RoadVitals

2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
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Latest Jun 14, 2024
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
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Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Airbags436.4%
  • Brakes218.2%
  • Electrical218.2%
  • Body & structure19.1%
  • Exterior lighting19.1%
  • Suspension19.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS WERE VISIBLY EXPOSED FROM THE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

NHTSA ID 11280919 · filed Nov 18, 2019

9/16/15 TOOK VEHICLE TO RIVERSIDE MITSUBISHI DUE TO THE AIRBAG POPPING OUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. AIRBAG WAS REPLACED AND ISSUED RESOLVED. ON 1/25/16 HAD TO RETURN THE VEHICLE TO RIVERSIDE MITSUBISHI DUE TO A BAD RATTLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH AREA, THE AIRBAG WAS REMOVED AND THE SCREWS AND BOLTS WERE RE-TORQUED AND REINSTALLED THE AIRBAG. ON 4/22/19 TOOK VEHICLE TO AUTO GALLERY MITSUBISHI -MURRIETA DUE TO THE AIRBAG AND AIRBAG HATCH HAD AGAIN POPPED OUT AGAIN. THE TECHNICIAN AT MITSUBISHI-MURRIETA SAID THEY DO NOT HAVE A TECHNICIAN THAT CAN ADEQUATELY DIAGNOSE AND FIX THE PROBLEM AND THE AIRBAG MANUFACTURER WAS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS. WE ALSO CONTACT MITSUBISHI CORPORATE OFFICE AND WAS TOLD THE MITSUBISHI DOES NOT MANUFACTURE THE HATCH OR DASH PARTS ANY LONGER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE MITSUBISHI -MURRIETA FOR 48 HR AND REQUESTED US TO PICK UP WITH NOTHING RESOLVED AND NO REPAIRS MADE, ALONG WITH NO PAPERWORK GIVEN TO US.

NHTSA ID 11209350 · filed May 22, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V337000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.

NHTSA ID 10943857 · filed Jan 9, 2017

BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHTS ARE ON. AFTER DIAGNOSIS AT A REPAIR SHOP WITH TESTING SYSTEM THE FAULT READS ABS HYDRAULIC ASSEMBLY IS DEFECTIVE. THE SHOP STATED THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS A 2012 I SHOULD CONTACT THE MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE A RECALL FOR THE ABS UNIT. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT RECALLS FOR THE ABS UNIT INVOLVED 2006-2009. SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE I FEEL A COMPLAINT IS REQUIRED.

NHTSA ID 10894213 · filed Aug 8, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V337000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.

NHTSA ID 10943857 · filed Jan 9, 2017

EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNITS RELATED TO HEADLIGHT OUTAGE, CAUSING FAILURE OF BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS, DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS AND HI-BEAM LIGHTS. BEGAN WITH SPONTANEOUS YET INFREQUENT HESISTATION-BLINKING ON/OFF OF DRIVER-SIDE HEADLAMP WHEN NIGHTTIME LIGHTS FIRST USED IN THE EVENING, ESPECIALLY WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THIS EVENTUALLY LEAD INCREASED TO TOTAL OUTAGE OF FRONT HEADLIGHTS, RUNNING LIGHTS AND HI-BEAMS WHICH LED TO UNSAFE NIGHTTIME DRIVING. CAR WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR, WHERE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THAT THIS SAME ISSUE IS A KNOWN RECALL ON OTHER MITSUBISHI MODELS, BUT NOT ON THE ECLIPSE. THAT SAID, MY 2012 MODEL IS THE FINAL MODEL YEAR FOR THIS VEHICLE TO BE OFFERED FROM MITSUBISHI. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 90K MILES, AND YET THIS ELECTRICAL FAILURE ISSUE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THEIR 100K WARRANTY. --- I NOW HAVE TO PAY NEARLY $1300 TO REPLACE BOTH MAIN HEADLIGHT LAMPS AND BOTH ELECTRICAL CONTROL UNITS, ALONG WITH WIRING BETWEEN. ----- THE VERBIAGE FROM THE RECALL OF THE OTHER MITSUBISHI MODELS: ""THE AFFECTED VEHICLES HAVE AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT THAT CONTROLS THE HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS," SAID NHTSA IN ITS RECALL SUMMARY. "DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ERROR, THE VOLTAGE INSIDE THIS ECU MAY BE UNSTABLE. UNSTABLE VOLTAGE COULD RESULT IN INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS AND WIPERS. IF THE HEADLIGHTS AND/OR WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL, THE DRIVER COULD HAVE REDUCED VISIBILITY. IF THE TAILLIGHTS FAIL, THE VEHICLE COULD BE LESS VISIBLE. EITHER CONDITION INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH." (FROM HTTP://WWW.EDMUNDS.COM/CAR-NEWS/2010-MITSUBISHI-LANCER-EVOLUTION-AMONG-VEHICLES-RECALLED-FOR-LIGHTING-WIPER-PROBLEM.HTML)

NHTSA ID 10908240 · filed Sep 20, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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.

NHTSA ID 11594347 · filed Jun 14, 2024

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Exterior lighting

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNITS RELATED TO HEADLIGHT OUTAGE, CAUSING FAILURE OF BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS, DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS AND HI-BEAM LIGHTS. BEGAN WITH SPONTANEOUS YET INFREQUENT HESISTATION-BLINKING ON/OFF OF DRIVER-SIDE HEADLAMP WHEN NIGHTTIME LIGHTS FIRST USED IN THE EVENING, ESPECIALLY WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THIS EVENTUALLY LEAD INCREASED TO TOTAL OUTAGE OF FRONT HEADLIGHTS, RUNNING LIGHTS AND HI-BEAMS WHICH LED TO UNSAFE NIGHTTIME DRIVING. CAR WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR, WHERE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THAT THIS SAME ISSUE IS A KNOWN RECALL ON OTHER MITSUBISHI MODELS, BUT NOT ON THE ECLIPSE. THAT SAID, MY 2012 MODEL IS THE FINAL MODEL YEAR FOR THIS VEHICLE TO BE OFFERED FROM MITSUBISHI. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 90K MILES, AND YET THIS ELECTRICAL FAILURE ISSUE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THEIR 100K WARRANTY. --- I NOW HAVE TO PAY NEARLY $1300 TO REPLACE BOTH MAIN HEADLIGHT LAMPS AND BOTH ELECTRICAL CONTROL UNITS, ALONG WITH WIRING BETWEEN. ----- THE VERBIAGE FROM THE RECALL OF THE OTHER MITSUBISHI MODELS: ""THE AFFECTED VEHICLES HAVE AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT THAT CONTROLS THE HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS," SAID NHTSA IN ITS RECALL SUMMARY. "DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ERROR, THE VOLTAGE INSIDE THIS ECU MAY BE UNSTABLE. UNSTABLE VOLTAGE COULD RESULT IN INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS AND WIPERS. IF THE HEADLIGHTS AND/OR WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL, THE DRIVER COULD HAVE REDUCED VISIBILITY. IF THE TAILLIGHTS FAIL, THE VEHICLE COULD BE LESS VISIBLE. EITHER CONDITION INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH." (FROM HTTP://WWW.EDMUNDS.COM/CAR-NEWS/2010-MITSUBISHI-LANCER-EVOLUTION-AMONG-VEHICLES-RECALLED-FOR-LIGHTING-WIPER-PROBLEM.HTML)

NHTSA ID 10908240 · filed Sep 20, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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.

NHTSA ID 11594347 · filed Jun 14, 2024

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .