Comments: 1-15, 16-26
Burns oil. Massive oil smoke clouds when taking off from a start. Seals are almost guaranteed to go bad on these cars. Every other one I've seen on the road also burns oil. This means major engine work.
The sun visor has snapped off, another common thing.
Shifter is terrible when cold. Reverse is impossible to find.
Clutch grabs instantly, causes grindage unless slammed against the fire wall.
Antenna jammed.
Paint fading.
The stock stereo is garbage.
All the problems I listed seem to be common as I've researched them and this car.
I'd never think a Japanese company like Mitsubishi would make something so determined to go bad under 100K miles. Maybe the new Eclipse engines are better. I won't take my chances.
That's odd. You had to rebuild the engine? And, every other one on the road burns oil? How do you know that they burn oil? If you see black-gray smoke coming from them, that's normal for a turbo charged car.
I'm not sure how you blew the engine in yours. I had a 90 Laser (Turbo, but same engine) and beat on it EVERY day and never had an oil consumption problem. I now have a 95 Eclipse GSX with the same motor. No problems - and I beat on it as well. Considering the engines from the turbo and non-turbo cars are the same, I'm not sure how you could break it. Perhaps it was poor maintenance. Oil does need to be changed.
These engines are rock solid and other causes for your problems should be looked at.
I just bought a 1992 Mitsubishi Eclipse with a blown engine, the owner says it's blown but I really doubt it.
Haven't looked at it yet, it was a steal at $350. Had to grab it.
Most stock stereos are garbage.
I am planning on buying an Eclipse, I just hope nothing too bad goes wrong with it, I don't have a good paying job to fix it every day.
I've owned a 1993 Eclipse 1.8 SOHC for four and one half years and have never had a problem. When I bought it, it had 35,650 miles on odometer, now the odometer shows over 114,000 and it is still running strong!!
I didn't change the timing belt until 113,000 miles, granted I dodged a big bullet!!!
I change my oil every 3,000 miles and have had no usage of oil... I don't baby the car, I drive 100 miles a day for work and I drive the car hard!
It's a 5 speed... the only complaint is the 1st gear syncros don't mesh easily.
It's one of the best cars I've owned... I'd buy another one in a minute (only with a bigger engine).
My transmission sucks it seems to jerk when I stop, especially when cold... oh and my overdrive gear doesn't work?!
My name is Carlos and I live in Portugal. I have a 1992 Eclipse GS and it doesn't give any problems. It's a good car, I love it.
I own a Mitsubishi Eclipse Turbo and have the same types of problems. It is now 10 years old and only has 38,000 miles. My radio doesn't work and some of the gears are a little stiff but once you work them in they seem to fine. The engine runs great and I have not had any problems with yet and hopefully never will.
I have owned a Mitsubishi Eclipse for 2 years, the sun visor snapped off, the engine is broken - even with good maintenance, pretty much everything that is wrong with the car at the top of this page is wrong with mine too. Can't wait for another car.
I have a 1992 eclipse GS. I bought it new, and today it now has 170,000 miles on it and still runs as strong as it did when I bought it, the only thing I have done is replaced the timing belt twice (since it has an interference motor) so I wouldn't have to replace the valve train. And yes mine burns a little oil, but id like to see a car at 170,000 miles that doesn't. But guess what? it still passes inspection. that's all that matters!
I recently bought a '92 Eclipse with the 1.8 L four-banger in it and 104,000 miles. It puts out oil smoke when I rev the engine but that is the only time. It runs very well but there are a few fit and finish problems such as the power windows not fitting in their tracks (which is easily self-repairable, go to dsm.org) and the tuner on my radio doesn't tune anything higher than 95.0 FM. Other than that it is the best car I've ever driven.
My wife drives a 92 Eclipse GS (DSM) and she had it when I met her, but we just bought a 97 Corolla for her so we can get rid of the Eclipse! Woo-hoo!
Anyways, the Eclipse was a total garbage. No offense to DSM lovers, but it is, even under EXTREME care. When starting, a LOUD screeching noise can be heard, it's the pulley's adjustment.
Then thick BLUE smoke will be seen coming out of the super noisy exhaust, fumes of burning oil/engine fumes can be smelled inside the car, occasional battery drain (parasitic drain, battery is NEW).
Handles sluggishly, it wobbles like the coilovers are messed, the sunvisor broke, the stock radio is useless (replaced), paint starts chipping, engine is VERY NOISY even after professional tune-up, stalls on freeway (very dangerous), drivetrain is horrendous - it shakes when shifting, the back seat is a JOKE, all rusts EVERYWHERE, interior plastics are falling off. This car is a TOTAL JUNK!
Hey Fellows I am trying to find an engine for my ecllipse 1992 turbo.. anyone has a lead on it please let me know.. it went hot red when I was on the interstate. god knows what happened.
Hey guys, I'm looking for a 1991 turbo engine for my Turbo Eclipse, would you happen to know who has one. I have had this car since my Grandfather left it to me 9 years ago, it means a lot to me so please help me find a reasonable engine for it, please.. my email address is SAULSERVELLON@HOTMAIL.COM
I'm in Tucson Arizona and I need help.
DO SOME OF YOU PEOPLE LOOK INTO HOW THE PREVIOUS OWNERS TREATED THE DSM YOU BOUGHT??? You know if you buy a used car, the previous owner can trash the car before you bought it, and it can give you problems. A sure fire way to know how good a car REALLY is, is to buy one brand new, I bought my 91 Eclipse turbo used and it is a great car. I had a falling out with a weird timing belt situation, that cost me a lot, but my car is not costly to maintain and I love it. PARTS ARE EASY TO FIND FOR THESE CARS!!! go to http://www.dsm.org, they have a trader board where people sell parts for these cars cheap!!!You can buy good engine for like $300 off of there.
Like ANY car out there... it can give you problems. And if things like loud exhaust systems annoy you, why don't you get a new muffler??? My cars muffler was dead quiet when I bought it. My car used to blow a lot of smoke that looked like oil smoke, but then I changed my oxygen sensor and my cat. it stopped.
It's best to look at how these cars function before you buy one because if you don't, you could maintain it improperly, and if you do maintain them properly and take care of them, they won't give you problems. Unless it's a lemon, all manufacturers have lemons you know?!
I own a 1991 Eclipse and have had EXACTLY the same problems you have. The most frustrating, in my opinion, is the obviously defective paint that was put on this car.