1997 Mitsubishi Caribbean ECLIPSE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
162,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 1 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 1 |
2005: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10109066 · 2005-01-27 (January 27, 2005)
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE SWERVED TO KEEP FROM STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 45 MPH. THEN, VEHICLE WENT INTO A DITCHAND TURNED OVER. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 162,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10109066 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V421003 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
Reported: 2001-04-06 (April 6, 2001)
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.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. THIS CAMPAIGN SUPERCEDES MMC'S PREVIOUS SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN, SEE 99V-066.
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. BALL JOINTS THAT ARE WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE CLEANED AND A SPECIAL SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED TO PREVENT INTRUSION OF MOISTURE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
1 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1990 | 1991 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheels:Rim | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 250.0%ODI 10097555 · 53,000 miAIR SEEPED OUT OF THE TIRE.THE RIMS WERE BENT, ALLOWING AIR TO ESCAPE. *AK | 150.0%ODI 10103379VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH REAR RIMS AND THE FRONTAL PASSENGER SIDE RIM WERE BENT, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK | 2100.0%ODI 8013782WHILE DRIVING PIECE OF FRONT RIGHT RIM BROKE OFF, AND NOTICED THAT BACK RIM WAS BENT .*AK |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 10109066 · 162,000 miCONSUMER'S VEHICLE SWERVED TO KEEP FROM STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 45 MPH. THEN, VEHICLE WENT INTO A DITCHAND TURNED OVER. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES.*AK | 133.3%ODI 843115DAUGHTER WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT. FRONTAL AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. TRAVELING AT 30 MPH. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 10117466 · 97,000 miTHE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN ONGOING GAS ODOR PROBLEM WITHIN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE ODOR WAS STRONGEST WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, BUT COULD ALSO BE SMELLED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLED. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY DIDN'T SMELL THE GAS ODOR. *AK THE BELTS WERE NOISY AND WERE WORN OUT. BOTH DRIVE BELTS WERE REPLACED, THE FRONT WHEELS WORE OUT FAST, THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE DUE TO AN OPEN CIRCUIT, THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT WOULD SHAKE AND VIBRATE… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10101177RESPONSE TO E-MAIL CONCERNING THE PROBLEM YOU EXPERIENCED WITH A CAR DEALERSHIP. *BF THE WASHER FLUID LIGHT WAS ON, THE POWER ANTENNA DID NOT WORK, THERE WAS POSSIBLY A PROBLEM DEALING WITH THE CRANK SEAL, THE BRAKES WERE NOT OKAY, THE ROTORS WERE WARPED, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON, AND THE HOOD WAS OPENED AND THERE WAS AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF HEAT WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *SC | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Horn | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 10117466 · 97,000 miTHE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN ONGOING GAS ODOR PROBLEM WITHIN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE ODOR WAS STRONGEST WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, BUT COULD ALSO BE SMELLED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLED. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY DIDN'T SMELL THE GAS ODOR. *AK THE BELTS WERE NOISY AND WERE WORN OUT. BOTH DRIVE BELTS WERE REPLACED, THE FRONT WHEELS WORE OUT FAST, THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE DUE TO AN OPEN CIRCUIT, THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT WOULD SHAKE AND VIBRATE… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 864905WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, HEARD A CLICKING NOISE, THEN SAW SMOKE. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL FUSE TO GET IT TO STOP SMOKING, CONSUMER FEELS THIS COULD HAD CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.*AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10101177RESPONSE TO E-MAIL CONCERNING THE PROBLEM YOU EXPERIENCED WITH A CAR DEALERSHIP. *BF THE WASHER FLUID LIGHT WAS ON, THE POWER ANTENNA DID NOT WORK, THERE WAS POSSIBLY A PROBLEM DEALING WITH THE CRANK SEAL, THE BRAKES WERE NOT OKAY, THE ROTORS WERE WARPED, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON, AND THE HOOD WAS OPENED AND THERE WAS AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF HEAT WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *SC | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 10117466 · 97,000 miTHE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN ONGOING GAS ODOR PROBLEM WITHIN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE ODOR WAS STRONGEST WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, BUT COULD ALSO BE SMELLED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLED. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY DIDN'T SMELL THE GAS ODOR. *AK THE BELTS WERE NOISY AND WERE WORN OUT. BOTH DRIVE BELTS WERE REPLACED, THE FRONT WHEELS WORE OUT FAST, THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE DUE TO AN OPEN CIRCUIT, THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT WOULD SHAKE AND VIBRATE… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 10117466 · 97,000 miTHE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN ONGOING GAS ODOR PROBLEM WITHIN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE ODOR WAS STRONGEST WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, BUT COULD ALSO BE SMELLED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLED. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY DIDN'T SMELL THE GAS ODOR. *AK THE BELTS WERE NOISY AND WERE WORN OUT. BOTH DRIVE BELTS WERE REPLACED, THE FRONT WHEELS WORE OUT FAST, THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE DUE TO AN OPEN CIRCUIT, THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT WOULD SHAKE AND VIBRATE… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | Too few reports for a range | 162,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10109066 · 162,000 miCONSUMER'S VEHICLE SWERVED TO KEEP FROM STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 45 MPH. THEN, VEHICLE WENT INTO A DITCHAND TURNED OVER. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES.*AK |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2001: 0 complaints · 2003: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Air Bags:Frontal |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.