1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse: doors won't lock, open or latch

Filed Dec 20, 2007 · Locks · PA

Two weeks after purchase of vehicle of mitsubishi eclipse 1999 gs driver side door handle broke off from the inside and now I have to open door from the passenger side. Car was taking back to dealership who directed me to the mitsubishi dealership and they refused to fix the door latch stating that it was under normal wear and tear conditions. There are too many complaints about this issue to be considered normal wear and tear, there should be a recall on this item I am having back issues due to opening from the passenger side.

Filed Feb 16, 2007 · Body · PA

I went to open the car door barely had the handle lifted up and the passenger door handle snapped off in my hand. A few months later the driver side door handle did the same thing.

Filed Oct 23, 2006 · Locks · CA

I started having trouble with the driver side door handle just a few months after purchasing the vehicle new. The driver door handle would not "catch" sometimes when I tried to open the door. I took it to the dealer and they said they fixed it. A few weeks after that I continued to have the same issue. Since the door handle did not always do this I just dealt with it and did not take it back to the dealer. After the warranty was up the passenger side door handle completely broke off and now the driver side handle does not "catch" so I cannot open either door--I had to climb in through the hatchback!! It seems to me that this is a common problem and there should be a recall on the door handles. Also, the trunk/hatch lock is weird, I have to turn the key twice every time to open the trunk--the first time the trunk opens slightly but remains locked...

Filed Aug 23, 2006 · Body · 151,000 miles · NC

Dt*: the contact stated while attempting to open the left front driver's side door, the door handle fractured without warning. Weeks later, while attempting to open the passenger side door, the door handle fractured as well. The dealer was alerted, but the vehicle was not inspected.

Filed Dec 4, 2004 · Body · 100,000 miles · FL

Both door handles of my mistsubishi eclips 1999 have broken off and the passenger side was the first to go and I did not use that door 1/20 as much as the driver's side. Ihave replaced one... The driver's side, but I am very warey as it may break at any time and hence I will be locked out of my car. Hopefully not far from home.

Filed Sep 30, 2004 · Body · 66,899 miles · NC

Both door handles fell off during normal operation. I can not get in my car. The dealership informed me the parts are 73.55 each and the labor would be 250 dollars. The cheap plastic fell off and they want me to buy more of it! This is not covered under warranty. I feel ripped off by mitsubishi and will never buy another one. Oh and by the way my car doors dripped the same black tar substance other consumers have complained about. The dealership in charlotte nc did correct this problem w/ no charge.

Filed Sep 10, 2004 · Locks · GA

Both door handles on my car are broken and I can no longer use them to enter my 1999 mitsubishi eclipse. I have called local junk yards to find if they have the car they have already stripped the door handles, b/c this is a common complaint with other eclipse car owners.

Filed Aug 3, 2004 · Locks · 65,000 miles · LA

While trying to open the drivers door on my son's 1999 eclipse the door handle just broke off in my hand causing my son to have to enter the car from the passenger side. I questioned other people with eclipses and found that 3 of 5 experienced the same problem! I went to the dealer for a new handle and was told it would cost me $80 plus paint and installation. Even the parts shop was out of door handles due to the current demand for them. The employee behind the counter says that this is a common problem. If he can see that this is a problem, then why cant mitsubishi see this too? The answer is, they know but are not intending to do anything about it until our great government(?) steps in and forces them to! Then I started looking at other cars on the street and was amazed to see how many eclipses had black ( thats the color the replacements are ) door handles on them. This is undoubtedly a massive problem and mitsubishi needs to step up and start treating their customers fairly and replace these defective door handles, at least as they break. Mitsubishi doesnt seem to have a problem promising their customers value for their money until there is a problem such as this then they just turn their back on the very people that keep them in business! Their customers!

Filed Jul 20, 2004 · Locks · NC

As I was getting into my car, my driver's side door handle fell off into my hand. I am now having to open the door by getting in on the passenger side and opening my door through the inside door handle. I took my car to the dealership to get an estimate and they said that labor alone will be $90.00. This seems to be a common problem in the eclipse.

Filed Jun 12, 2004 · Body · NJ

Under normal operation the door handle on the driver's side of my 1999 mitsubishi eclispe broke off. The door handle will need to be replaced by the dealer for the price of $72.00 plus paint.

Filed Jul 27, 2003 · Locks, Transmission · 42,500 miles · WI

Manual transmission failure. Stick shift would pop out of 5th gear on occassion and then started to pop out of gear in 4th then complete transmission failure. Car has less than 43000 miles on it. I've heard of several other people with this same problem. Also drivers side door handle fell off, again heard several other people with same problem. Obviously a defect.

Filed Aug 30, 2002 · Body · FL

Passenger outside door handle fell off while opening the door. Dealer was not notified at this time. Feel free to provide any further information.