOTALED THE ENGINE. NEW ENGINE QUOTED AT $5000, USED 71,000 MILE ENGINE IN SOME SALVAGE YARD IN ALABAMA QUOTED AT $2-3000. NICE CHUNK OF MONEY AND THE ENGINE STILL NEEDS TO BE SHIPPED AND…”
“MY CAR IS A 1997 ECLIPSE SPYDER AUTOMATIC TRANNY 2.4L . THERE WAS ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION IT WAS ON LEAN MODE, LOCKED ON 2ND GEAR AND IT COULD ONLY GO UP TO 40 MILES PER HR OTHER WISE THE RPM WERE VERY HIGH... *TR”
“The airbag cover on the passenger side is peeling off. I feel that if I tried to glue it or modify it in any way, this action could result in the airbag not deploying like it should and cause serious injury incase of an accident.”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eclipse Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo, DOHC TURBO (FFS,TRBO) · Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 29 | 24 | $3,300 | 370 |
| Eclipse Convertible Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 29 | 24 | $3,300 | 370 |
| Eclipse Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, DOHC (FFS) · Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 30 | 23 | $2,800 | 386 |
| Eclipse Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, DOHC (FFS) · Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 28 | 22 | $2,900 | 404 |
| Eclipse Convertible Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 27 | 22 | $2,900 | 404 |
| Eclipse Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo, DOHC TURBO (FFS,TRBO) · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 19 | 26 | 21 | $3,800 | 423 |
| Eclipse Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo, DOHC TURBO (FFS,TRBO) · Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 24 | 20 | $4,000 | 444 |
| Eclipse Convertible Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 24 | 20 | $4,000 | 444 |
| Eclipse Convertible Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 26 | 20 | $3,200 | 444 |
| Eclipse Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo, DOHC TURBO (FFS,TRBO) · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 17 | 23 | 19 | $4,200 | 468 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
12 safety recalls as of Oct 28, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 164 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine and engine cooling (47), power train (28), air bags (17). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse at 19–24 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (10 versions rated).