NHTSA Complaint #756856 — 2000 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE

HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS MELTED AFTER ORIGINAL BULBS WERE REPLACED WITH CORRECT AFTERMARKET COMPONENT. DEALER COMMENTED THAT EVERY ECLIPSE THAT HAS REPLACEMENT HEADLIGHT BULBS HAS BURNED THE WIRING HARNESS. WHEN THIS COMPONENT FAILS, IT LEAVES THE DRIVER WITH NEITHER A HIGH OR LOW BEAM LIGHT. SHOULD BOTH BURN- OUT IN RAPID SUCCESSION A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WOULD LIKELY OCCUR. ALSO WITH WIRING MELTING UNDER THE HOOD THE CHANCE OF FIRE OR ELECTRICAL SHORTING OF OTHER COMPONENTS SEEMS VERY LIKELY. IN DOING RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM, I FOUND A REPORT THAT STATES THAT MITSUBISHI HAS CHANGED THE WIRING HARNESS TO A HEAVIER GAUGE. MY ASSUMTION IS THAT IT IS TO PREVENT THIS HAZARD IN CARS CURRENTLY BEING PRODUCED. WITH MITSUBISHI'S TRACK RECORD REGARDING RECALLS, I FEEL THIS DEFECT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT ANY TIME IN REGARD TO THIS MATTER.*AK