Mitsubishi Eclipse problems
The Mitsubishi Eclipse is a sport compact car that was produced by Mitsubishi in four generations from 1989 until 2011. A convertible body style was added during the 1996 model year.
The first two generations share the automobile platform and parts with the rebadged Eagle Talon and Plymouth Laser captive imports. They were built during Mitsubishi Motors' close relationship with Chrysler Corporation. Their partnership was known as Diamond-Star Motors (DSM). In Japan, the first two generations were sold at a specific Japanese retail chain called Mitsubishi Car Plaza. The third, 2000–2005 generation shared a redesigned platform with the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Stratus. In May 2005, the fourth, and final generation Eclipse was introduced, replacing the Chrysler platform used for the third generation with the PS platform.
According to Mitsubishi Motors, the Eclipse was named after an unbeaten 18th-century English racehorse that won 18 races in a row and then retired.
At the end of August 2011, the final Eclipse was manufactured and subsequently auctioned for charity.
In 2017, Mitsubishi resurrected the Eclipse name on a compact crossover vehicle, called the Eclipse Cross.
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Mitsubishi Eclipse model years
Common Mitsubishi Eclipse problems
Based on the complaints from owners of Mitsubishi Eclipse cars, here is a list of common problems associated with these vehicles:
- Sunroof Issues:
- The sunroof in some Mitsubishi Eclipse models may become stuck closed or have difficulty moving, leading to potential water leaks and electrical damage.
- Owners have reported issues with the sunroof getting stuck, requiring costly repairs to fix the problem.
- Manual Transmission Shifting Difficulty:
- Many owners have experienced difficulties with shifting in manual transmission Mitsubishi Eclipse cars.
- This issue can lead to challenges in changing gears smoothly, affecting the overall driving experience.
- Transmission Failure:
- Transmission failure is a significant concern among Mitsubishi Eclipse owners, even in low mileage examples.
- One common cause of this problem is the failure of the wave caution spring in the transmission, leading to severe damage and the need for transmission replacement or rebuilding.
- Brake System Faults:
- Some Mitsubishi Eclipse cars have been reported to have issues with their brake systems.
- Problems with the brakes can compromise the safety and performance of the vehicle, requiring immediate attention and repair.
- Weak Wheels Prone to Bending:
- Weak wheels that are prone to bending have been highlighted as a common problem in Mitsubishi Eclipse cars.
- This issue can impact the handling and stability of the vehicle, necessitating wheel replacements or repairs.
- Starting Problems:
- Owners have reported various starting issues with Mitsubishi Eclipse cars, including fuel-related problems, ignition system malfunctions, and engine management issues.
- Starting problems can be frustrating and may indicate underlying issues that need to be addressed promptly.
- Electrical Component Failures:
- Some Mitsubishi Eclipse owners have faced challenges with electrical components due to water leaks from sunroof issues.
- Electrical failures can lead to malfunctions in various systems within the vehicle, requiring thorough inspection and repair.
- Rattling Noise:
- A rattling noise coming from the rear end of the car has been reported by some Mitsubishi Eclipse owners.
- This noise can be indicative of underlying mechanical issues that need to be diagnosed and resolved to prevent further damage.
These common problems with Mitsubishi Eclipse cars highlight the importance of regular maintenance, prompt repairs, and thorough inspections to ensure the longevity and performance of these vehicles.
What year of Mitsubishi Eclipse to avoid?
The majority of the complaints are directed at models manufactured between 2006 and 2009. Service brakes on affected models may fail to function or lock up while in use. Many Mitsubishi Eclipse owners have noticed their ABS randomly lighting up or shutting off when the brakes are engaged.
Is the Mitsubishi Eclipse a reliable car?
The Mitsubishi Eclipse Reliability Rating is 4.0 out of 5.0, which ranks it 20th out of 36 for compact cars. The average annual repair cost is $510 which means it has lower than average ownership costs.
Are Mitsubishi Eclipse expensive to fix?
The average annual repair cost for a Mitsubishi is $535, which means it has above average ownership costs.
How long do Eclipse cars last?
The Mitsubishi Eclipse has an average lifespan of 149,972 miles or about 10 years. The Eclipse's predicted lifespan is derived from over 300 million data points iSeeCars analyzed to determine this model's average lifespan.
Percentage distribution of complaints by Mitsubishi Eclipse years
We have researched Mitsubishi problems and analysed all the complaints filed against Mitsubishi Eclipse cars and compiled the top 5 most problematic Mitsubishi Eclipse model years:
- Mitsubishi Eclipse 1995
- Mitsubishi Eclipse 2001
- Mitsubishi Eclipse 2000
- Mitsubishi Eclipse 1996
- Mitsubishi Eclipse 1997
Below you can see the percentage distribution of known problems by Mitsubishi Eclipse model years.
Distribution of the number of complaints by Mitsubishi Eclipse years
We've also compiled a chart for you with the number of complaints about Volkswagen Jetta cars of certain model years:
Mitsubishi Eclipse car problems categorized by type of issue
After analysing all complaints related to Mitsubishi Eclipse , it was concluded that the most common issues with these cars are:
- Service brakes problems
- Power train problems
- Wheels problems
- Engine and engine cooling problems
- Structure problems
The graph below shows statistics for all Mitsubishi Eclipse vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Distribution of the number of complaints where the accident occurred by Eclipse model years
A total of 283 complaints were registered in which the accident occurred. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
Distribution of the number of complaints with fire by Eclipse model years
There were a total of 69 complaints that resulted in a fire. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
Distribution of the number of complaints with injuries by Eclipse model years
There were a total of 190 complaints that resulted in a injuries. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
Distribution of the number of complaints with deaths by Eclipse model years
There were a total of 13 complaints that resulted in a death. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
The NHTSA has received 2519 complaints about various vehicle components related to the Mitsubishi Eclipse . Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for Mitsubishi Eclipse vehicles.
Latest 25 complaints
Mitsubishi Eclipse 2012
- Date Of Incident: 2024-06-13
- Date Complaint: 2024-06-14
- VIN: 4A31K5DF4CE
- Components: SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE
- Summary: After a recent oil change, they informed me that the cross bar was very rusted and looks very unsafe. Upon further research I was informed there was a recall for this problem. I am the only owner and at this time all maintenance is up to date. Because the car has low mileage, I want to keep the car so during my research I was informed the part is unavailable. Not sure what to do at this point looking for any suggestions.
Mitsubishi Eclipse 2008
- Date Of Incident: 2024-05-23
- Date Complaint: 2024-05-28
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 4A3AK24F48E
- Components: AIR BAGS,ENGINE
- Summary: The contact owns a 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, for unknown reasons, he veered off the road, traveled over a hill, and crashed into a dirt pile. The steering wheel air bag failed to deploy. The contact had previously unplugged, the passenger seat air bag. The air bag and check engine warning lights were illuminated. After the crash, the curtain and driver's seat air bag were deployed. The contact noticed the passenger's side rear tire was low and had a slash in the side wall. The contact sustained whiplash and pain, and medical attention was provided. The vehicle was towed to his residence. There was no reported fire or police report. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
Mitsubishi Eclipse 1997
- Date Of Incident: 2010-01-01
- Date Complaint: 2023-07-16
- VIN: 4A3AX35GXVE
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: The airbag cover on the passenger side is peeling off. I feel that if I tried to glue it or modify it in any way, this action could result in the airbag not deploying like it should and cause serious injury incase of an accident.
Mitsubishi Eclipse 2001
- Date Of Incident: 2021-11-17
- Date Complaint: 2022-11-16
- VIN: 4A3AC44G71E
- Components: POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
- Summary: I almost got into a accident because it's late sobits really hard to see because the headlights u cnt see any at all at night I can use a flash light out the window and see better like that but on top of that my car just decides to up and stall on me and not wanna start back and it had melted my crankshaft sensor wires and I guess it just decided to also mess up the wiring on my camshaft sensor I literally had to wire up the wires straight around the plug on both just to make it home it was cold out and all I really love my car but I'm spending more money than I've got just tryna keep it running and between that and the lights that's gonna get sum1 hurt or killed if not fixed I was on a backroad had no service to call anybody for help and I was right between 2 blind turns
Mitsubishi Eclipse 2007
- Date Of Incident: 2022-10-06
- Date Complaint: 2022-10-07
- VIN: 4A3AK24F27E
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: Brakes consistently fail to hold pressure and are letting go. I purchased this car back in April and the previous owner had no idea of the recall. Did a bit of research and found it's a defect in the system. Once the car fails to hold pressure I have to very rapidly spam the break pedal to get a sliver of pressure so my car can come to a stop. Breaking with little pressure grinds the brakes and doesn't stop the car.
Mitsubishi Eclipse 2000
- Date Of Incident: 2022-07-27
- Date Complaint: 2022-08-08
- VIN: 4A3AC44G0YE
- Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VISIBILITY
- Summary: The contact owns a 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle, the turn signal and headlights failed. The contact stated that the high beam failed to operate correctly whether the vehicle was turned or not. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 99V305001 (Exterior Lighting, Visibility). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.
Mitsubishi Eclipse 2007
- Date Of Incident: 2022-06-21
- Date Complaint: 2022-06-21
- VIN: 4A3AK24F47E
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: UNKNOWN. I received something from the Mitsubishi company in the mail, but did not reply to them because multiple people told me those are scam related. I never had anything checked, and not sure if I have an issue.
Mitsubishi Eclipse 2002
- Date Of Incident: 2022-05-09
- Date Complaint: 2022-06-09
- VIN: 4A3AE85H52E
- Components: STEERING,POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: The contact owns a 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder. The contact stated while driving 25-30 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power inadvertently. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continued driving. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact also stated that while driving and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle instead started reversing unintendedly. The contact stated that he turned off and restarted the vehicle and continued driving. The vehicle was taken to a local Pep Boys, where it was diagnosed that the power train needed to be reprogrammed and other repairs needed to be completed. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the steering wheel was locked and the brake pedal was firm. The traction control and ABS warning lights were illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was not drivable. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.
Mitsubishi Eclipse 2007
- Date Of Incident: 2022-01-05
- Date Complaint: 2022-06-06
- VIN: 4A3AK24F27E
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: Dearler did not fix the ABS, only replaced brake fluid. ABS still fails. went back to Mitsubishi and they said they couldnt help me.
Mitsubishi Eclipse 2006
- Date Of Incident: 2022-02-22
- Date Complaint: 2022-03-09
- VIN: 4A3AK24FX6E
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: There was a previous recall on the anti braking system. Prior to the recall I had noticed that the ABS light was always coming on & I also noticed the brakes were at times seemed to be grabbing metal & not working . I took the car in to get fixed with the recall notice. Everything was fine until now the ABS light has been coming on frequently again & it is doing the same exact thing when braking. It seems when the light is off & the brakes start to not work properly then the light comes on & they do work. I never know when this is going to happen when the brakes fail. There is no loss of brake fluid. The recall repair was done at Ricart in Columbus Ohio. The problem was confirmed by the recall that this was faulty.
Mitsubishi Eclipse 2006
- Date Of Incident: 2021-11-22
- Date Complaint: 2021-11-22
- VIN: 4a3ak44t76e
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: As with the early 2000's recall the paint (Clear coat) on Kalapana Black (Code X13) has started to peel off and Mitsubishi refused to address the issue. My vehicle has less than 75k miles and has been garaged most of its life as it is not a daily driver and I am the only owner. Mitsubishi recalled the earlier years but stopped it I believe in 2002 being the latest year but seems they continued the painting practices.
Mitsubishi Eclipse 2004
- Date Of Incident: 2021-09-08
- Date Complaint: 2021-09-20
- Fire: 1
- VIN: 4a3ac84h84e
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: Electrical cable for Fuel Pump caught fire. My daughter was able to park and exit the car safely before it combusted but it took 8 minutes for the car to basically explode. I think this is very dangerous for a family with kids or someone that wouldn't be as fast as my kid to get out of the car. We found out the same car/year has a recall but this was not issued to my specific vehicle. https://www.kbb.com/mitsubishi/eclipse/2004/recall/ I requested Mitsubishi Motors to check the car and give me compensation and they denied. We have a case number with them. The car showed the check engine light but we changed spark plug cables and alternator. It seemed fine otherwise.
Mitsubishi Eclipse 2008
- Date Of Incident: 2021-06-18
- Date Complaint: 2021-07-26
- VIN: 4A3AK34TX8E
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: I was driving on I-15 north bound about 06:30pm near the city of Escondido Ca. weather temperature 78°F Incident: Sunroof spontaneously exploded shattering glass. Sunshade visor was closed between vehicles passenger compartment and sunroof.
Mitsubishi Eclipse 2008
- Date Of Incident: 2021-07-26
- Date Complaint: 2021-07-26
- VIN: 4A3AK34T58E
- Components: POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: The contact owns a 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse. The contact stated that while stopped at an intersection with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle accelerated forward inadvertently. The contact had her husband inspect the vehicle and while he attempted to start the vehicle with his foot depressed on the brake pedal, the vehicle accelerated forward. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000.
Mitsubishi Eclipse 2000
- Date Of Incident: 2021-02-09
- Date Complaint: 2021-02-10
- VIN: 4A3AC54L1YE
- Components: SUSPENSION
- Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE UPPER STRUT TOWER WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
Latest 5 recalls Mitsubishi Eclipse
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 129 recalls for different components of the Mitsubishi Eclipse.You can explore the year of the Volkswagen Jetta you are interested in by selecting it from the list.
- Model: Mitsubishi Eclipse 2009
- Report Received Date: 2015-06-02
- Manufacturer: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
- Summary: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Eclipse vehicles manufactured April 20, 2005, to February 13, 2009, and 2007-2009 Eclipse Spyder vehicles manufactured December 23, 2005, to February 13, 2009. Due to corrosion inside the antil-lock brake system (ABS) unit, one or more of the internal valves may seize. In a braking event that uses the ABS, a seized valve would increase brake pedal travel and reduce braking ability.
- Consequence: A sudden reduction of braking performance may increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, flush and clean the ABS hydraulic unit using high grade brake fluid, free of charge. If the inspection shows that the valves may seize, the ABS unit will be replaced. The recall began on July 21, 2015. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-15-004.
- Model: Mitsubishi Eclipse 2005
- Report Received Date: 2015-06-02
- Manufacturer: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- Summary: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2000-2005 Eclipse vehicles manufactured April 5, 1999, to December 17, 2004, 2001-2005 Eclipse Spyder vehicles manufactured January 19, 2000, to March 18, 2005, 2001-2005 Chrysler Sebring vehicles manufactured April 17, 2000, to February 21, 2005, and 2001-2005 Dodge Stratus vehicles manufactured April 17, 2000, to February 22, 2005. In the affected vehicles, the passenger side sun visor may be folded down in such a position that, if the passenger frontal air bag deploys, the passenger side sun visor may detach.
- Consequence: If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
- Remedy: MMNA will notify their owners, and Chrysler will notify the Chrysler and Dodge owners. Dealers will install a tether strap to retain the passenger sun visor, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-15-005. Chrysler and Dodge owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R30.
- Model: Mitsubishi Eclipse 2006
- Report Received Date: 2015-06-02
- Manufacturer: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
- Summary: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Eclipse vehicles manufactured April 20, 2005, to February 13, 2009, and 2007-2009 Eclipse Spyder vehicles manufactured December 23, 2005, to February 13, 2009. Due to corrosion inside the antil-lock brake system (ABS) unit, one or more of the internal valves may seize. In a braking event that uses the ABS, a seized valve would increase brake pedal travel and reduce braking ability.
- Consequence: A sudden reduction of braking performance may increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, flush and clean the ABS hydraulic unit using high grade brake fluid, free of charge. If the inspection shows that the valves may seize, the ABS unit will be replaced. The recall began on July 21, 2015. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-15-004.
- Model: Mitsubishi Eclipse 2007
- Report Received Date: 2015-06-02
- Manufacturer: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
- Summary: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Eclipse vehicles manufactured April 20, 2005, to February 13, 2009, and 2007-2009 Eclipse Spyder vehicles manufactured December 23, 2005, to February 13, 2009. Due to corrosion inside the antil-lock brake system (ABS) unit, one or more of the internal valves may seize. In a braking event that uses the ABS, a seized valve would increase brake pedal travel and reduce braking ability.
- Consequence: A sudden reduction of braking performance may increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, flush and clean the ABS hydraulic unit using high grade brake fluid, free of charge. If the inspection shows that the valves may seize, the ABS unit will be replaced. The recall began on July 21, 2015. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-15-004.
- Model: Mitsubishi Eclipse 2008
- Report Received Date: 2015-06-02
- Manufacturer: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
- Summary: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Eclipse vehicles manufactured April 20, 2005, to February 13, 2009, and 2007-2009 Eclipse Spyder vehicles manufactured December 23, 2005, to February 13, 2009. Due to corrosion inside the antil-lock brake system (ABS) unit, one or more of the internal valves may seize. In a braking event that uses the ABS, a seized valve would increase brake pedal travel and reduce braking ability.
- Consequence: A sudden reduction of braking performance may increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, flush and clean the ABS hydraulic unit using high grade brake fluid, free of charge. If the inspection shows that the valves may seize, the ABS unit will be replaced. The recall began on July 21, 2015. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-15-004.
Latest negative Mitsubishi Eclipse car reviews
Latest positive Mitsubishi Eclipse car reviews
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Vehicle year: 2012
I hope you're doing well! I noticed that you were in the market for a sporty coupe and checked out a few options. After careful consideration, I believe that this car is the best choice for you in terms of price and fuel efficiency. While it may not be the fastest car out there, it certainly handles well and is a great choice for a 12-month car. Plus, with front-wheel drive, you'll have no trouble navigating any terrain. Let me know if you have any questions or if there's anything else I can help you with!
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Vehicle year: 2001
Hi there! I am the original owner of this car and I have had a pretty good experience with it overall. Unfortunately, the transmission went out at 120,000 miles, but I had a used one put in with only 55,000 miles on it for $3000. Since then, I have put 45,000 miles on the replacement transmission. I have had a few other issues, such as the water pump and timing belt needing to be replaced around 130,000 miles. I had some trouble with aftermarket water pumps failing, but I was able to get them replaced under warranty. I also had to replace the radiator at around 145,000 miles. Despite these issues, I have found this car to be very reliable and it has held up well over the years. It has even managed to stay rust-free despite living in Wisconsin! The moon roof doesn't work anymore, but I think that's just due to lack of use. Overall, I am very happy with this car and it has served me well for over 15 years. Thanks for listening!
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Vehicle year: 2003
Hi there! I'm so glad to hear that you're enjoying your second Eclipse! It sounds like you made a great choice with the 2002 GT - not only is it a smoother and quieter ride, but it also has more muscle than even a non-turbo 3000GT! And of course, the black leather interior with silver exterior is beyond awesome. It's great to hear that you're still turning heads with your Eclipse, even if some of the admirers are a bit too young! Mitsubishi really knows how to build cars with integrity and unique, trend-setting style. And you're absolutely right - why spend more when you can get everything you need with an Eclipse? Thanks for sharing your experience with us!
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Vehicle year: 2011
The Mitsubishi Eclipse was truly ahead of its time and is one of the most underrated cars out there. I have no complaints about this simple yet perfect car. It is comfortable, has a hatchback, sunroof, premium sound system, firm steering and control, and is heavy and durable. Despite being 11 years old, I still feel elegant and futuristic when driving it. It's a shame that the world missed out on this gem.
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Vehicle year: 2004
Trust me, this car is really nice. The GT with 5-speed manual transmission is amazing. You definitely get the feel of a high-end sports car that won't break your bank account.
Are you having problems with your Mitsubishi Eclipse?
Brandon Rau 2025-11-08
Vehicle year: 2000
I recently purchased this car from a dealer and, despite some minor issues, it has been a reliable vehicle. However, I have noticed some things in/on the dashboard starting to wiggle and jiggle, and there is now a clutch problem that will cost around $1000 to fix at only 50,000 miles. While it is a fun car to drive and turns heads, it has unfortunately been the target of two acts of vandalism and hit & runs. It is not the best car for commuting as it guzzles gas, has high insurance costs, and has little resale value. Additionally, the Sportronic transmission can be boring and annoying to use as it downshifts automatically. It is important to avoid opening the hatchback after rain as water drains directly into the trunk, which can lead to mold. Overall, I have decided to sell the car before it falls apart. While it may look fun, it is not as enjoyable to own as I had hoped.
Arnulfo Koelpin 2025-11-03
Vehicle year: 1992
Hi there! I wanted to share my experience with this car that I purchased back in 1999 with 105k miles. At first, it was running great and was very fast, which was really exciting! However, over time, I started to notice some issues. Around 110k miles, the engine began to leak a little bit, and by 115k miles, I started to experience some rough idling. Unfortunately, by the time I hit 120k miles, the engine was leaking excessively. Additionally, I found that the brakes on these cars tend to squeak a lot, even if you replace them over and over again. I also had some trouble with the temperature sensor gauge, which made it difficult to start the car at sub 50 degree temperatures. Finally, the turbo stopped functioning properly around 130k miles. Despite these issues, I really enjoyed my time with this car, but I think it's time for me to move on. Thank you for reading!
Florencio Lakin 2025-11-02
Vehicle year: 2005
I purchased my 2004 Eclipse GT (5 speed Manual) brand new from the dealership in April 2014. During the test drive, it had only 6 miles on it, and at the time of sale, it had 18 miles. Initially, everything was great, and it is still fun to drive. However, over time, I encountered a few issues. Within a year of owning the car, the air hose came unclamped, causing debris to get into the intake manifold and the check engine light came on. It was a bit of a hassle to get it covered under warranty, but the dealership eventually relented. Unfortunately, my warranty was voided due to an issue with the title, so I had to pay for any repairs out of pocket. A few years later, during a heavy rain, water got into the floor on the passenger side, damaging the amplifier for the stock stereo system. It was not covered under warranty, so I have been without a radio for almost 7 years now. The car still gets water in it during heavy rain, so I try to park it under cover whenever possible. Additionally, the paint began to peel off around 2008 or 2009, and most of the car is now primer gray with a large amount of rust on the roof. Although there was a recall, I did not have a warranty, so I received an insufficient offer to repaint the car. I never bothered to get the paint fixed since remediating the rust first was going to be expensive. Finally, in 2011 or so, the check engine light came on for oxygen sensors and also for misfiring. Despite these issues, I still enjoy driving my Eclipse GT.Apparently the electronic distributor had gone bad and needed to be replaced twice, once in 2015. Unfortunately, there was no warranty and it turned out to be a big expense. In 2011, the heater started to quit working and I had to pay over $3000 between a dealership and two other shops to fix the issue. Despite replacing the thermostat twice and a valve switch in the heater core, the problem persisted. It was only after I found and fixed a loose solder joint in the electronics in the dash myself that the issue was resolved. Since then, I have never had an issue with the heat. Although it was frustrating to have spent so much money on unnecessary repairs, I am glad that I was able to find the root cause of the problem. In 2014, my timing belt failed while I was driving and needed replacement. Despite having less than 80,000 miles on the car at the time, I had to bear the cost as there was no warranty. The mechanic said I was lucky that the engine didn't throw a rod and destroy the car as I was on the freeway at 60 mph when it happened. Despite all these issues, I still love to drive the car as it runs great, accelerates well, corners well, and has a great sound to it. Although it has never handled well in rain or snow, it is still a joy to drive. While the MPG has always been terrible, even on long road trips on the highway, and it requires premium fuel, it is still worth it for the driving experience. Overall, I have had some challenges with this car, but I still enjoy driving it. I may consider other brands in the future, but I will always cherish the memories I have with this car.
Raul Larkin 2025-10-27
Vehicle year: 2000
I agree that this car looks beautiful, but as the last 'sports' coupe Mitsubishi made, it could have used a little more effort. Unfortunately, the quality of materials used is quite disappointing. Some of the issues I faced were the glove box not latching properly, the 6 spoke GT rims bending, and problems with the 5-speed transmission. While some other issues were acceptable, such as the rear spoiler blocking too much of the rear view, the cup holder not allowing for shifting, and the hatch being too heavy for the release to function properly.
Florencio Hill 2025-10-26
Vehicle year: 1991
Hi there! I had a Mitsubishi for a few years and while it was great at first, I did have some issues with it later on. I had to replace the timing belts twice and the spark plug wires three times, which was a bit frustrating. The automatic belts weren't the best either. However, I did enjoy driving it, although it wasn't the best in wet conditions. Unfortunately, the paint job didn't hold up well over time and my Eclipse doesn't look as good as it used to. It's been sitting in my garage for the past 4 years, but I still have some fond memories of it.