1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse: doors won't lock, open or latch

Filed Aug 3, 2010 · Body, Locks · 44,000 miles · SC

I purchased my 1998 eclipse gs in 2003 with approx. 38,000 miles on it. Within 2 months, my driver's door handle broke when opening the door. This occurred on a day in the middle of the summer. Not thinking much about it, I had it replaced at a cost of almost $300.00 (parts, labor, & paint) it happened again within 3 months. The dealership replaced this one also and only charged me for the part, a mere $175.00. About 6 months later, my girlfriend at the time was opening the passenger door and that handle broke off. This makes 3 broken door handles in 11 months. I might be a strong guy, I guess, but my girlfriend was 5'1" and about 90 lbs.. The kind of girl who had trouble tearing notebook paper. Well, while waiting for the dealership to order a replacement handle, my brother was getting into the driver's side of my car to install a new stereo and the driver's side handle snaps off in his hand. I had to leave a window down for a week inorder to get in and out of the vehicle. I have since stopped ordering from the dealership as a fiberglass door handle was available online for $35.00 and came black in color. To date, as of 2010, I have had to replace the driver's door handle 6 times and the passenger side twice. After speaking wit quite a few mitsubishi enthusiasts, I have discovered that this is a problem mitsubishi knows about, always knew about, and has simply refused to fix, even as far as not making replacement door handles out of stronger material. I will never buy a mitsubishi again based on this simple design flaw which the company deems is beneath them to make right.

Filed Jun 12, 2006 · Acceleration, Engine · 100,000 miles · CA

I bought my 98 eclipse, standard, in 2003, not even a year after I had it it died on me on the freeway one day. Turned out it was the speed sensor that got me stranded in the middle of no where. About another 6 months later the found an oil leak on the head gasket that was making me misfire, that was fixed. The car was fine until about 2 months ago when the engine went out on me because apparently the engine oil and coolant were somehow mixing, my hoses were out, so was my water pump, o2 sensor and fuel pump sensor, all at the same time. Well I had major work done everything was put in new, about a month later my driver door handle falls off, that cost me 150 dollars! One month after that, now, my speedometer stops working all of a sudden and 2 weeks later my transmission goes out. Also my clutch is going out. So now I cant drive the car any higher than 5th gear because it throws my gear out!!! Since I still owe 6k on the car I have no choice but to fix it. Which is going to end up costing me, in all I've spent and am about to spend, as much as I still owe on the car!

Filed Aug 29, 2005 · Locks · IL

Passenger door handle of 98 mitsubishi snaps off while opening and occupant almost feel to the ground.

Filed Feb 24, 2005 · Locks · 122,320 miles · IN

Door handle on outside of car broke while trying to open the door parked in my garage. Temp in garage around 35 f. Car still has not been fixed and door is unusable as a result. Parts will have to ordered from dealer and then a body shop will have to paint to match. Car is seven years old this shouldn't be happening.

Filed Feb 17, 2005 · Body · 63,000 miles · CA

Both outside door handles broke completely off.

Filed Jan 14, 2005 · Locks · CA

My wife and I are the current and continuous owners of a 1998 mitsubishi eclipse. Within the space of approximately 3 months, both door handles have fallen off under normal use. Upon requesting that the local mitsubishi dealership (south coast, costa mesa, ca) replace the door handles, we were told by the service department that the replacement cost for each door handle would be $275.00 u.s. Dollars. We consider this to be predatory pricing for replacement of a design flaw and known defect.

Filed Apr 30, 2004 · Electrical, Engine · 81,000 miles · OH

Had recall done for lateral arm, dealer informed me head gasket was blown, two weeks later both door handles broke off, maybe the door handles shouldn't be made of plastic. The car has been through two alternator belts in the last two years. The car overheats and it melts them right off. You buy a product from mitsubishi so you dont expect it to be made by chrysler. My sister drives a dodge avenger and we have the same exact engine, and guess what happened to it ---a blown head gasket. Maybe you people should stand behind your product and fix the ever so common problem. Everyone I know who drives an eclipse has a blown head gasket. I am very unhappy and will never buy a car from mitsubishi again.

Filed Dec 28, 2003 · NC

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 open the door and they were broke. They are made of all plastic. I have searched online and found that many 1998 mitsubishi eclipse's have had broken door handles. I am paying $252 a month for this car with an extended warrenty that doesn't seem to be worth anything.

Filed Nov 5, 2003 · Locks · TX

Driver side door latch on a 1998 mitsubishi eclipse broke.*mr *ts

Filed Oct 1, 2003 · Body · 22,000 miles · FL

Driver side and passenger side door handles snapped and broke off without excessive force. *ak

Filed Feb 10, 2003 · Brakes, Locks · 87,000 miles · CA

Front brakes on 1998 mistubishi eclipse vibrate when brakes applied. Vehicle has experienced this brake failure 4 times in the last 4 years. Rotors resurfaced at 12,000 miles. Rotors replaced at 27,000 miles and resurfaced and replaced again at 77,000 miles. This is unacceptable. Exterior door handles broke twice. (plastic)