RideTruth

1996 Eagle Summit

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The Verdict

Worst problem area

Steering

Steering leads by volume: 1 of 2 complaints (50%) mentions it.

Complaints filed fell from 31 in 1995 to 2 in 1996.

Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology

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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History

Fuel cost, fuel economy, and complaint history by model-yearScroll sideways to see all 2 years. Fuel figures show the range across trims for years with more than one EPA-rated configuration.Also cataloged for 1996: 4 configuration(s) of a different vehicle class, excluded from the comparison bar only (but included in the figures above).
Category19951996vs. 1996 Midsize-Large Station Wagons
Annual fuel cost ($)2,000–3,4502,000–3,450
Combined MPG18–3118–31
City / Highway MPG17–28 / 21–3516–28 / 22–35
CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi)287–494287–494
Complaints filed312Not compared
Recalls issued11Not compared
Crash-involved complaints90Not compared
Fire-involved complaints00Not compared
Injuries reported60Not compared
Deaths reported00Not compared
Configurations compared66

Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.

Common questions

How many recalls does the 1996 Eagle Summit have?

1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.

What gas mileage does the 1996 Eagle Summit get?

EPA rates it 18–31 MPG combined.

How much does it cost to fuel a 1996 Eagle Summit?

EPA estimates $2,000–$3,450 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.

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EPA-Rated Configurations (10)

Every EPA-rated configuration on this page, one row each.A number tagged (low) or (high) is this page’s own cost-table figure of that name, above.
ConfigurationTransmissionCylindersDisplacementDrivetrainFuel TypeVehicle ClassCityHighwayCombinedAnnual Fuel CostCO₂
Configuration 1Automatic 3-spd41.5LFront-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars24 mpg29 mpg26 mpg$2,400342 g/mi
Configuration 2Manual 5-spd41.5LFront-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars28 mpg (high)35 mpg (high)31 mpg (high)$2,000 (low)287 g/mi (low)
Configuration 3Automatic 4-spd41.8LFront-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars23 mpg30 mpg25 mpg$2,500355 g/mi
Configuration 4Manual 5-spd41.8LFront-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars23 mpg30 mpg25 mpg$2,500355 g/mi
Configuration 5Automatic 4-spd41.8LFront-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize-Large Station Wagons21 mpg26 mpg23 mpg$2,700386 g/mi
Configuration 6Manual 5-spd41.8LFront-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize-Large Station Wagons21 mpg27 mpg23 mpg$2,700386 g/mi
Configuration 7Automatic 4-spd42.4LFront-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize-Large Station Wagons18 mpg24 mpg20 mpg$3,100444 g/mi
Configuration 8Automatic 4-spd42.4L4-Wheel or All-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize-Large Station Wagons16 mpg (low)22 mpg (low)18 mpg (low)$3,450 (high)494 g/mi (high)
Configuration 9Manual 5-spd42.4L4-Wheel or All-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize-Large Station Wagons18 mpg22 mpg (low)20 mpg$3,100444 g/mi
Configuration 10Manual 5-spd42.4LFront-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize-Large Station Wagons19 mpg25 mpg22 mpg$2,850404 g/mi

Complaints by Category

Complaints by category, in the same fixed order on every page
CategoryComplaintsCrash-InvolvedFire-InvolvedInjuriesDeaths
Engine00000
Transmission & Drivetrain00000
Fuel System00000
Electrical00000
Brakes00000
Steering10000
Suspension, Wheels & Tires00000
Airbags & Restraints10000
Driver Assistance & Speed Control00000
Body, Seats & Latches00000
Visibility & Lighting00000
Other00000

A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.

Recalls (1)

  • POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION · Campaign 98V168003 · Oct 7, 1998

    Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ALL WHEEL DRIVE PASSENGER VEHICLES. LOCKUP OF THE TRANSFER CASE CAN OCCUR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION.

    Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

    Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR ADEQUACY OF THE TRANSFER CASE OIL VOLUME, TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AND OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION OF THE TRANSFER CASE MECHANISM. IF OIL VOLUME IS INSUFFICIENT, THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF OIL WILL BE ADDED. IF THERE IS TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AFFECTED COMPONENTS WILL BE REPLACED. IF THE TRANSFER CASE SHOWS OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION, THE TRANSFER CASE WILL BE REPLACED.