Complaints
174
Crashes
23
Fires
6
Injuries
13
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#114 complaints
Air Bags:Frontal
Crash-related:14
Fires:1
#212 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
Avg mileage:82,200 mi
#310 complaints
Automatic Transmission
Avg mileage:62,250 mi
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 14 | 14 | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 12 | — | — | 82,200 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 10 | — | — | 62,250 mi | |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 7 | — | — | 92,519 mi | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 6 | — | — | 103,107 mi | |
| Manual Transmission | 6 | — | — | 95,000 mi | |
| Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) | 5 | — | — | 84,333 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 5 | 1 | — | 103,000 mi | |
| Airbags | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 4 | 2 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Wheels:Rim | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel Pump | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Latches / Locks | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Air:Disc:Rotor | 2 | — | — | — |
Air Bags:Frontal
14
complaints
Crashes
14
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
82,200
Automatic Transmission
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
62,250
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
92,519
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
103,107
Manual Transmission
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
95,000
Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive)
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
84,333
Tire Defects
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
103,000
Airbags
4
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
4
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheels:Rim
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel Pump
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches / Locks
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Clutch Assembly
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Air:Disc:Rotor
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Mitsubishi Eclipse Years
1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse has 174 NHTSA complaints, 23 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Air Bags:Frontal with 14 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse?
Top reported problems: Air Bags:Frontal (14 complaints); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine (12 complaints, avg 82,200 mi); Automatic Transmission (10 complaints, avg 62,250 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 85,918 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse?
NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse include 23 crash-related reports, 6 fire reports, 13 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Mitsubishi Eclipse reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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