Mitsubishi Eclipse Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 2,131 consumer complaints across the 21 model years of the Mitsubishi Eclipse (1990–2012) that have at least 5 complaints. 2000 has the most, with 308. Across all years, the part named most often is brakes (387 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
Best and worst Eclipse years →
All Eclipse model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 8 | 86,000 | 0 | 34 | — | Not enough data |
| 2009 | 42 | 67,035 | 1 | 32 | Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years) | Stable |
| 2008 | 71 | 71,937 | 1 | 35 | Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years) | Stable |
| 2007 | 107 | 78,540 | 4 | 34 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2006 | 99 | 72,250 | 4 | 61 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2005 | 6 | 61,000 | 3 | 29 | — | Not enough data |
| 2004 | 14 | 38,000 | 4 | 29 | — | Not enough data |
| 2003 | 124 | 36,500 | 3 | 35 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2002 | 73 | 45,593 | 2 | 33 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 209 | 51,122 | 7 | 31 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 308 | 70,000 | 7 | 26 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1999 | 120 | 70,000 | 2 | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 129 | 71,000 | 4 | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 136 | 97,000 | 3 | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 159 | 89,200 | 4 | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 307 | 116,000 | 5 | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 34 | 15,500 | 1 | 5 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 36 | 137,000 | 1 | 4 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 49 | 68,000 | 1 | 5 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 54 | 140,000 | 2 | 4 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1990 | 46 | — | 5 | 4 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Brakes387 21%
- Transmission and drivetrain298 16%
- Wheels272 14%
- Engine cooling241 13%
- Body and structure208 11%
- Air bags170 9.0%
- Electrical system156 8.3%
- Suspension151 8.0%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2008: “My daughter was driving the Eclipse, she turned onto a side street and the car spun out of control causing her to hit a parked car. The passenger side tire is sideways, I have pictures of the car after the accident. My insurance company totaled the car. The police are saying she was at fault for the accident. There is a recall on the VIN number.”
NHTSA complaint #11174615, filed 2019-02, 81,000 miles2001: “I have a 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse rs 2.4 engine I bought it off my husband's uncle four months ago and ever since I got the car I noticed the light adjusters don't work at all and at night the headlights are so dim that sometimes I can't even see the road at all this is a safety concern that needs to be taken care of”
NHTSA complaint #11337053, filed 2020-07, 164,000 miles2009: “Decemebr 23, 2018 I was involved in an accident on a freeway, where all the traffic suddenly came to a stop from 50 MPH. As I pressed my breaks it was as though they almost didn't work causing me to strike the vehicle in front of me. The ABS light then became lit, all air bags were deployed and the car was determined totaled by my insurance company and I was not at fault.”
NHTSA complaint #11163673, filed 2018-12, 118,000 milesOther Mitsubishi models
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About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology