MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE · model year

2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE

287 NHTSA complaints, 33 crash reports, and 10 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2001MITSUBISHIECLIPSE carries 287 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 33 crashes, 10 fires, 17 injuries, and 3 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2001 ECLIPSE is wheels:rim with 62 filings, followed by exterior lighting:headlights (14) and air bags (13). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 10 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 14 investigation files overlapping the 2001 ECLIPSE. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

287
Complaints
33
Crashes
10
Fires
17
Injuries
3
Deaths

Total Complaints

287 filings

Crashes Reported

33 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
WHEELS:RIM62
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS14
AIR BAGS13
WHEELS13
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM12
UNKNOWN OR OTHER10
STRUCTURE:BODY9
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE8
TIRES7
STRUCTURE7
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE6
SUSPENSION:FRONT5
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION5
POWER TRAIN5

Recalls (10)

06E06000029/06/2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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 ASSOCIA

00V32000127/10/2000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

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.

06E04900024/05/2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

06E02600023/03/2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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 D

01V01100116/01/2001

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

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.

01V06900008/03/2001

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

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.

01V00500108/01/2001

SEATS

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A NUMBER OF INCORRECT DRIVER SIDE SEAT MOUNTING BOLTS WERE INSTALLED INTO VEHICLES.

00V29900102/10/2000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HARNESS FOR THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR COULD COME IN CONTACT WITH A NEW PROTECTIVE SHIELD CAUSING A GROUNDED CIRCUIT.

15V33800002/06/2015

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

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, 200

04V42800001/09/2004

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

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.

Recent Complaints

20221116ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

20221116ENGINE

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

20221116POWER TRAIN

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

20200701EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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

Mileage: 164,000

20190130POWER TRAIN

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

Mileage: 177,908

20170917VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

"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

Mileage: 157

20161020FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

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

20161020POWER TRAIN

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

20161020EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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

20161020ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

20160404POWER TRAIN

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

Mileage: 40,000

20160324POWER TRAIN

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.

Mileage: 117,000

20160220AIR BAGS

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.

Mileage: 250,000

20150823FireENGINE

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.

Mileage: 163,082

20150823FireFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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.

Mileage: 163,082

20150823FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

Mileage: 163,082

20150810CrashFireAIR BAGS

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.

Mileage: 100,000

20141107AIR BAGS

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.

Mileage: 7,000

20140708FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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

Mileage: 68,800

20110215FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

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

Mileage: 80,000

Compare 2001MITSUBISHIECLIPSE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE have?
The 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE has 287 NHTSA complaints, 33 crashes, 10 fires, 17 injuries, and 3 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE?
Yes, the 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE has 10 recall(s). The most common affected component is EXTERIOR LIGHTING. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE?
The most-complained component for the 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE is WHEELS:RIM with 62 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS and AIR BAGS.
Is the 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.