Most Mitsubishi Eclipse VINs open with 4A3 (the United States, 1990–2012). Position 11, the plant, shows 6 codes, most often E (98%); a 2012 Eclipse carries C in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 40 recall campaigns and 1,592 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Mitsubishi Eclipse VIN
Here is a real 2010 Mitsubishi Eclipse VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN 4A37L3ET3AE007116 — decoded free on its own report page.
| Position | Section | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | WMI | World Manufacturer Identifier — country, manufacturer and vehicle type. |
| 4–8 | VDS | Vehicle Descriptor Section — body style, engine, restraint system, series. |
| 9 | Check digit | A calculated digit that validates the whole VIN. Wrong digit = wrong VIN. |
| 10 | Model year | One character for the model year. Letters skip I, O, Q, U and Z. |
| 11 | Plant | The assembly plant that built the car. |
| 12–17 | Serial | Sequential production number of this exact vehicle. |
Mitsubishi Eclipse VIN prefixes, and when each one was used
The Mitsubishi Eclipse VINs on record carry 2 different prefixes. The main one is 4A3 (the United States, 1990–2012), then JA3 (Japan, 1990–1992):
| VIN starts with | Years seen | Built in | Vehicle type | VINs on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4A3 | 1990–2012 | United States | Passenger Car | |
| JA3 | 1990–1992 | Japan | Passenger Car |
Position 11 names the plant. On the Mitsubishi Eclipse it is not one number either — assembly moved between 6 of them over the years:
| Plant code | Years active | VINs on record | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| E | 1990–2012 | 1,535 | |
| 1 | 1991–2003 | 10 | |
| 0 | 1992–2000 | 7 | |
| 3 | 1992–2000 | 7 | |
| C | 1994–1995 | 4 | |
| 8 | 1992–2000 | 3 |
Counted from 1,549 dated Mitsubishi Eclipse VINs attached to NHTSA complaints, each code checked against the NHTSA manufacturer registry.
Model-year codes for the Mitsubishi Eclipse
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Mitsubishi Eclipse has not yet outlived: its 23 years still map one-to-one. All 23 model years of the Mitsubishi Eclipse, 1990 to 2012, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | C | — |
| 2011 | B | — |
| 2010 | A | — |
| 2009 | 9 | — |
| 2008 | 8 | — |
| 2007 | 7 | — |
| 2006 | 6 | — |
| 2005 | 5 | — |
| 2004 | 4 | — |
| 2003 | 3 | — |
| 2002 | 2 | — |
| 2001 | 1 | — |
| 2000 | Y | — |
| 1999 | X | — |
| 1998 | W | — |
| 1997 | V | — |
| 1996 | T | — |
| 1995 | S | — |
| 1994 | R | — |
| 1993 | P | — |
| 1992 | N | — |
| 1991 | M | — |
| 1990 | L | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Mitsubishi Eclipse VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 22 VINs the Mitsubishi Eclipse uses 15 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | A (86%) · C (9%) · 7 (5%) | 3 distinct |
| 5 — series | K (45%) · C (18%) · E (14%) · F (9%) · X (9%) · L (5%) | 6 distinct |
| 8 — engine | F (23%) · G (18%) · H (18%) · Y (14%) · T (14%) · E (9%) | 6 distinct |
What a decoded Mitsubishi Eclipse VIN gets you
Behind a Mitsubishi Eclipse VIN: 1,592 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 40 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 1,592 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 22 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Model years covered | 23 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Mitsubishi Eclipse
A Mitsubishi Eclipse VIN normally opens with 4A3; the full number sits in four places, and all four must match.
| Where | How to see it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Dashboard, driver side | Through the windshield, bottom corner | Easiest to check before you touch anything |
| Driver door jamb | Open the door, sticker on the pillar | Also lists tire pressures and build date |
| Under the hood | Firewall or strut tower plate | Survives a windshield replacement |
| Title and insurance | Paper documents | Must match the car — a mismatch means fraud or a swapped panel |
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Frequently asked questions
Is this Mitsubishi Eclipse VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 40 recall campaigns and 1,592 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Mitsubishi Eclipse.
Why does my Eclipse VIN start differently from another Eclipse?
Because the Mitsubishi Eclipse was built under several maker codes, by plant and period. Across the Mitsubishi Eclipse VINs on record we see 2 of them: 4A3 (1990–2012), JA3 (1990–1992). Each is genuine for its years.
What year is my Eclipse by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2012 Eclipse carries C, a 2011 Eclipse carries B, a 2010 Eclipse carries A.
Where was my Eclipse built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 1,570 dated Mitsubishi Eclipse VINs it reads E 98%, 1 1%, 0 0%, 3 0% and 2 rarer codes.
What does position 4 mean on a Mitsubishi Eclipse VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 22 Mitsubishi Eclipse VINs here, A is the most common character in position 4, on 86% of them.
What if the VIN on the dashboard doesn't match the door jamb?
On a Mitsubishi Eclipse check the prefix first: most genuine ones open with 4A3. A plate that starts with anything else, or disagrees with the other copies of the number, needs documents checked before any money changes hands.
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