2001 Mitsubishi ECLIPSE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
209 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
51,123 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 80 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Wheels:Rim is the most frequently named component, appearing in 62 of 209 complaints (29.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 16 | 7.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 14 | 6.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 6.2% |
| Braking behavior | 13 | 6.2% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 2.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 1.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Wheels:Rim | 62 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 14 |
| Air Bags | 13 |
| Electrical System | 12 |
| Wheels | 12 |
| Unknown Or Other | 10 |
| Structure:Body | 9 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 8 |
Wheels:Rim: 62; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 14; Air Bags: 13; Electrical System: 12; Wheels: 12; Unknown Or Other: 10; Structure:Body: 9; Air Bags:Frontal: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 16 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 20 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 19 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 14 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 20; 50,000 to 74,999: 19; 75,000 to 99,999: 14; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 5
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (20). 129 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 33 |
| 2002 | 44 |
| 2003 | 22 |
| 2004 | 34 |
| 2005 | 21 |
| 2006 | 15 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2000: 3; 2001: 33; 2002: 44; 2003: 22; 2004: 34; 2005: 21; 2006: 15; 2007: 8; 2008: 11; 2009: 3; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 4; 2017: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Wheels:Rim leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 14 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 13 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10039386 · 2003-09-23 (September 23, 2003)
THE LEFT DRIVER SIDE RIM KEEPS BENDING, WHICH CAUSES A FLAT TIRE. I BOUGHT 3 RIMS ALREADY. ALWAYS WITH IN A WEEK THE RIM IS BENT. THE CAR MAKES A NOISE FROM THE FRONT END COMING FROM THE LEFT TIRE AND THERE ARE DEEP SCRATCH MARKS ON THE LOWER FRONT BY THE TIRE. AT SPEEDS OF 15-20 MILES AN HOUR IF I HIT A POTHOLE THE RIM BENDS AND THE WHOLE THING SHAKES EVEN WHEN I HIT THE BRAKE THE BRAKE PEDAL SHAKES BAKE AND FORTH. IF I KNEW THE RIM WOULD BE LIKE THIS AND I HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS TROUBLE OF TIRES AND RIMES COSTING $300.00 I WOULD OF NEV…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039386 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052735 · 2004-01-09 (January 9, 2004)
I TOO HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH RIMS AND TIRES. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 2 TIRES AND 1 RIM ALREADY. WHILE DRIVING MY CAR NOW OVER 65 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL WILL SHAKE. I AM OFTEN SCARED TO GO OVER 50 DUE TO THAT FACT THAT I FEAR MY TIRES WILL BLOW.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10052735 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073131 · 2004-05-25 (May 25, 2004)
HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. BOUGHT NEW BULBS TO REPLACE. BOTH PLUGS TO THE HEADLIGHT BULBS HAD MELTED. TOLD BY DEALER IT WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AND WAS NOT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 52,245 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073131 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086066 · 2004-08-03 (August 3, 2004)
HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO GO OUT, BUT MOVING WIRE CONNECTION ON BACK OF HEADLAMPS WOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM MOMENTARILY. PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY, AND ONE HEADLAMP STOPPED FUNCTIONING ALTOGETHER, WHILE WAITING SEVERAL DAYS FOR SERVICE APPOINTMENT AT DEALER. DEALER DETERMINED THAT WIRING CONNECTIONS TO HEADLAMPS HAD MELTED, AND THE WIRING HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10086066 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10136156 · 2005-09-12 (September 12, 2005)
MY CALAPANA BLACK 2001 ECLIPSE GT STARTED TO FADE A YEAR AGO. I NOTICED THAT MOST BLACK MITSUBISHI CARS STARTS TO FADE IN 2-3 YEARS. I HAVE A COUPLE OF FRIENDS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BUT REFUSE TO COMPLAIN HERE BECAUSE THEY ALREADY DONE SEVERAL TIMES TO THE DEALER BUT NEVER HAD A RESPONSE. I ALSO HAVE EXACT PROBLEM AS COMPLAIN NO. ODI ID: 100511429 NHTSA COMPLAINT ID: 448638. AS MENTIONED, THE CAR HAS TROUBLE SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR (WORST WHEN COLD), STUTTERS WHEN FIRST ACCELERATING, AND MAKES A CONTINUOUS RATTLING NOISE WHEN THE CLU…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10136156 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10144797 · 2005-12-08 (December 8, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT BEGAN AS A NOISE AND THEN THE ENGINE AREA CAUGHT ON FIRE. THEY WERE NO UNUSUAL INDICATORS BEFORE THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS BURNED VERY BADLY. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS LEFT UNDETERMINED, AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S SALVAGE YARD. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER WHERE NOT CONTACTED BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE INSURANCE COMPANY PROVIDED THE CONTACT A REPORT OF A POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE REP…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10144797 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007092 · 2003-02-11 (February 11, 2003)
WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR WHEEL.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007092 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032985 · 2003-08-17 (August 17, 2003)
THIS IS A MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE 2001. THIS CAR HAS HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS FOR THE FIRST 2 YEARS. #1. CLUTCH FLUID COMPLETLY LEAKED OUT. CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. #2. MASTER BRAKE CYLIINDER WAS LEAKING AND REPLACED. #3. PCM CHIP REPLACED. #4. WINDOW MOULDINGS FOR FRONT AND BACK WINSHIELDS HAVE COME OFF.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032985 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074189 · 2004-06-22 (June 22, 2004)
WHEN DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION. *JB A SERVICE TIMING BELT TENSIONER WAS INSTALLED AND THE ENGINE DISPLAYED AN INTERNAL NOISE WHEN STARTED DUE TO A SHORT BLOCK. (OTHER CONTACT NUMBER FOR THE CONSUMER ARE: DAY/[phone removed] & EVE/[phone removed]) *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 77,439 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074189 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090528 · 2004-09-07 (September 7, 2004)
1 HAD CRASH ABOUT FOUR MOUNTHS AGO. 2 A/C BLOWN A PEICE OF METAL FROM SIDE PULLE LOCKED UP AND BELT BROKE LOSS OF POWER STIRRING ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR. 3 NOTHING WAS OR HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS OLD PARTS STILL AVAILABLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090528 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10176015 · 2006-12-13 (December 13, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A SMELL OF GASOLINE AROUND THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK IN THE RETURN HOSE AT THE LOCATION OF THE CLAMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL# 03V442000, WHICH PERTAINS TO THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
Owner-reported narrative. 91,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10176015 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10608938 · 2014-07-08 (July 8, 2014)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 68,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10608938 at NHTSA ↗