VehicleVerdict

1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse engine problems

The 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse has 47 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 25% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

47

Engine complaints

25%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Eclipse engine complaints by model year65 complaints1989: 3 complaints1990: 6 complaints1991: 8 complaints1992: 9 complaints1993: 9 complaints1994: 5 complaints1995: 65 complaints1996: 30 complaints1997: 47 complaints1998: 23 complaints1999: 18 complaints2000: 12 complaints2001: 16 complaints2002: 2 complaints2003: 13 complaints2004: 1 complaints2006: 3 complaints2008: 2 complaints
Eclipse engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER VEHICLE. DRIVER STOPPED VEHICLE/ PUT VEHICLE IN PARK/ LOOKED UNDER CAR AND SAW OIL WAS LEAKING. WHEN PRESSING GAS CONSUMER COULD SEE A FLAME OF FIRE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT VEHICLE NEEDED A HEAD GASKET. *AK”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · January 6, 2002 · fire

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse have?

NHTSA has 47 complaints about the 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse engine — 25% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.