2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse: problems, recalls and reliability
5 recalls and 14 owner complaints on record; most reports concern structure; the 2005 model year looks 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 14 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Sep 2021
“Brakes will intermittedly not respond to the brake pedal being depressed. Car has now been involved in two rear end collisions in 3 months. Repair shop cannot duplicate the problem described. Car was going 25 mph both times in two cities when the car failed to brake.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Sep 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 2004 mitsubishi eclipse. The contact stated while driving at 65 mph, the vehicle crashed into another vehicle on the driver side that led to the vehicle rolling over three times. The air bags failed to deploy. There was one injury reported that required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available. The VIN was not provided.”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2016
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“Tl* the contact owns a 2004 mitsubishi eclipse. While driving approximately 35 mph, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle hesitated to stop. The failure recurred multiple times. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign id number: 15v337000 (service brakes, hydraulic); however, the part was unavailable to perform the repairs. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 63,000.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Feb 2015
“Roommate driving my vehicle with myself in passenger seat. Struck a dear monday morning at approximately 60mph. Vehicle was put into a ditch and rolled at least 1 time into a marsh on left side of the road. Vehicle received major: front, both side, rear and roof damage. Not one air bag was deployed. *tr”Owner report · Structure · Jul 2013
“My mitsubishi eclipse sputters and dies when there is less than 1/2 tank fuel. Mitsubishi 2004 has a recall on the fuel return line hose fitting on the fuel pump, which could cause a fire. Mitsubishi claims my car was manufactured on a different production line, therefore, it is not their problem. Really? *tr”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Sep 2012
“I have a 2004 black mitsubishi eclipse that the paint has been falling off of, just like several other complaints. The paint started delaminating about 3years ago and just progressed from there. The car looks horrible! Mitsubishi has been downright rude re: this matter. They will not fix the paint issue due to car being out of warranty. *tr”Owner report · Structure · Jul 2007
“Problem: harness. Every time I lift the steering wheel up, the engine turns off. I have tried to go to the mitsubishi dealer and to honda sierra where I bought the car (used) and they didn't want to take responsibility for it. I was like a tennis ball, so, I got tired of it. I even send a letter to honda sierra to deal with the problem because I bought if defective. Unfortunately, I did not get a response. Repair cost more than 300 dollars. I don't have money yet, and im still hopeful that either of the two parties are willing to work with the problem. *tr”Owner report · Steering · Nov 2006
“The rubbers on my 2004 mitsubishi eclipse spyder is always leaking water into the car, creating a mold smell, destroying the speakers, ect. The dealership replaced them about 4 months ago or less, and they are leaking again on the convertible top, making my seat belt wet, which I believe is a hazard if in a accident, my seat, and floors, not to mention it is leaking into the door panels. My son has fallen out of the car slipping on the water on the door panel, not that he needed a ambulance but got a fat lip when he put his teeth into them when he fell, also getting a bruised leg. *jb”Owner report · Structure · Oct 2005
“My mitsubishi eclipse spyder 2004 [xxx], done nearly 21,000 miles met with an accident on july 25, 2005. It veered off the road, went downhill for over twenty feet and collided head-on with a tree to come to a halt. The front of the vehicle was severely damaged. Despite the front-ended crash, the air bags failed to inflate. The severity of the crash is evident from the fact that the vehicle was categorized as a "total loss" by my insurance company. I believe the air bag should have gone off as a result of the impact. Updated 07/19/2012 *js information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2005
When filing, owners marked a crash in 6 of these complaints and injuries in 4 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 5 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.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL RETURN LINE HOSE FITTING ON THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP MAY BE RESTRICTED, CAUSING EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE TO BUILD UP IN THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE MAY RESULT IN A LEAK IN THE FUEL RETURN HOSE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP PRESSURE. THOSE VEHICLES EXHIBITING HIGHER THAN NORMAL FUEL PUMP PRESSURE WILL RECEIVE FUEL PUMP MODIFICATIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN DECEMBER 3, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037 OR MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-800-981-0452.
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.
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.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL RETURN LINE HOSE FITTING ON THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP MAY BE IMPROPERLY MOLDED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 26, 2004. OWNERS 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 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse reliable?
NHTSA has 14 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse. The most complained-about area is structure.
Does the 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse have open recalls?
5 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.