2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse: problems, recalls and reliability
10 recalls and 209 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is wheels (33% of complaints); the 1999 and 2002 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jun 2015
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 209 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Mar 2020
“"takaya recall" 2001 mitsubishi eclipse gt, 3.0lv6 automatic transmission. 16 years old, but only 157621 miles driving as usual when without any notice or warning, no longer having any power to wheels from transmission (engine still running normal as usual). Automatic transmission had complete total catastrophic failure due to a manufacturing defect of an internal part called wave cushion spring”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Sep 2017
“2001 mitsubishi eclipse. Consumer writes in regards to exterior lighting recall, entire fuel system replacement recall, power train, automatic transmission cooling unit and lines recall issues. *smd the dealer informed the consumer, they only had one recall applicable to his vehicle, which was for the sun visor on the passenger side. However, the consumer stated the gas tank is leaking and has many welding issues. *jb”Owner report · Electrical System · Oct 2016
Show 7 more owner reports
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 mitsubishi eclipse. While driving at 25 mph, the vehicle lost power and the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle failed to accelerate. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,000. Updated 05/11/16*lj the consumer stated repair was made on 04/13/2016. *tr”Owner report · Power Train · Apr 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 mitsubishi eclipse. While driving at 65 mph, the transmission failed and all the warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the failure was not determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 117,000.”Owner report · Power Train · Mar 2016
“Srs airbag system fault. Srs light elluminates on dashboard whenever driver or passenger seats are moved, indicating that the side airbag system is deactivating the entire srs system including the front airbags.”Owner report · Air Bags · Feb 2016
“Prolonged wiring harness contact with the heat shield causes the wiring insulation to wear & ground out causing the engine to die-out. Had an iccident few days ago where the engine died out and I was in the middle of an intersection and almost got hit by oncoming traffic . This is seriously not okay and a major safety concern. Please help me.”Owner report · Electrical System · Aug 2015
“Tl*the contact owns a 2001 mitsubishi eclipse. The contact stated while driving 25 mph making a sharp turn, the contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree. The contact's air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was engulfed in flames within moments. Lucky, the front passenger was able to free the contact in time. The contact sustained fractures on the left clavicular bone, left ulna bone and bruising on chest and face which required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jun 2015
“Sitting in garage over winter, car developed leak/crack in the fuel tank that allowed fumes from tank to fill garage. Car not being driven at the time. Fuel did not leak onto floor of garage. Recalls had previously been done on fuel system for this model. Apparently cracks in the fuel tank of this model are a common occurrence. Definite safety hazard especially if car is or would be around or near to any spark source or open flame. I am currently trying to get car repaired at my own cost. *js”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Oct 2013
“The service engine light was on and the codes show an evaporative emissions leak. Several service visits did not resolve the problem. Finally it was found that the fuel filler tube was totally rusted out and close to falling off. Apparently this is a fairly common problem with the 2001 eclipse and was causing fule leakage as well as vapor leakage. This could have caused a fire or resulted in the vehicle being disabled. The mechanic said he had never seen a fuel filler tube in such bad shape. Mitsubishi dealer stated they didnt want to deal with the issue due to the high repair cost. *tr”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Jan 2011
When filing, owners marked a crash in 24 of these complaints and injuries in 13 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 10 campaigns
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH REMOVABLE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS AFFIXED TO THE DASH AND TO THE SUNVISOR DO NOT MEET THE SIZE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Remedy: MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL CURRENT 2000-2004 NATIVA OWNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. THE NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIVA OWNERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL OR MAY 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE OUTER LAYER ONLY OF THIS 3-LAYER FUEL RETURN HOSE DOES NOT CONTAIN THE DESIRED OZONE PROTECTION DUE TO A PROCESSING ERROR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL RETURN HOSE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HARNESS FOR THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR COULD COME IN CONTACT WITH A NEW PROTECTIVE SHIELD CAUSING A GROUNDED CIRCUIT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL RE-ROUTE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR HARNESS.
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A BULGE IN THE FUEL TANK CAUSED BY THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS RESULTED IN THINNING OF THE MATERIAL DURING A WELDING OPERATION, INCREASING THE RISK OF FUEL LEAKAGE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 26, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037.
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.
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.
CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy: AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A NUMBER OF INCORRECT DRIVER SIDE SEAT MOUNTING BOLTS WERE INSTALLED INTO VEHICLES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEAT MOUNTING BOLTS AND THEN REPLACE THE BOLTS IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 15, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. A HOSE WAS MIS-MANUFACTURED AND COULD WEAKEN OVER TIME, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HOSE ASSEMBLY FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER. OWNER NOTIFICATION MAILING WILL BE PHASED OVER A FIVE-MONTH PERIOD STARTING MARCH 26, THROUGH JULY 23, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037.
How other years compare
Check your exact Eclipse by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse reliable?
NHTSA has 209 owner complaints and 10 recall campaigns on record for the 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse. The most complained-about area is wheels (33% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 54,000 miles or less.
Does the 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse have open recalls?
10 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning equipment:other:labels. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.