Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗MITSUBISHI AMERICA/LOWER BALL JOINT BOOT
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, DIRT AND WATER CAN INTRUDE. ALSO, MMC HAS ADDED THE POTENTIAL OF LEAKING MOISTURE, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE BALL STUD TO CORRODE.
- Consequence
- THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. THIS CAMPAIGN SUPERCEDES MMC'S PREVIOUS SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN, SEE 99V-066.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT FOR WEAR. BALL JOINTS THAT EXHIBIT WEAR BEYOND THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY DESIGNED LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS. BALL JOINTS THAT ARE WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE CLEANED AND A SPECIAL SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED TO PREVENT INTRUSION OF MOISTURE.
MITSUBISHI/LOWER BALL JOINT BOOT
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, DIRT AND WATER CAN INTRUDE.
- Consequence
- THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE RUBBER BOOTS, AND IF THE BOOT IS DAMAGED, THEY WILL REPLACE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM AND BALL JOINT ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.
MITSUBISHI/TRANSFER CASE
- Summary
- 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 REPLACED. IF THE TRANSFER CASE SHOWS OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION, THE TRANSFER CASE WILL BE REPLACED.
MITSUBISHI/FUEL
- Summary
- THE FUEL TANK GASKETS FOR THE FUEL PUMP AND/OR GAUGE UNIT GASKET COULD HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY INSTALLED ALLOWING FUEL OR FUMES TO ESCAPE.
- Consequence
- IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, THE FUEL LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK AND IF THE GASKETS ARE FOUND TO BE LEAKING, REPLACE THE FUEL TANK, CAPS AND GASKETS.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (159)
159 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The suspension is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 159 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 27 | 17% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 26 | 16.4% |
| Service brakes | 25 | 15.7% |
| Air bags | 17 | 10.7% |
| Power train | 16 | 10.1% |
| Structure | 11 | 6.9% |
| Electrical system | 9 | 5.7% |
| Steering | 9 | 5.7% |
| Tires | 6 | 3.8% |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 3.8% |
How 1996 compares with other Eclipse years
Best and worst Eclipse years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 49 | 1 |
| 1993 | 36 | 1 |
| 1994 | 34 | 1 |
| 1995 | 307 | 5 |
| 1996 | 159 | 4 |
| 1997 | 136 | 3 |
| 1998 | 129 | 4 |
| 1999 | 120 | 2 |
| 2000 | 308 | 7 |
| 2001 | 209 | 7 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 24 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $3,400
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 370 g/mi
- EPA class
- Subcompact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 24 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 / 29 / 24 | $3,400 | 370 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 29 / 23 | $3,550 | 386 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 29 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 27 / 22 | $3,050 | 404 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 27 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 19 / 26 / 21 | $3,900 | 423 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 24 / 20 | $4,100 | 444 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 26 / 20 | $3,350 | 444 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 24 / 20 | $4,100 | 444 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 17 / 23 / 19 | $4,350 | 468 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1996 Eclipse for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse FAQ
How many recalls does the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 00V421001 (suspension), 99V066001 (suspension), 98V069001 (power train), 96V158001 (fuel system). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse problems?
Owners filed 159 complaints with NHTSA. Suspension (27), Engine and engine cooling (26), Service brakes (25) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 21 city, 29 highway and 24 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1996 Eclipse compare with other years?
Among the 1992–2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse model years at least five years old, the 1994 drew the fewest complaints (34) and the 2000 the most (308). The 1996 drew 159. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.