Mitsubishi Eclipse Problems by Year
NHTSA has 1,914 owner complaints and 26 safety recalls on file for the Mitsubishi Eclipse, across 18 model years (1995–2012). The 2000 model year has the most complaints (308). The most reported problem area overall is wheels.
Mitsubishi Eclipse years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Eclipse year: 1995, 2000, 2001. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2000 Eclipse: 308 complaints, 7 recalls
- 1995 Eclipse: 307 complaints, 5 recalls
- 2001 Eclipse: 209 complaints, 7 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2010 Eclipse: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 2011 Eclipse: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 2005 Eclipse: 6 complaints, 3 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Mitsubishi Eclipse problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheels problems | 267 | 12 | 8 |
| Service Brakes problems | 216 | 7 | 25 |
| Power Train problems | 210 | 13 | 13 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 206 | 10 | 3 |
| Structure problems | 200 | 16 | 3 |
| Air Bags problems | 171 | 16 | 122 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 150 | 13 | 25 |
| Electrical System problems | 141 | 15 | 1 |
| Suspension problems | 139 | 13 | 17 |
| Exterior Lighting | 75 | 11 | 0 |
| Tires | 75 | 10 | 8 |
| Visibility | 75 | 10 | 0 |
| Steering | 73 | 11 | 24 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 61 | 9 | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 43 | 11 | 8 |
| Equipment | 41 | 10 | 1 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 27 | 8 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 27 | 10 | 11 |
| Seats | 26 | 10 | 7 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 11 | 7 | 1 |
| Engine | 9 | 7 | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 8 | 6 | 1 |
| Parking Brake | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| Fuel System, Other | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Mitsubishi Eclipse problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2008: service brakes (50)
- 2007: service brakes (77)
- 2006: service brakes (57)
- 2001: wheels (73)
- 2000: wheels (128)
- 1995: engine and engine cooling (59)
All Mitsubishi Eclipse model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Eclipse | 8 | 0 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2011 Eclipse | 1 | 0 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2010 Eclipse | 1 | 0 | — | Service Brakes | |
| 2009 Eclipse | 42 | 1 | — | Service Brakes | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2008 Eclipse | 71 | 1 | — | Service Brakes | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2007 Eclipse | 107 | 4 | — | Service Brakes | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2006 Eclipse | 99 | 4 | — | Service Brakes | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2005 Eclipse | 6 | 3 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2004 Eclipse | 14 | 4 | — | Structure | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2003 Eclipse | 124 | 3 | — | Structure | More complaints than other years |
| 2002 Eclipse | 73 | 2 | — | Wheels | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2001 Eclipse | 209 | 7 | — | Wheels | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2000 Eclipse | 308 | 7 | — | Wheels | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1999 Eclipse | 120 | 2 | — | Power Train | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1998 Eclipse | 129 | 4 | — | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 1997 Eclipse | 136 | 3 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | More complaints than other years |
| 1996 Eclipse | 159 | 4 | — | Suspension | More complaints than other years |
| 1995 Eclipse | 307 | 5 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Mitsubishi: all Mitsubishi models · Mitsubishi VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Mitsubishi Eclipse years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1995 (307), 2000 (308), 2001 (209) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Eclipse year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Mitsubishi Eclipse?
Wheels, with 267 complaints across 12 model years.
How many recalls does the Mitsubishi Eclipse have?
26 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.