1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 220
- on record
- Top problem area
- AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
- 16 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 0
- none on record
- Reported harm
- 31 reported crashes · 12 injuries · 5 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#2,365
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Mitsubishi median
+45
median 175 across 37 Mitsubishi records
Vs 1994-1998
-25
median 245 complaints in 551 records
Top component share
10%
Engine And Engine Cooling: 22 complaints
What owners report fails — 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse
- AIR BAGS:FRONTAL 16
- SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT 15
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE 14
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR 11
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE 8
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse reliable?
NHTSA has 220 consumer complaints on record for the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse. The most-reported problem area is air bags:frontal (16 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse?
Owners most often report problems with: air bags:frontal (16), suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint (15), engine and engine cooling:engine (14), service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor (11). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.