Steering complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse. While veering to the left at approximately 25 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver without warning. As a result, another vehicle crashed into the rear of the contact's vehicle. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries reported. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 170,000.
I am filing a complaint regarding the steering mechanism in my 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse gt - on Monday, December 27, 2004 - I was going home from work and my steering suddenly became stiff and I was almost unable to steer the car enough to get to my home. The problem seems to be intermittent. The car is still under the factory warranty and I called Mitsubishi who had the vehicle towed to dealership for repair. I have not gotten my car back and it is still in the shop; however, I find this issue to be a huge safety issue in terms of consumers of this product. I did research previous complaints on your site and see the same issue was noted under the components of steering wheel and handle bar for the 2003 Eclipse product.
Right front steering assembly (tie rod & ball joints) tore away from where it was attached to the frame resulting in the vehicle to go out of control . Vehicle struck the curb and ran into a light pole before coming to a stop.
Right front steering assembly (tie rod & ball joints) tore away from where it was attached to the frame resulting in the vehicle to go out of control . Vehicle struck the curb and rolled over on the vehicle's left side, sliding approx 500 feet on its side.
My son purchased a 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse gs 1-month ago it's too late to save my sons life now but it was sold as is no warranty ,the finance company refuses to get me a history on the says there's no recall but they are older ones about the nut in the gear box being loose and eventually making the car not turn left my son died 10/23/08 and as soon as ask about the recall the finance lady to crush the car I said no till I find out about the recall and if it was ever looked at, the car shoo bad and was hard to steer I drove it before this happened I know e-z pay of greeneville tn sold him the car,, can you help?
While driving approximately 50 MPH, the steering failed when attempting to steer to the right. The vehicle went across a median into oncoming traffic and crashed into a guard rail. The air bag did not deploy. The driver was transported to the emergency room for injuries to the back, neck, and knee. The cause of the failure has not been determined. Please provide further details.
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 contact was able to pull the vehicle over and had it towed to an independent mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed that the passenger side control arm, axle, and transmission needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 206,000.
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.
Related recalls (2)
Steering › Hydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles built with v6 engines to federal emission standards. The power steering fluid feed tube can come in contact with an exhaust manifold mounted heat shield causing a hole to be worn through the power steering pipe allowing fluid leakage.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the power steering tube with one having a new routing. Owner notification began November 26, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not…
Steering › Gear box (other than rack and pinion)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A nut in the steering gear assembly was not properly tightened, resulting in symptoms ranging from steering wheel vibration to stiff steering, and in the worst case, no ability to turn left.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect these vehicles and replace the steering gear assembly if a loose nut connection is found.
Frequently asked questions
Which Mitsubishi Eclipse years have steering problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1999 (13), 2000 (11), 1995 (10), 1996 (9) and 2001 (9) model years. Steering complaints make up 11% of all complaints for the 1999.
Is there a recall for Mitsubishi Eclipse steering problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 01V295001 (hose, piping, and connections, Sep 25, 2001); 00V225001 (gear box (other than rack and pinion), Aug 10, 2000). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Mitsubishi Eclipse steering problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 126,000 miles; 29% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the hydraulic power assist › pump (10 mentions), followed by the hydraulic power assist system (10).
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.