Most common 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse problems
Share of the 120 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mitsubishi Eclipse complaints by model year
Best Eclipse years: 2005, 2012, 2004. Years to avoid: 2000, 2001, 1997, 1995, 1996. Compare all years →
1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse recalls (2)
Equipment › Other › Labels
Certain passenger vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, 'occupant crash protection.' the bilingual english/spanish removable air bag warning labels affixed to the dash and to the sunvisor do not meet the size requirements of the standard.
Remedy: Mitsubishi caribbean will mail a customer notification letter containing a written description and a graphic of the bi-lingual dashboard air bag warning label.
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
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.
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.
What 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 25 →
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse. While driving 45 MPH, the steering wheel detached from the steering column. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was pulled over and towed to an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that the passenger side control arm, axle, and transmission needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer and was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 206,000.
1st incident: April 2002: 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse gs locks up (transmission) constantly jumps and the speedometer will shut off. This problem was checked by official mechanics of Mitsubishi and suposedly corrected by them as well. Today: March 12, 2005: on my home, the car locks up, jumps, but completely shuts off, luckily I was only a block away from my home when this happened. After several attempts I did start the car again but the spedometer is not responding and when shifting from neutral to drive or reverse the car jumps. Same problem all over again. Mitsubishi said the problem was corrected back in April of 2002, parts were replaced. This could have caused a car accident or injury if I were on a major highway.
Body & structure all 24 →
I purchased car in 2003 and within 6 months certain areas on the car the paint began to diminish. Taken to Mitsubishi for effected areas and they painted car on two different occasions, (the effected areas at that time) but when the rest of the car continued to diminish Mitsubishi refused to paint affected areas because car was out of warranty. I have seen several Mitsubishi's with the same problem, and I can't figure out why Mitsubishi doesn't paint the entire car at the first sign of this problem. The entire car is painted with this clear coat, so the entire car will eventually have this problem. However, Mitsubishi doesn't paint the entire vehicle all at once so that their customers will only go to the dealer the first time it happens, and will just pay out of their pockets when it happens again! This saves the greedy company money!
Both door handles fell off during normal operation. I can not get in my car. The dealership informed me the parts are 73.55 each and the labor would be 250 dollars. The cheap plastic fell off and they want me to buy more of it! This is not covered under warranty. I feel ripped off by Mitsubishi and will never buy another one. Oh and by the way my car doors dripped the same black tar substance other consumers have complained about. The dealership in charlotte nc did correct this problem w/ no charge.
Engine & cooling
Similar to odi 10080649 but resulted in fire within engine bay which was quickly put out without damage to the interior. Threw a piston through the engine block. Vehicle only had 66K miles. Working car fire first reported via 911 in bridgewater nj. Revised status was also called in but was responded to. State farm insurance will not cover the cost of engine even with full coverage including comprehensive. Car still at towed location.
After pulling off from a red light, shifting into second we heard a loud bang (like glass breaking). We pulled off the road. A mechanic happened to be traveling right behind us and stopped. The car had a trail of oil a foot wide and parts strewn all over the road. The mechanic looked under the car and said that it threw a pisten through the engine block and into the transmission. There were parts of the block, pisten, gears...........etc. That we picked-up off the road. I have them in a bag. The car is five years old (just paid for). It has approx 72,000 miles on it. This car is totally babied, with regular oil changes and not driven by a maniac teenager (I'm 36 years old and female). I can tell you I'll never buy another Mitsubishi even though I loved the car. The mechanic who stopped said he estimated 3-4 thousand dollars for repair. I haven't heard the actual estimate yet. …
1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed manual | FWD | 20 / 29 / 23 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 20 / 30 / 23 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 19 / 27 / 22 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 28 / 22 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 19 / 26 / 21 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 24 / 20 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 23 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse a good car?
Based on 120 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Eclipse rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Eclipse at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse?
The transmission & drivetrain — 25 complaints, 21% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the body & structure (24) and engine & cooling (18).
How many recalls does the 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse, the most recent from September 1, 2004 (labels). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mitsubishi Eclipse?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2005, 2012 and 2004. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2000, 2001, 1997, 1995 and 1996. See the full Mitsubishi Eclipse years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 70,000 miles; 26% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.