The Mitsubishi Eclipse is a compact car built from 1990 to 2012 over 2 generations. Most were assembled in the United States — 100% of those on record. Between 2002 and 2012 it grew 11 cm longer and gained 189 kg. Engines offered: 4-cyl, V6. Worth buying? It depends heavily on which year you buy at 3.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Eclipse is
The Mitsubishi Eclipse is a compact car that Mitsubishi built from 1990 to 2012 — 23 model years. Our measurements put it at 2 generations, the current one starting in 2006. It has been offered with 4-cyl, V6 power. Its closest siblings in the Mitsubishi range: Mirage, 3000GT, Diamante.
Where the Eclipse is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 1,699 Eclipses on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 4A3, 483 | 1990-2012 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Mitsubishi VIN decide which of these 2 lines your Eclipse belongs to. What every character in a Eclipse VIN means →
Eclipse generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Eclipse's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Eclipse that gives 2 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-2005 | 446 cm | 256 cm | 1341 kg | - | - |
| 2006-2012 | 457 cm | 258 cm | 1530 kg | +11 cm | +189 kg |
Between 2002 and 2012 the Eclipse gained 11 cm in length (+2.5%) and 189 kg in weight (+14.1%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Eclipse that is 189 kg against 11 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Mitsubishi Eclipse tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Eclipse owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Mitsubishi Eclipse have? Power & range
The Mitsubishi Eclipse is offered with 2 powertrains — 3.8L 6-cyl, 1.5L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 2 for the Mitsubishi Eclipse, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.8L · 6-cyl | Automatic (S5) | FWD | Premium |
| 4-cyl | 1.5L · 4-cyl | CVT | 4WD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The Eclipse by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Mitsubishi Eclipse. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Eclipse | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 136 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 2,525 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 3.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $1,409/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 145 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Mitsubishi Eclipse?
The Eclipse is a compact car, built from 1990 to 2012 across 2 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl, V6.
Where is the Mitsubishi Eclipse made?
Across 1,699 cars in our records the split is: the United States (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Eclipse have?
2 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2006. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Eclipse grew 11 cm longer and gained 189 kg.
What is the Mitsubishi Eclipse warranty?
New models carry 5 years / 60,000 miles basic cover and 10 years / 100,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Eclipse reliable?
It scores 3.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Eclipse?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Mitsubishi
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitsubishi Outlander | 2003–2026 | 140 | 28 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Mitsubishi Mirage | 1985–2026 | 65 | 39 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Mitsubishi Lancer | 2002–2017 | 78 | 30 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Mitsubishi Galant | 1985–2012 | 67 | 24 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Mitsubishi 3000GT | 1991–1999 | 21 | 19 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Mitsubishi Outlander Sport | 2011–2026 | 67 | 28 mpg | 4.0/5 |