The 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse is a vehicle from Japan. Below are the specifications, open safety recalls and NHTSA data available for this specific model year. Decode a 1998 Eclipse VIN to see the exact trim, engine and equipment for one particular vehicle.
Value calculator
Move the slider: the estimate applies the observed one-year depreciation rate for this model line (28.8%/year) to the value you enter. It updates instantly, right here.
Estimated value
$0
Source: Craigslist U.S. used listings (2020-2021 snapshot) + Car Features & MSRP dataset. Asking prices run above negotiated sale prices, and the snapshot was taken in 2020–2021 — pair the estimate with live listings for your area before pricing a car.
Overview
The Mitsubishi Eclipse is a vehicle sold in the U.S. market. Enter its 17-character VIN below to pull the exact build from NHTSA vPIC: model year, trim, engine, drivetrain and assembly plant, plus any open safety recalls filed for that model year.
Specifications at a glance
Basic build info
Model year
1998
Make
Mitsubishi
Model
Eclipse
Body
Vehicle
Country of origin
Japan
Model-year-exact trim, engine and equipment vary by VIN. Decode the specific VIN above to confirm.
U.S. used-market listings for the 1998 Eclipse (Craigslist, 2020–2021 snapshot) cluster around a median asking price of $9,750 at roughly 42,577 miles, based on 2 listings. Asking prices run above negotiated sale prices, and values have moved since the snapshot — pair with live listings for your area.
Used median price
$9,750
Median mileage
42,577
Sample: 2 listings
Median of real U.S. Craigslist asking prices for this model year; asking prices skew above negotiated sale prices. Snapshot taken 2020-2021.
NHTSA safety recalls — 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse
13
open recall campaigns on file with NHTSA for this year/make/model. Repairs are free at any authorized Mitsubishi dealer (within 10 years of first sale). See all recalls →
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
Campaign: 00V421001 · Filed: 18/12/2000
Defect description: 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.
Corrective action: 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.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Campaign: 04V428000 · Filed: 01/09/2004
Defect description: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH REMOVABLE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS AFFIXED TO THE DASH AND TO THE SUNVISOR DO NOT MEET THE SIZE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Corrective action: MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL CURRENT 2000-2004 NATIVA OWNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. THE NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIVA OWNERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL OR MAY 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Campaign: 98V069001 · Filed: 26/03/1998
Defect description: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. LOCKUP OF THE TRANSFER CASE CAN OCCUR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Corrective action: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR ADEQUACY OF THE TRANSFER CASE OIL VOLUME, TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AND OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION OF THE TRANSFER CASE MECHANISM. IF OIL VOLUME IS INSUFFICIENT, THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF OIL WILL BE ADDED. IF THERE IS TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AFFECTED COMPONENTS WILL BE REPLACED. IF THE TRANSFER CASE SHOWS OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION, THE TRANSFER CASE WILL BE REPLACED.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Campaign: 98V045001 · Filed: 03/03/1998
Defect description: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DASH PANEL PAD CAN SHIFT INTERFERRING WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTROL.
Consequence: THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTROL WOULD NOT RETURN TO IDLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Corrective action: DEALERS WILL REMOVE A PORTION OF THE DASH PANEL PAD SO IT CANNOT INTERFERE WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTROL.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Campaign: 06E060000 · Filed: 29/06/2006
Defect description: CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH
Corrective action: AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.
Source: NHTSA Recalls API. Snapshot last checked: October 19, 2026. Recall status changes — verify by VIN for any vehicle you own or plan to buy.
Common problems to check on this generation
Wear items (brakes, suspension bushings, tires) at a rate set by mileage and prior care
Electronics and infotainment faults reported on some model years
Any open recall: verify by VIN, since repairs are free at the dealer
Applies to the model line as a whole; the 1998 model year may have specific TSBs, always verify by VIN.
Owner-reported problems — 1998 Eclipse
161
owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this year/make/model. Complaints are self-reported by owners and are separate from formal recalls.
Most-reported problem areas:
POWER TRAIN — 21 reports
AIR BAGS — 17 reports
STRUCTURE — 15 reports
UNKNOWN OR OTHER — 12/28/2003
I BOUGHT MY USED 1998 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE IN MARCH OF 2003. IN JUNE OF 2003, MY DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE BROKE. MY WARRANTY WOULDN'T COVER IT AND THE DEALERSHIP WANTED TO CHARGE ME $137 TO FIX IT. I SAID NO WAY AND JUST STARTED CRAWLING THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE. IN NOVEMBER 2003, MY PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE BROKE LEAVING ME WITH NO WAY TO GET INTO MY CAR. STILL YET, MY WARRENTY WOULDN'T COVER THIS. THEY SAID THIS WAS DUE TO "NEGLIGENCE". BOTH DOOR HANDLES WERE BROKE IN THE SAME PLACE AND ALL I DID WAS
SUSPENSION — 12/26/2006
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS PULLING OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY IN HIS 1998 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE WHEN HIS LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD ONLY REACHED A SPEED OF 7 MPH AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE.
SUSPENSION — 12/22/2003
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE MAKING LOUD NOISES. DEALER STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. *AK
Ask a specific question about this year and model. Our editors review every submission and publish answers with sources on this page — typical response time is 2-5 business days.
Related guides for 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse owners & buyers
The 1998 Eclipse is a Vehicle. Decode a specific VIN above for the exact trim, engine, transmission and factory options for one particular vehicle.
Are there recalls on the 1998 Eclipse?
Yes — 13 recalls on record. Repairs are free at any authorized dealer.
Is the 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse reliable?
How long a used Mitsubishi Eclipse lasts depends mostly on its maintenance history, not the badge. Pull the recall list for the model year, read the service records and pay for an independent inspection before you commit.
Values vary by trim, mileage, condition and region. Check Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds and NADA/J.D. Power for a range, see our guide comparing them — and pair with 5–10 local listings for your exact year and mileage.
What common problems should I watch for on a 1998 Eclipse?
Segment-wide issues like brake and suspension wear are the norm at this age; model-specific issues vary by generation. Review the "common problems" section above, check NHTSA complaints and TSBs for the specific year, and get an independent inspection focused on those areas.
Sources on this page:NHTSA vPIC (specifications),
NHTSA Recalls,
NHTSA NCAP (safety),
EPA FuelEconomy.gov (MPG),
NHTSA Complaints, SAE J2012 (OBD-II standard). VinSpecs is an independent service, not affiliated with Mitsubishi or any government agency.
