Suspension complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 | 13% | — |
| 2008 | 1 | 1% | 81,000 miles |
| 2007 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2006 | 1 | 1% | 128,000 miles |
| 2003 | 2 | 2% | 132,000 miles |
| 2002 | 1 | 1% | 18,000 miles |
| 2001 | 7 | 3% | 101,000 miles |
| 2000 | 11 | 4% | 100,000 miles |
| 1999 | 12 | 10% | 200,000 miles |
| 1998 | 12 | 9% | 137,000 miles |
| 1997 | 16 | 12% | 103,000 miles |
| 1996 | 27 | 17% | 120,000 miles |
| 1995 | 47 | 15% | 149,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Tl contact owns a 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse. While the contact's daughter was driving 30 MPH, the lower passenger side control arm failed, which caused the entire wheel assembly to separate from the vehicle. The vehicle landed onto the frame. The contact struck two parked vehicles and then slid into the third vehicle, which stopped the contact's vehicle because there was no braking ability after the assembly fell off. A police report was filed. The air bags failed to deploy and the vehicle was destroyed. The contact consulted the manufacturer and they stated that there were no recalls on the vehicle; therefore, they would offer no assistance. The VIN was unknown. The current and failure mileages were approximately 30,000.
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.
The car makes a sound in the rear when I make a turn.the turning radius is very bad.I wouldn't do a u turn with it.the other issue is that the A/C stopped working on a very hot day.when I turned on the A/C the car turned off this almost caused a accident due to the sudden stop.the dashboard is all cracked.other than that the car seems good.everything else about the car I do like.the paint is peeling off and there seems to be some rust.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse. The contact stated that the upper strut tower was severely corroded. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or and independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
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 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.
"Takata recall" I have replaced my control arms about 4 times now in the past 2 years. I have it fixed and then the squeaking always comes back, last about 6 months and then lower ball joint breaks. Last time it broke I was going about 40mph, it was very scary. The picture I sent was taken on 7/28/14. The last time it happened was on 6/20/15 and I have had it replaced since.
"Takata recall" I have replaced my control arms about 4 times now in the past 2 years. I have it fixed and then the squeaking always comes back lasts about 6 months then the lower ball joint breaks. Last time it broke I was going about 40 MPH, it was very scary. The picture I sent was taken on 7/28/2014. Though the last time it broke was on 6/20/2015.
Related recalls (2)
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.
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.
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.
NHTSA investigations
Lower contrtol arm ball joint
There is no summary currently available
Frequently asked questions
Which Mitsubishi Eclipse years have suspension problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1995 (47), 1996 (27), 1997 (16), 1998 (12) and 1999 (12) model years. Suspension complaints make up 15% of all complaints for the 1995.
Is there a recall for Mitsubishi Eclipse suspension problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 00V421001 (lower ball joint, Dec 18, 2000); 99V066001 (lower ball joint, Apr 5, 1999). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Mitsubishi Eclipse suspension problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 128,000 miles; 11% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front › control arm › lower ball joint (54 mentions), followed by the front (25).
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.