2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse Owner Complaints

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

NHTSA ID

11493803

Incident

Nov 17, 2021

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 ID

11337053

Incident

Mar 10, 2020

Mileage

164,000 mi

WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND CAME TO A STOP. TRIED TO SHIFT INTO 1ST AND COULD NOT DO SO. HAD TO TURN OFF MY CAR TO SHIFT INTO GEAR TO AVOID GRINDING. HAD A HARD TIME GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AS WELL. ONCE ARRIVING HOME COULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. SEEMS LIKE THE GEARS WERE TRYING TO STRIP AND A HORRIBLE GRINDING WAS OCCURRING. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING A STICK SHIFT FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. HAD TO TURN OFF MY CAR TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE TO GET INTO MY DRIVEWAY TO PARK. TRIED THE NEXT DAY TO DRIVE MY CAR...DID THE WARM UP DUE TO COLD WEATHER, AND AGAIN COULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEARS WHILE MY CAR WAS RUNNING. AS SOON AS I TURN THE IGNITION OFF I COULD SHIFT JUST FINE. I'VE RESEARCHED TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM AND EACH SOLUTION EQUATES TO PAYING A LOT FOR REPAIRS. I'M UPSET BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD A NEW CAR AT THIS TIME AND I NEED A RELIABLE VEHICLE FOR MY JOB. SEEMS THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR YEAR THE ECLIPSE WAS MANUFACTORED, AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE. A DEFINITE RECALL IS NEEDED FOR THIS WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11173039

Incident

Jan 25, 2019

Mileage

177,908 mi

"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

NHTSA ID

11023823

Incident

Sep 16, 2017

Mileage

157 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10917134

Incident

Oct 3, 2016

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

NHTSA ID

10853326

Incident

Apr 1, 2016

Mileage

40,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10851460

Incident

Mar 1, 2016

Mileage

117,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10837299

Incident

Feb 8, 2016

Mileage

250,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10758689

Incident

Aug 17, 2015

Mileage

163,082 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10747475

Incident

Jun 1, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SRS AND AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAGS SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE AIR BAGS SYSTEM WAS REPLACED AGAIN. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 7,000.

NHTSA ID

10653433

Incident

Oct 17, 2001

Mileage

7,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10608938

Incident

Oct 1, 2013

Mileage

68,800 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10382803

Incident

Jan 20, 2011

Mileage

80,000 mi

I HAD TO REPLACE A ROTTED GAS FILLER NECK ON MY 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GT. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS A POORLY DESIGNED PART AND SHOULD NOT HAVE ROTTED. I HAVE HAD MANY CARS AND NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. MITSUBISHI SHOULD BE MADE TO HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

NHTSA ID

10328348

Incident

Apr 28, 2010

Mileage

93,400 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE WAVE SPRING WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION BROKE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT WHEN THE WAVE SPRING BROKE IT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION PUMP. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. MITSUBISHI UPGRADED THE WAVE SPRING SINCE THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 117,000.

NHTSA ID

10323355

Incident

Mar 29, 2010

Mileage

117,000 mi

RIGHT FRONT STEERING ASSEMBLY (TIE ROD & BALL JOINTS) TORE AWAY FROM WHERE IT WAS ATTACHED TO THE FRAME RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL . VEHICLE STRUCK THE CURB AND RAN INTO A LIGHT POLE BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10276295

Incident

Jul 9, 2009

Mileage

101,476 mi

MY 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE'S AXLE SNAPPED WHEN I WAS GOING OVER A SPEED BUMP AT ABOUT 3 MILES PER HOUR. THE CONTROL ARM ALSO BROKE ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. IT ONLY HAD 135,000 MILES AT THE TIME. I GOT IT REPLACED AND STILL MAKES A REALLY BAD GRINDING NOISE. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE COULD BE A RECALL ON THE AXLE OR THE CONTROL ARM. IF I WAS DRIVING AT A NORMAL SPEED, I'M SURE SOMETHING ALOT WORSE WOULD OF HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10276262

Incident

Mar 1, 2009

Mileage

135,000 mi

WIRING HARNESS FEMALE SOCKET FOR THE HEADLAMPS OVER HEATED AND MELTED. THE PASSENGER SIDE FEMALE SOCKET MELTED ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO TO A POINT WHERE IT WOULD NOT PROVIDE HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION. BEFORE THE COMPLETE FAILURE, THE HEADLIGHT WOULD EITHER BE FULLY BRIGHT, OR VERY DIM. THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME WAS AROUND 60K. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE FEMALE SOCKET ALSO HAD MELTED SOME DURING THIS TIME. IN JAN. OF THIS YEAR, WITH APPROX. 70K MILES ON THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED COMPLETELY WITH THE FULL MELTING OF THE FEMALE SOCKET. A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO COMPLETE FAILURE, A BURNING ODOR IS NOTICED IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I HAVE BOTH PIECES AVAIL TO SEND IF NEED BE. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE BECAUSE A COMPLETE FAILURE OF BOTH FEMALE SOCKETS AT THE SAME TIME IS POSSIBLE. THIS COULD CAUSE SOMEONE DRIVING TO GO FROM HAVING TWO HEADLAMPS TO NONE WITHIN SECONDS. IF THAT OCCURRED AT NIGHT, IT MIGHT CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10260592

Incident

Jan 1, 2009

Mileage

60,000 mi

CRACKED DASHBOARD. MANY MANY MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TR (2000-2005)

NHTSA ID

10251255

Incident

Oct 9, 2008

1. EVERY TIME IT RAINS THERE IS A LARGE ACCUMULATION OF WATER LEAKING FROM FRONT WINDOW/FRONT VENTS EVERY RAINFALL ON FRONT FLOOR BOARDS; 2. EVERY RAINFALL, SOAKS CARPET FLOOR BOARDS THROUGH TO BOTTOM FRAME OF CAR; 3. MANY, MANY THICK TOWELS ON FRONT FLOOR BOARDS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10245382

Incident

Jun 1, 2001

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER OR DIES THAT LOCKS THE STEERING WHEEL AFTER 10 TO 20 MINUTES YOU COULD REVIVE THE ENGINE AGAIN USUALLY HAPPEN EVERY DAY . WENT TO THE DEALER WITH SERVICE BULLETIN THAT MIGHT AFFECT ON IT BUT THEY SAY NO PROBLEM ON IT AND THEY VOID THE SERVICE BULLETIN OR TRY TO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10242367

Incident

Jul 13, 2008

Mileage

70,000 mi

MY 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE HAS STARTED CRACKING DOWN THE DASH AND IS GETTING INCREASINGLY WORSE ALL THE TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10238903

Incident

Jan 31, 2008

Mileage

90,000 mi

I'VE PREVIOUSLY OWNED 2 ECLIPSES W/ NO PROBLEMS, THIS ONE HOWEVER HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A LEMON. 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GT V6. IN ADDITION TO THE CLUTCH WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED 1 YR AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED, I HAVE HAD AN ABUNDANCE OF PROBLEMS W/ PARTS THAT SHOULD NEVER NEED TO BE REPLACED, NONE HAVE BEEN COVERED BY WARRANTY. I HAVE REPLACED EVERY SWAY BAR TWICE, THE A/C FAILED, THE ANTENNA EMBEDDED IN THE REAR WINDOW FAILED, ONE OXYGEN SENSOR, THE MIDDLE REAR BRAKE LIGHT WIRING BROKE, 2 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS FAILED. AND THE WORST IS I WAS GOING THROUGH A HEADLIGHT A MONTH ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT THE HEADLIGHTS HAD ACTUALLY MELTED THE TO THE CONNECTORS ON BOTH SIDES! AND NOW I MAY HAVE AN ELECTRICAL FAULT OR FAULTY VALVE IN MY A/C UNIT CAUSING MY HEAT TO KICK ON WHEN THE A/C IS TURNED ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10236568

Incident

Jun 1, 2002

Mileage

30,000 mi

DASH CRACKED IN HALF (DEGRADATION). I FOUND THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO ALMOST EVERYBODY WITH THE MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE (MINE IS A 2001). MITSUBISHI WILL NOT ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10235408

Incident

Jun 3, 2008

Mileage

88,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 30 MPH, THE LOWER PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE ENTIRE WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE LANDED ONTO THE FRAME. THE CONTACT STRUCK TWO PARKED VEHICLES AND THEN SLID INTO THE THIRD VEHICLE, WHICH STOPPED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO BRAKING ABILITY AFTER THE ASSEMBLY FELL OFF. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT CONSULTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD OFFER NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 30,000.

NHTSA ID

10235340

Incident

Nov 9, 2007

Mileage

30,000 mi