RoadVitals

2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
18
Latest Jul 1, 2020
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 209 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 1, 2020

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
ElectricalFuel systemExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Oct 20, 2016

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
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 3, 2009

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
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 6, 2007

I HAVE A 2001 ECLIPSE GT, AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS GOING ON AND OFF UNTIL ONE DAY THEY JUST STOPPED WORKING. IT KEPT SMELLING LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING AND IT HAD BEEN THE HEADLIGHT HARNESSES. THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM CLOSED DOWN SO I BROUGHT IT TO KEY MITSUBISHI OF MILFORD AND THEY SAID THAT THE HEADLIGHT HARNESSES MELTED. THEY IN TURN TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD COST CLOSE TO $300.00 TO FIX. I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO MAKE THE WIRES MELT AND IT SHOULD BE MITSUBISHI'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT TO CRABTREE IN MILFORD AND SEE IF THEY WOULD DO IT. THEY DID NOT WANT TO COVER THE DEFECT EITHER. I HAVE NO HEADLIGHTS ON THE CAR AND THIS CAUSES A HUGE SAFETY RISK. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT I HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO GET THE MANUFACTURER TO FIX THIS DEFECT. THIS IS MITSUBISHI'S FAULT AND MISTAKE. MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT IS NOT SOMETHING CHEAP TO FIX. I AM CURRENTLY USING A RELATIVES LONER CAR TO GET AROUND BECAUSE I HAVE NO WAY TO PAY FOR THIS. PLEASE ADVISE ON WHAT TO DO. THANKS *TR

NHTSA ID
10211093
Incident
Oct 28, 2007
Mileage
38,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Sep 13, 2006

FAILURE OF HEADLIGHT HARNESSES ON A 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. BOTH HEADLAMPS OUT ON 9/12/06 AFTER FIRST FINDING WAS FIXED. LIGHTS WOULD NOT COME ON UNTIL LEFT SIDE HARNESS WAS WIGGLED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10168132
Incident
Jun 8, 2006
Mileage
54,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 24, 2006

IN MY CAR THE HEADLIGHTS WILL COME ON BUT VERY DIM OR SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. IF I HIT A BUMP THE HEADLIGHTS WILL ALSO GO OUT. MOVING WIRE CONNECTION ON BACK OF HEADLIGHTS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM MOMENTARILY. PROBLEM OCCURS MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY. THE OTHER EVENING I WAS DRIVING AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. I PULLED OVER AND POPPED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE WIRING HARNESS. THE WHOLE HARNESS WAS MELTED OFF. *NM

NHTSA ID
10163260
Incident
Jul 19, 2006
Mileage
100,000 mi
EngineExterior lighting
Filed Dec 5, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE HEAD LIGHTS MELTED. ALSO, THE OIL LIGHT WAS COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE OIL VALVE WAS REPLACED. THESE REPAIRS WERE MADE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. *AK...HEADLIGHTS DID NOT BLINK BUT WENT OFF ALTOGETHER. WHEN THE CONSUMER REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER, WAS TOLD WE SEE THIS ALL THE TIME WITH THAT MAKE AND MODEL. CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW WHY THERE WAS NO RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID
10144459
Incident
Sep 20, 2005
Mileage
25,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Oct 12, 2005
Fire reported

DT: CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GS. CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE COLORED HALOGEN LIGHTS ENHANCERS PUT IN, AND THE MECHANIC LET THE CONTACT KNOW THAT THE WIRING HARNESS MELTED ON THE HALOGEN LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP. THEY WOULD NOT LET THE CONTACT DRIVE IT HOME BECAUSE IT WAS A FIRE HAZARD. THE PARTS WILL BE IN ON 10-13-05. THE DEALERSHIP GAVE THE CONTACT A LOANER VEHICLE. THE COST WAS GOING TO BE MORE THAN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. T $200 DEDUCTIBLE THE CONTACT WILL HAVE TO PAY OUT OF HER POCKET.*AK

NHTSA ID
10139504
Incident
Oct 12, 2005
Mileage
48,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 24, 2005

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN I SMELT SOMETHING BURNING, THEN MY HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND I THOUGHT THE BULB JUST WENT OUT, WHEN ACTUALLY IT HAD MELT THE CONNECTION UNIT FOR MY HEADLIGHT. I HAVE ALSO HAD RIM AND SUNROOF PROBLEMS. MY SUNROOF HAS BEEN TO MISHIBUSHI THREE TIMES AND STILL DOESN'T WORK RIGHT!!!

NHTSA ID
10134111
Incident
Jul 20, 2002
EngineExterior lightingOther / unspecified+3 more
Filed Apr 25, 2005

NOT ONLY DO I HAVE THE AGGREVATION OF BENT RIMS AND FLAT TIRES, AND FINANCIAL HARDSHIP ON THIS, MY LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR DOESN'T ALIGN TO THE RIGHT. WATER LEEKS IN ON THE LEFT SIDE. SOMETIMES THE HEATER BLOWS OUT COOL AIR. THE SUNROOF SHAKES WHEN OPENING. I ALREADY HAD A MANUFACUTERS DEFECT IN MY STRUT ON THE LEFT SIDE. I HAVE SCTRACHES ON THE LEFT SIDE FOM THE CAR SCRAPPING THE GROUND WHEN I MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN. I HAD TO HAVE THE COOLING SYSTEM REPLACED THE FIRST WEEK I FINANCED IT.MY HOOD WON'T OPEN AND MY HEADLIGHTS FAIL CAUSING ME TO DIRVE ONLY WITH THE FOG LIGHTS. ALL THESE ISSUES ARE THE SAME AND CONSTANT SINCE I PURCHASED THIS LEMON.*AK

NHTSA ID
10118406
Incident
Oct 1, 2001
Mileage
30 mi
Exterior lightingTires & wheels
Filed Apr 25, 2005

SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 9/01 I HAVE HAD OVER 20 FLAT TIRES, CAUSING ME TO MISS WORK GETTING STUCK OVER THE BRIDGE. I HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR 4 NEW RIMS AND SEVERAL TIRES BECAUSE THE RIMS SEPERATE FROM THE TIRE. I HAVE HAD SCRATCHES APPEAR AROUND THE DRIVERS LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR WHICH NOW MOVE ALL THE WAY TO THE LICENSE PLATE I WAS PUTTING ON THE DONUT IN 2002 AND SAW MY STRUT WAS BLOWN AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WITH THE DEALERSHIP AS TO WHY MY CAR SHAKES AFTER HITTING A BUMP THEY KEPT TELLING ME I WAS HITTING CURBS WHEN I SAID TO THEM MY STRUT IS BLOWN THEY TRIED BLAMING ME AND AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THEY INVESTIGATED AND REALIZED I HAD A MANUFACTUERS DEFECT IN MY LEFT DRIVERS FRONT TIRE. I SAID THEY SHOULD REPLACE THE FRONT SIDE OF MY BUMPER BACAUSE OF THE SCRATCHES THEY REFUSED. MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, HOOD AND REAR DOESN'T ALIGN WITH THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY CAR AND WATER SEEPS IN WHEN IN RAINS. MY HOOD DOESN'T OPEN AND MY HEADLIGHTS KEEP FAILING WHERE I ONLY CAN DRIVE WITH THE FOG LIGHTS. I HAVE OVER 50 RECEIPTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN 2003 SAID I FILED FOR THE LEMON LAW TOO LATE. I REALLY NEED HELP. THE CAR WAS NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT SINCE I PURCHASED IT AND THE DEALERSHIP I WENT TO IS NOW CLOSED DOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID
10118398
Incident
Oct 1, 2001
Mileage
30 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 16, 2005

I HAVE A 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO I HAD THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT GO OUT. THE FAULT WAS A MELTED CONNECTOR ATTACHED TO THE LAMP. I FIXED IT BY SOLDERING A WIRE IN ITS PLACE. 4 MONTHS MONTHS LATER THE OTHER HEADLIGHT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I'M WRITING THIS BECAUSE I SAW A COMPLAINT FOR THE SAME ISSUE AND FIGURED I'D GIVE MY TWO CENTS AS WELL. I AM ACTUALLY LOOKING FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS BECAUSE THE BRAKES ON THE CAR HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND THEY STILL DON'T WORK VERY WELL.*AK

NHTSA ID
10110635
Incident
Feb 5, 2005
Mileage
80,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 9, 2004

RIGHT BULB KEEPS GOING OUT ON 2001 ECLIPSE GT. I REPLACED IT ONLY TO FIND OUT THE BULB CONNECTOR WAS MELTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10102414
Incident
Feb 1, 2004
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 17, 2004

THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL IN MY CAR AND THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, BUT THEY WOULD COME BACK ON AFTER AWHILE. EVENTUALLY THEY BOTH WENT OUT, AND WOULD NOT COME BACK ON. I AM GETTING THIS REPAIRED AT A MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS HAPPENS VERY OFTEN WITH ECLIPSES, AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE SOCKETS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10100087
Incident
Nov 16, 2004
Mileage
33,500 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 3, 2004

HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO GO OUT, BUT MOVING WIRE CONNECTION ON BACK OF HEADLAMPS WOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM MOMENTARILY. PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY, AND ONE HEADLAMP STOPPED FUNCTIONING ALTOGETHER, WHILE WAITING SEVERAL DAYS FOR SERVICE APPOINTMENT AT DEALER. DEALER DETERMINED THAT WIRING CONNECTIONS TO HEADLAMPS HAD MELTED, AND THE WIRING HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10086066
Incident
Jul 20, 2004
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed May 25, 2004

HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. BOUGHT NEW BULBS TO REPLACE. BOTH PLUGS TO THE HEADLIGHT BULBS HAD MELTED. TOLD BY DEALER IT WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AND WAS NOT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ID
10073131
Incident
May 24, 2004
Mileage
52,245 mi
Fuel systemExterior lighting
Filed Apr 22, 2004

ON A 2 OCCASSIONS, ON MY 2001 ECLIPSE, THE HEADLIGHT CONNECTORS ON BOTH SIDES WERE MELTED FROM SOME KIND OF ARCING. ALSO THE FUEL DOOR BROKE AND WAS RUSTED CONSIDERABLY FROM JUST NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR.*AK

NHTSA ID
10067695
Incident
Apr 20, 2004
Mileage
65,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+5 more
Filed May 7, 2002

CONSUMER STATES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASH, DEALER REPLACED THE O2 SENSOR, HOWEVER VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING STALLING WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, DEALER HAS NOT REMEDIED PROBLEM, CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT WHEN STARTING VEHICLE, THERE IS A TERRIBLE NOISE EMITTED. *SLC

NHTSA ID
565709
Incident
Apr 30, 2001

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .