MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE · model year

2005 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE

8 NHTSA complaints, and 4 recall campaigns listed for this cohort. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2005MITSUBISHIECLIPSE carries 8 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 4 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 2005 ECLIPSE is latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch with 2 filings, followed by electrical system (2) and wheels:rim (1). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause. This cohort has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns listed below. Enter a VIN in NHTSA's official recall lookup to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA currently has 14 investigation files overlapping the 2005 ECLIPSE. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.

8
Complaints
0
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

8 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
WHEELS:RIM1
STRUCTURE:BODY1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1

Recalls (4)

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

08V45400009/09/2008

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING 45,988 MY 2005-2007 ENDEAVOR, GALANT, ECLIPSE COUPE, AND MY 2007 ECLIPSE SPYDER VEHICLES. THE BRACKET THAT IS THE ATTACHMENT POINT FOR THE LEFT REAR FUEL TANK MOUNTING STRAP MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY FORMED DURING A METAL STAMPING PROCESS. THE PROCESS MAY HAVE CAUSED THE MET

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

20180707UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WHEN USING AIR CONDITIONING THE WATER COMES IN SIDE MY FRONT FLOOR.

20150113FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR AND A STREAM OF SMOKE EMITTING FROM INSIDE THE PASSENGER DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

20140310FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

IN THE MORNING, I DROVE THIS MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE 2005 TO WORK(35 MILES AWAY FROM HOME), IT WAS OK. AFTER WORK, I DROVE BACK TO MY HOUSE, ENTERED OUR GARAGE, I GOT OFF THE CAR, I SAW A SMALL FIRE ON THE RIGHT FRONT LIGHTING PLACE, THEN I QUICKLY BACKED MY CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE FIRE WAS GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER, MY WIFE AND I USE A LOT OF WATER TO PUT THE FIRE OUT... THIS FIRE BURNED OUT THE FRONT LIGHT, BULB, SOME WIRE, AND SMALL PIECE OF RIGHT FRONT BUMPER... THEN I TRIED THIS CAR AGAIN, I COULD DRIVE IT, BUT IT HAS NO TURNING SIGNAL. I DROVE THIS CAR TO 2 DIFFERENT CAR SHOPS, ONE IS A LOCAL CAR SHOP, THEY WORKED ON MY CAR FOR 1 MONTH, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIX IT. THEN I DROVE THIS CAR TO A MITSUBISHI DEALER, THEY WORKED ON MY CAR FOR 2 MONTHS, THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE EXACT PROBLEM... RIGHT NOW THIS CAR IS STILL WITH NO TURNING SIGNAL, AND I CAN'T DRIVE IT. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

20140310FireSTRUCTURE:BODY

IN THE MORNING, I DROVE THIS MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE 2005 TO WORK(35 MILES AWAY FROM HOME), IT WAS OK. AFTER WORK, I DROVE BACK TO MY HOUSE, ENTERED OUR GARAGE, I GOT OFF THE CAR, I SAW A SMALL FIRE ON THE RIGHT FRONT LIGHTING PLACE, THEN I QUICKLY BACKED MY CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE FIRE WAS GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER, MY WIFE AND I USE A LOT OF WATER TO PUT THE FIRE OUT... THIS FIRE BURNED OUT THE FRONT LIGHT, BULB, SOME WIRE, AND SMALL PIECE OF RIGHT FRONT BUMPER... THEN I TRIED THIS CAR AGAIN, I COULD DRIVE IT, BUT IT HAS NO TURNING SIGNAL. I DROVE THIS CAR TO 2 DIFFERENT CAR SHOPS, ONE IS A LOCAL CAR SHOP, THEY WORKED ON MY CAR FOR 1 MONTH, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIX IT. THEN I DROVE THIS CAR TO A MITSUBISHI DEALER, THEY WORKED ON MY CAR FOR 2 MONTHS, THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE EXACT PROBLEM... RIGHT NOW THIS CAR IS STILL WITH NO TURNING SIGNAL, AND I CAN'T DRIVE IT. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

20140310FireEXTERIOR LIGHTING

IN THE MORNING, I DROVE THIS MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE 2005 TO WORK(35 MILES AWAY FROM HOME), IT WAS OK. AFTER WORK, I DROVE BACK TO MY HOUSE, ENTERED OUR GARAGE, I GOT OFF THE CAR, I SAW A SMALL FIRE ON THE RIGHT FRONT LIGHTING PLACE, THEN I QUICKLY BACKED MY CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE FIRE WAS GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER, MY WIFE AND I USE A LOT OF WATER TO PUT THE FIRE OUT... THIS FIRE BURNED OUT THE FRONT LIGHT, BULB, SOME WIRE, AND SMALL PIECE OF RIGHT FRONT BUMPER... THEN I TRIED THIS CAR AGAIN, I COULD DRIVE IT, BUT IT HAS NO TURNING SIGNAL. I DROVE THIS CAR TO 2 DIFFERENT CAR SHOPS, ONE IS A LOCAL CAR SHOP, THEY WORKED ON MY CAR FOR 1 MONTH, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIX IT. THEN I DROVE THIS CAR TO A MITSUBISHI DEALER, THEY WORKED ON MY CAR FOR 2 MONTHS, THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE EXACT PROBLEM... RIGHT NOW THIS CAR IS STILL WITH NO TURNING SIGNAL, AND I CAN'T DRIVE IT. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

20050116WHEELS:RIM

THE RIMS ON THE 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE DENT EASILY AND THE TIRES BLOW OUT OR LOSE PRESSURE AS A RESULT OF NORMAL WEAR AND DRIVING. NORMAL POTHOLES AND BUMPS ARE ENOUGH TO CAUSE DAMAGE. I HAD A BLOWOUT YESTERDAY JANUARY 15TH, 2005. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED 2 RIMS AND 3 TIRES AS A RESULT OF THIS. ALL FOUR RIMS ARE CURRENTLY DENTED AS A RESULT OF THIS ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL RETAILERS ARE ALL UNWILLING TO REPLACE THEM WITH THE IMPROVED RIMS ON THE 2002 AND LATER MODELS. *NM

Mileage: 61,000

20041101LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

MY VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS. I NOTICED THAT IF I CLOSE THE DOOR, LOCK THE DOOR, AND THEN TRY TO START THE CAR... IT WON'T. I HAVE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS BEFORE IT WILL START. *AK ON MY WAY TO WORK THIS MORNING, IN STOPPED, RUSH-HOUR TRAFFIC, I STALLED MY VEHICLE. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, THE STARTER WOULD NOT ENGAGE. KNOWING THAT THERE IS AN IGNITION IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM, I FIGURED THAT I WAS FIGHTING THAT. ALSO, I FIGURED I THAT I MAY NEED TO UNLOCK THE DOORS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD START. SO... I UNLOCKED THE DOORS... NO START... REMOVED AND RE-INSERTED THE KEY... NO START... I OPENED AND CLOSED THE DOOR, REMOVED & RE-INSERTED THE KEY... NO START... I FIDDLED AROUND WITH VARIOUS SEQUENCES OF KEY, LOCKS, AND DOORS, AND FINALLY THE VEHICLE STARTED. MEANWHILE, I WAS HOLDING UP TRAFFIC. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT SEQUENCE FINALLY ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO START. NOT BEING ABLE TO RESTART A STALLED VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. IF I

Mileage: 210

20041031LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

AS I WAS DRIVING HOME IN MY BRAND NEW 2005 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE, THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS SUDDENLY UNLOCKED. THINKING I MUST HAVE RESTED MY ARM ON THE DOOR LOCK BUTTON, I SIMPLY RELOCKED THE DOORS. FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER, THE DOORS UNLOCKED AGAIN. THAT EVENING, I READ ABOUT THE CAR'S FEATURE THAT WILL UNLOCK THE DOORS IF IT THINKS YOU MAY HAVE LOCKED THE KEYS INSIDE. SO, THE NEXT DAY, WHEN I GOT INTO THE CAR, I WAS CAREFUL TO LOCK THE DOORS AFTER THE DOORS WERE CLOSED. THEN, I INSERTED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION. BUT, AFTER ABOUT 10 OR 15 MINUTES, THE DOORS UNLOCKED AS I DROVE ON THE FREEWAY. THE NEXT DAY, I TOOK THE NEW (1 WEEK OLD) CAR TO THE DEALER. FIRST, THEY LOOKED THIS PROBLEM UP ON THE COMPUTER AND DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING. THEY TRIED TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM, BUT COULDN'T. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY CLEANED SOME CONNECTIONS, BUT DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM. AFTER 3 HOURS, I DROVE THE CAR HOME. I DON'T HAVE A WARM & FUZZY FEELING ABOUT THIS. WHAT IF M

Mileage: 35

Compare 2005MITSUBISHIECLIPSE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2005 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE have?
The 2005 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE has 8 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 4 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2005 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE?
Yes, the 2005 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE has 4 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 2005 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE?
The most-complained component for the 2005 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE is LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and WHEELS:RIM.
Is the 2005 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 vintage: August 2026. 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.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 2005 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.