Mitsubishi Eclipse Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 206 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the Mitsubishi Eclipse across 10 model years. The 1995 model year has the most (59). The words owners use most often: “head gasket” (14% of reports).
- 206engine and engine cooling complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,750typical repair cost reported by owners
- 47%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Head gasket: mentioned in 29 of 206 complaints (14%)
- Timing belt: mentioned in 12 of 206 complaints (6%)
- Oil leak: mentioned in 12 of 206 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine and engine cooling repair on the Mitsubishi Eclipse at $1,750, and half of them between $1,350 and $6,650.
Based on 11 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2000–2008), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 51 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 206 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 10 a fire, 1 an injury.
Mitsubishi Eclipse engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 Eclipse | 2 | 2% | 76,265 |
| 2003 Eclipse | 12 | 10% | 22,000 |
| 2002 Eclipse | 2 | 3% | — |
| 2001 Eclipse | 14 | 7% | 25,000 |
| 2000 Eclipse | 11 | 4% | 57,000 |
| 1999 Eclipse | 18 | 15% | 62,250 |
| 1998 Eclipse | 21 | 16% | 68,000 |
| 1997 Eclipse | 41 | 30% | 97,000 |
| 1996 Eclipse | 26 | 16% | 76,360 |
| 1995 Eclipse | 59 | 19% | 108,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Model years: 2001
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The harness for the crankshaft position sensor could come in contact with a new protective shield causing a grounded circuit.
Risk: Prolonged wiring harness contact with the heat shield will cause the wiring insulation to wear and eventually to ground out. This could cause the engine to die-out, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will re-route the crankshaft position sensor harness.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 mitsubishi eclipse. The contact stated that the catalytic converter failed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing, but was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 124,000.
This vehicle suddenly started stalling whether idling, accelorating, or coasting. It would then have trouble starting and run fine again. After taking it to the mitsubshi dealership on western blvd in jacksonville, nc, they could not diagnose it but found in their data base that there is a tiny…
This vehicle suddenly started stalling whether idling, accelerating, or coasting. It would then have trouble starting and run fine again. After taking it to the mitsubshi dealership on western blvd in jacksonville, nc, they could not diagnose it but found in their data base that there is a tiny…
1998 mitsubishi eclipse, unit 1 was traveling east on the ohio turnpike near the 54 milepost. Unit 1 filled with smoke. Unit 1 pulled to the right shoulder and stopped. The driver of unit 1 exited and opened the hood and observed fire. The driver of unit 1 was charged with ovi. Bf (ohio traffic…
I have a mitisubishi eclipse 2003 100000 miles ( majority highway). In the spring of 08-the vehicle was making noise when accelerating, the vehicle was changing gears hard and was advise it was the transmission/motor mounds. The problem occurred intermittently while driving as much as 40mph. Took…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Mitsubishi Eclipses have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 206 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the Mitsubishi Eclipse. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Mitsubishi Eclipse engine and engine cooling?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine and engine cooling. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine and engine cooling problems on the Mitsubishi Eclipse?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,750 (half paid between $1,350 and $6,650), from 11 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the Mitsubishi Eclipse?
The most frequent phrase is “head gasket”, in 29 of 206 complaints, followed by “timing belt” (12).
Other Mitsubishi Eclipse problems
- Wheels problems (267)
- Service Brakes problems (216)
- Power Train problems (210)
- Structure problems (200)
- Air Bags problems (171)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (150)
- Electrical System problems (141)
- Suspension problems (139)
See all Mitsubishi Eclipse problems.