The most-reported Eclipse run is 4A3AC54L7YE (2000 builds) with 13 complaints, 5.7× the typical run. Service brakes problems make up 20% of reports; 2006 is the worst model year at 4.3 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 40 recall campaigns for Eclipse model years 1990–2009.
Which build runs owners report most
A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Mitsubishi Eclipse has 757 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 4% of every Eclipse complaint on file.
| Production run (VIN 1–11) | Year | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4A3AC54L7YE•••••• | 2000 | — | — | |
| 4A3AK24F96E•••••• | 2006 | 3 | — | |
| 4A3AC54L3YE•••••• | 2000 | 2 | — | |
| 4A3AC84L8YE•••••• | 2000 | — | — | |
| 4A3AK44Y9SE•••••• | 1995 | — | — | |
| 4A3AK44Y4SE•••••• | 1995 | 2 | — | |
| 4A3AC54L4YE•••••• | 2000 | 1 | — | |
| 4A3AE85HX1E•••••• | 2001 | — | — | |
| 4A3AK24F26E•••••• | 2006 | 1 | — | |
| 4A3AK44Y6SE•••••• | 1995 | — | 3 | |
| 4A3AC54L5YE•••••• | 2000 | — | — | |
| 4A3AK34Y6SE•••••• | 1995 | 1 | — |
Each of the other 745 Eclipse runs has 10 complaints or fewer. ForCar has checked 21 Eclipse VINs so far, most often 2006, 2003, 2009 builds; 2 of them belong to one of the 12 runs above.
Which model years to check twice
Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Mitsubishi Eclipse the gap between build years is 3.9×: a 2006 car draws 4.3 complaints per run, a 2004 one 1.1.
| Year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 8 | 7 | 1 | |
| 2008 | 63 | 27 | 9 | |
| 2007 | 97 | 33 | 14 | |
| 2006 | 86 | 20 | 8 | |
| 2005 | 5 | 3 | — | |
| 2004 | 12 | 11 | 4 | |
| 2003 | 112 | 59 | 16 | |
| 2002 | 70 | 47 | 7 | |
| 2001 | 210 | 81 | 23 | |
| 2000 | 224 | 53 | 12 | |
| 1999 | 98 | 51 | 8 | |
| 1998 | 110 | 56 | 15 | |
| 1997 | 116 | 68 | 16 | |
| 1996 | 129 | 62 | 19 | |
| 1995 | 224 | 72 | 30 | |
| 1994 | 32 | 24 | 4 | |
| 1993 | 25 | 20 | 1 | |
| 1992 | 38 | 27 | 2 | |
| 1991 | 39 | 30 | 3 | |
| 1990 | 36 | 23 | 2 |
Heaviest year here is 2006 at 4.3 complaints per run; lightest is 2004 at 1.1.
What to inspect on this car
One system accounts for 20% of everything Mitsubishi Eclipse owners report: Service Brakes, 309 of 1,735 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.
| System | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 38 | — | |
| Power Train | 15 | 5 | |
| Wheels | 8 | 1 | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 | 8 | |
| Structure | 4 | 4 | |
| Hydraulic | 19 | — | |
| Air Bags | 95 | 6 | |
| Electrical System | 2 | 21 |
Recalls to check against your VIN
NHTSA has 40 recall campaigns on the Mitsubishi Eclipse; the 6 below cover build years 1990 to 2005. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.
| Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|
| 06E026000 | Exterior Lighting | 1992–2005 |
| 06E060000 | Exterior Lighting | 1995–2003 |
| 09E012000 | Exterior Lighting | 1990–1999 |
| 98V069001 | Power Train:automatic Transmission | 1990–1998 |
| 04V428000 | Equipment:other:labels | 1998–2005 |
| 09E025000 | Exterior Lighting:headlights | 1992–1999 |
The Eclipse against its rivals
The Eclipse draws 2.3 complaints per production run; the Mazda RX-8 6.6, the Chevrolet Cobalt 8.7 and the Volvo C70 1.5.
| Model | Complaints | Runs | Per run | Involved a crash |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitsubishi Eclipse | 1,735 | 757 | 11.2% | |
| Mazda RX-8 | 642 | 98 | 3.7% | |
| Chevrolet Cobalt | 6,599 | 761 | 6.9% | |
| Volvo C70 | 163 | 111 | 2.5% |
How serious were they
Of the 1,735 reports on the Mitsubishi Eclipse, 11.2% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, above the norm.
| Outcome | Mitsubishi Eclipse | All vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints filed | 1,735 | 1,115,966 |
| Involved a crash | 194 (11.2%) | 64,194 (5.8%) |
| Involved a fire | 48 (2.8%) | 26,974 (2.4%) |
| Injuries reported | 142 | 58,013 |
| Deaths reported | 9 | 2,728 |
Crash-related reports run 93% above the all-vehicle rate.
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How this check works
The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Mitsubishi Eclipse share of that is 1,735 complaints over 757 runs, 0.16% of everything on record.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a Mitsubishi Eclipse VIN for free?
Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 1,735 NHTSA complaints from 757 Eclipse runs and 40 recall campaigns. No account, no card.
Which Eclipse production run has the most complaints?
4A3AC54L7YE, a 2000 build, with 13 complaints. The typical Eclipse run has 2.3.
Which Eclipse years have the most complaints?
Per production run, 2006 is heaviest at 4.3 complaints per run and 2004 lightest at 1.1.
Does the Eclipse get more complaints than the Mazda RX-8?
No: 2.3 complaints per production run for the Eclipse against 6.6 for the Mazda RX-8.
How many Eclipse complaints involve a crash?
11.2% of 1,735 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 48 involved a fire.
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