Used Eagle Talon Buying Guide: TSi AWD, 1990-1998 Generations, Mods and Recalls

The used Eagle Talon worth hunting is a TSi, ideally the all-wheel-drive turbo, but in October 2026 the hard part isn't picking a year. It's finding one that hasn't been modified, thrashed or rebuilt from three other cars. Talons were built from 1990 to 1998 in two generations, as the Chrysler-badged twin of the Mitsubishi Eclipse (and the Plymouth Laser until 1994), and the turbo cars are exactly the ones tuners got to first. A vehicle history report won't tell you about a bigger turbo or a swapped engine, so plan on a hands-on inspection.

I read MotorTrend's look back at the TSi AWD, Hagerty's history of Diamond-Star Motors, Auto123's used review of the 1995-98 car, and NHTSA's recall data for every Talon year on Oct 19, 2026. What follows sticks to what those sources say.

What a Talon is

Hagerty explains that Chrysler and Mitsubishi formed Diamond-Star Motors in 1985 and built a plant in Normal, Illinois, which turned out the Eclipse, Laser and Talon. Chrysler sold its half to Mitsubishi in 1991, and the plant was renamed Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America by 1995. MotorTrend says more than 100,000 of the three cars sold in the 1990 model year, a third of them Talons, and that the Talon's total run topped 200,000.

So mechanically, a Talon is a DSM car. If you're decoding one, our Eagle VIN decoder covers the Talon, and the Mitsubishi VIN decoder is handy for the shared engine and drivetrain parts.

First generation, 1990-1994

MotorTrend lists a 92-hp 1.8 base car, a 135-hp 2.0 DOHC, a 190-hp front-drive turbo, and the TSi AWD with 195 hp, all with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic. It says the TSi AWD cost about $16,500 new and ran to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds. Hagerty's valuation notes add that automatic turbo cars got a smaller turbo and made 180 hp, that 1990-91 cars have pop-up headlights and a "6-bolt" engine, and that the 1992-94 refresh brought exposed headlights and a "7-bolt" engine.

That 6-bolt versus 7-bolt split matters to DSM people because of "crank walk," a problem forum owners pin on the 7-bolt. I couldn't find a reputable write-up that says how common it really is, so I won't put a number on it. What you can do is have a shop check crankshaft end play before you buy a 1992-94 turbo car.

Second generation, 1995-1998

Auto123 lists two main versions for 1995-98: a front-drive ESi with a 140-hp non-turbo four, and the AWD TSi with a turbocharged, intercooled 2.0 making 210 hp. Hagerty's notes say the turbo moved to a smaller, quicker-spooling unit, the front suspension went to double wishbones, and a front-drive TSi was sold alongside the AWD. For 1997 the car got a restyle, 17-inch wheels on turbo cars and four-wheel disc brakes. If you also like the bigger, heavier take on the same idea, our used Dodge Stealth guide covers Mitsubishi's other twin-badged sports car.

The modified-car problem

This is the real buying risk, and the sources are blunt about it. Auto123 says "the majority" of TSis have had at least a chip and exhaust, and that you'll either want a modified car or should stay far away. Mike Welch of Road Race Engineering told MotorTrend that DSMs are easy to work on, which is also the bad news, and that once owners double the power "stuff starts breaking, blowing up, melting." He also said many surviving cars "have been hacked on by 27 different owners." A longtime Talon owner told Hagerty the transmission seems torn up in every one he buys, because people drive them hard.

So on a test drive, check for smoke, weak or spiking boost, a clutch that slips or grabs, grinding shifts, and clunks from the AWD driveline. Look for aftermarket boost controllers, intake pipes and wiring, and ask straight out whether the engine or turbo has been changed. A CARFAX or AutoCheck report can show accidents, title brands and odometer readings, but it will not list a bigger turbo, a tune or an engine from a junkyard car. That part is on you and a DSM-savvy mechanic.

Recalls NHTSA lists

• 98V069 (1990-98): the transfer case could lock up from lack of lubrication. Dealers were to check oil level, leaks and operation.
• 95V103 (1990-91): front seat belt release buttons could break and jam the buckle.
• 94V149 (1995): the headlamp support panel could crack where the ABS hydraulic unit mounts.
• 96V158 (1995-96): fuel tank gaskets could be installed wrong and leak fuel or vapor.
• 99V066 and 00V421 (1995-98): damaged front lower ball joint boots could let in water and corrode the joint.
• 98V045 (1998): the dash pad could shift and interfere with the throttle cable.

Every Talon is past NHTSA's 15-year VIN search window, so a blank online result doesn't mean much. Our Eagle recall check covers who you can ask now that the Eagle brand is gone.

Title and history checks

Older sports cars get wrecked, stolen, stripped and rebuilt. Run the VIN through NMVTIS for salvage or junk brands, and pull a CARFAX report or AutoCheck for owner count and mileage. Check that the VIN on the dash matches the door sticker and the title, since parts cars are common here.

About pricing: CarVins is a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, Experian, Stellantis or Mitsubishi. Around mid October 2026, guest reports were about $5.50, member reports about $4.50 and a combined pair about $6.75, against roughly $39.99 to $44.99 retail. Prices can move, so take the number at checkout as final.

Sources

• MotorTrend (Automobile): The Eagle Talon TSi AWD is an underappreciated classic
• Hagerty: What killed Diamond-Star Motors?
• Auto123: 1995-1998 Eagle Talon pre-owned review
• Hagerty valuation tool model notes, 1992 and 1996 Eagle Talon TSi AWD (read Oct. 19, 2026)
• NHTSA recallsByVehicle, make EAGLE, model TALON, checked Oct. 19, 2026, e.g. 1996 Talon