NHTSA lists 13 safety recalls and 151 owner complaints for the 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse. Most complaints involve power train (29) and engine and engine cooling (24). The EPA rates it 19–23 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 |
“I BOUGHT MY 98 ECLIPSE, STANDARD, IN 2003, NOT EVEN A YEAR AFTER I HAD IT IT DIED ON ME ON THE FREEWAY ONE DAY. TURNED OUT IT WAS THE SPEED SENSOR THAT GOT ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE. ABOUT ANOTHER 6 MONTHS LATER THE FOUND AN OIL LEAK ON THE HEAD GASKET THAT WAS MAKING ME MISFIRE, THAT WAS FIXED. THE CAR WAS FINE UNTIL ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO WHEN THE ENGINE WENT OUT ON ME BECAUSE APPARENTLY THE ENGINE OIL AND COOLANT WERE SOMEHOW MIXING, MY HOSES WERE OUT, SO WAS MY WATER PUMP, O2 SENSOR AND FUEL PUMP SENSOR, ALL AT THE SAME TIME. WELL I HAD MAJOR WORK DONE EVERYTHING WAS PUT IN NEW, ABOUT A MONTH LATER MY DRIVER DOOR HANDLE FALLS OFF, THAT COST ME 150 DOLLARS! ONE MONTH AFTER THAT, NOW, MY SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING ALL OF A SUDDEN AND 2 WEEKS LATER MY TRANSMISSION GOES OUT. ALSO MY CLUTCH IS GOING OUT. SO NOW I CANT DRIVE THE CAR ANY HIGHER THAN 5TH GEAR BECAUSE IT THROWS MY GEAR OUT!!! SINCE I STILL OWE 6K ON THE CAR I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO FIX IT. WHICH IS GOING TO END UP COSTING ME, IN ALL I'VE SPENT AND AM ABOUT TO SPEND, AS MUCH AS I STILL OWE ON THE CAR! *NM”
“1998 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE, UNIT 1 WAS TRAVELING EAST ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE NEAR THE 54 MILEPOST. UNIT 1 FILLED WITH SMOKE. UNIT 1 PULLED TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND STOPPED. THE DRIVER OF UNIT 1 EXITED AND OPENED THE HOOD AND OBSERVED FIRE. THE DRIVER OF UNIT 1 WAS CHARGED WITH OVI. BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0046-89)*JB UPDATED 04/22/11 *BF”
“RECENTLY, RELOCATED TO FLORIDA WITH IN 18 MONTHS I NOTICE MY PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IS PROTRUDING OUT FROM THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY IN SW FLORIDA. ORIGINALLY HAD CAR IN NEW YORK AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT IT EXPLODING WHILE I AM DRIVING. NOTICE ON RECENT RECALL CONCERNING AIR BAGS DIDN'T INCLUDE MY MAKE AND MODEL. THIS 1998 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GST IS MAKING A TRUE STATEMENT ON THE ABOVE AIR BAG ISSUE AND ALL STATEMENTS ARE TRUE. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE ABOVE MAKE AND MODEL IDENTIFY SAME ISSUES WITH AIR BAG BEING EXPOSED TO HIGH HEAT CLIMATES IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER I BELIEVE THIS MAKE AND MODEL SHOULD BE ON THE RECALL LIST, THANK YOU. *TR”
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, DOHC · Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 30 | 23 | $2,800 | 386 |
| Eclipse Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo, DOHC-T/C · Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 29 | 23 | $3,450 | 386 |
| Eclipse Convertible Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 29 | 23 | $3,450 | 386 |
| Eclipse Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, DOHC · Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 28 | 22 | $2,900 | 404 |
| Eclipse Convertible Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 27 | 22 | $2,900 | 404 |
| Eclipse Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo, DOHC-T/C · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 19 | 26 | 21 | $3,800 | 423 |
| Eclipse Convertible Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 26 | 21 | $3,050 | 423 |
| Eclipse Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo, DOHC-T/C · Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 25 | 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 Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo, DOHC-T/C · 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 |
13 safety recalls as of Oct 30, 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 151 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are power train (29), engine and engine cooling (24), air bags (19). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse at 19–23 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (10 versions rated).