The 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “Fuel odor in cabin and fuel tank gasket recall.” Mitsubishi publishes short, conservative intervals: oil every 7,500 miles normal / 3,750 severe, and — unlike many rivals — an explicit CVT fluid replacement schedule rather than a 'lifetime fill' claim. Read the severe-service column honestly: stop-and-go city trips, short hops, and hot climates all qualify, and they describe how most Mirages actually live. The 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty stays intact only with documented on-schedule service.
No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
19 NHTSA complaints · 1999-09 → 2007-02
“THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF GAS FUMES ON THE INSIDE OF MY CAR. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND A RECALL (REF. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 96V158000 AND 96V158001)”
“WHEN FILLING GAS TANK UP THERE IS A STRONG SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE OF FUEL”
“THERE IS A FUEL SMELL FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. RECALL 96V158000 DOES NOT INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE”
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
9 NHTSA complaints · 2000-10 → 2004-12
“CRANKSHAFT WALK. 1995 MITS. ECLIPSE 2WD TURBO. MY SON BOUGHT THIS CAR DIRECTLY FROM HAVING THE BOTTOM END REBUILT”
“WALKING CRANKSHAFT CAME FROM FACTORY OUT OF ROUND WHICH IS PREVENTING VEHICLE TO GO INTO GEAR”
“I AM ONE OF MANY WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE WALKING CRANKSHAFT PROBLEM WHICH REQUIRES THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE AT A COST OF APPROX $4000.00”
STRUCTURE
7 NHTSA complaints · 2000-12 → 2007-11
“WHILE OPENING UP THE DOOR ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, THE DOOR HANDLE UNEXPECTEDLY SHEARED OFF WITHOUT WARNING”
“DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS”
“BOTH OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES HAVE BROKEN OFF JUST FROM EVERYDAY USE”
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
7 NHTSA complaints · 1999-07 → 2003-09
“HEADLIGHTS ON VEHICLE WILL GET FOGGED UP WHILE CONSUMER IS DRIVING CAUSEING CONSUMER NOT TO SEE VERY WELL AT NIGHT”
“THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT LENS HAS FOGGED UP, CAUSING THE POWER LIGHT PRODUCES TO DECREASE DRAMATICALLY”
“LEFT FRONT SEALED BEAM CAME APART CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO FOG UP, DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY”
SUSPENSION
35 NHTSA complaints · 1999-09 → 2011-10
“THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE # 00V421001. WHILE ON HIS WAY TO THE DEALER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE FRONT LEFT BALL JOINT BROKE, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SKIDDED OFF THE ROAD INTO A CORNFIELD”
“WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH THE LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATED AND FALLED OFF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING”
“WHEN DRIVING STEERING WHEEL FELT REAL LOOSE. DEALER STATED LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED”
POWER TRAIN
18 NHTSA complaints · 1999-08 → 2010-11
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE TRANSFER CASE SUDDENLY LOCKED UP”
“RECALL ON TRANSFER CASE WAS DONE IN 1998, AT THIS TIME TRANSFER CASE IS LEAKING AGAIN”
“I WAS IN A CRASH. MY TRANSFER CASE LOCKED UP WHICH CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND HIT A GUARDRAIL”
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
25 NHTSA complaints · 1999-09 → 2004-06
“WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE WILL STALL WITHOUT WARNING”
“WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH VEHICLE WILL STALL. ALSO, WILL LOSE POWER/ STEERING AND BRAKES WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY”
“CAR STALLS WITHOUT NOTICE AT LIGHTS OR ON HIGHWAY; WILL EVENTUALLY RESTART. MECHANIC UNABLE TO FIND CAUSE”
AIR BAGS
8 NHTSA complaints · 1999-11 → 2003-08
“CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 65MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY”
“THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN A HEAD ON COLLISION”
“CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL IMPACT. NEITHER DUAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FROM IMPACT OF CRASH”
Issues on other model years
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.
We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.
Critical for safety and preventing major damage
Replace every 7,500 miles normal / 3,750 severe. Mirage's 1.2L three-cylinder holds barely over 3 quarts — small sumps punish stretched intervals. 0W-20 on most recent models.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$120–$160
Shop
~$85–$115
DIY
~$25–$55
Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.
Mitsubishi schedules CVT fluid replacement — commonly every 60,000 miles normal / 30,000 severe (check your year's table). Use only the specified CVT fluid (J4/CVTF-J4 family); generic ATF destroys the belt-and-pulley unit.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$360–$500
Shop
~$255–$355
DIY
~$80–$180
CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.
Rotate with every oil change. Light Mirages are easy on tires but the economy-focused OEM rubber wears fast when neglected.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.
Inspect pads, rotors/drums, and lines at each service — Mirage G4 retains rear drums, which need periodic adjustment checks.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.
Replace every 2-3 years per the schedule. Cheap job, big ABS-unit insurance.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$180–$200
Shop
~$125–$140
DIY
~$10–$25
DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.
Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently
Iridium plugs commonly every 60,000 miles on the Mirage's 3A92 and Lancer's 4B11 — verify your year's table, as some engines list up to 105,000.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$390
Shop
~$200–$275
DIY
~$25–$100
Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.
Mitsubishi's schedule replaces the engine air filter every 15,000 miles — shorter than most brands, and a 5-minute DIY on the Mirage.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.
Inspect from 60,000 miles and replace on cracking. The Mirage's single serpentine belt also drives the A/C — a failure strands the car's accessories at once.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$195–$235
Shop
~$135–$165
DIY
~$20–$50
DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.
Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort
Replace every 15,000 miles, behind the glovebox. Often skipped at quick-lube visits — worth checking if airflow feels weak.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.
First change around 60,000 miles, then roughly every 30,000-45,000 per the schedule. Mitsubishi long-life coolant or equivalent OAT for your year.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$330
Shop
~$200–$235
DIY
~$25–$60
Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.
Test annually after year 3. Small-battery economy cars have little reserve — the first cold snap finds a weak one.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$225–$390
Shop
~$160–$280
DIY
~$130–$250
Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.
Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)
164 crashes 1990–2024
How the 164 occupant deaths break down
110
driver deaths
54
passenger deaths
164
occupant deaths
Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 1994 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.
FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number
FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.
Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.
Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.
IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.
Owner-reported problem signals
Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.
52
complaints mentioning a crash
13
complaints mentioning a fire
Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.
How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.
This maintenance schedule for the 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse reflects Mitsubishi's published service intervals. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.