2008 Mitsubishi ECLIPSE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
71 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
71,937 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 47 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 50 of 71 complaints (70.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 58 | 81.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.4% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 50 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 7 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
Service Brakes: 50; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 7; Air Bags: 6; Electrical System: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Engine: 2; Power Train: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (14). 24 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 28 |
| 2016 | 19 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 3; 2014: 7; 2015: 28; 2016: 19; 2017: 3; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2021: 2; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 58 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10331776 · 2010-05-22 (May 22, 2010)
AT ABOUT 20,000 MILES THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS THE WARNING INDICATOR THAT THE PASSENGER WAS NOT BUCKLED UP EVEN THOUGH I COULD SEE THEY WERE. ALSO THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM COLUMN WITHOUT THE CAR IN PARK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10331776 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10340598 · 2010-06-29 (June 29, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR AND SIDE VIEW MIRRORS WERE TOO CLOSE TO THE VEHICLE CAUSING INADEQUATE VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER. THE CONTACT STATED IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO CHANGE LANES OR REVERSE WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO HAVE A CLEAR LINE OF VISION. THE DEALER DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE A DEFECT EXISTED IN THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT NO REPAIRS WOULD BE MADE TO THE VEHICLE IN REGARDS TO HER OPINION OF THE MIRRORS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRE…
Owner-reported narrative. 97,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10340598 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10429463 · 2011-10-11 (October 11, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, HE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. AS A RESULT, HE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE A REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10429463 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10466631 · 2012-07-19 (July 19, 2012)
MY CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED STARTING. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY SO I HAD THAT REPLACED, BUT UPON FURTHER INSPECTION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT MY STARTER HAD GONE BAD. I HAD THE STARTER REPLACED IN AUGUST OF 2011 (THAT'S TOO SOON FOR A 2008). ON JULY 16, 2012 I HAD TO HAVE ANOTHER BRAND NEW STARTER INSTALLED IN MY ECLIPSE. TWO BRAND NEW STARTERS IN LESS THAN A YEAR IS UNACCEPTABLE AND IT MAKES IT WORSE THAT THE CAR IS A 2008. I FEEL LIKE MITSUBISHI NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THIS PART. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10466631 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10511664 · 2013-05-13 (May 13, 2013)
WHEN BRAKING TO STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXPERIENCED A LONGER THAN NORMAL PEDAL STROKE RESULTING IN A REAR END COLLISION. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. THE 2006 ECLIPSE HAS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. 2007-2008 ECLIPSES SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED TO FIX THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM. THERE ARE SEVERAL ONLINE POSTS DESCRIBING THIS PROBLEM ON A 2008 ECLIPSE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10511664 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10548962 · 2013-10-22 (October 22, 2013)
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN A CONGESTED ROAD, I TRIED TO COME TO A STOP AND THE PEDDLE WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD. I TRIED PULLING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THAT DIDN'T WORK EITHER. AT THAT POINT I AVOIDED A COLLISION BY GOING ON THE MEDIAN AND DOWN SHIFTED. THE CAR, LUCKILY, IS A 5 SPEED. MY HUSBAND REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS A MONTH OR SO BEFORE THAT, SO HE CHECKED TO BE SURE THE LINES WERE BLED CORRECTLY. WHICH THEY WERE. THIS WAS THE FIRST INSTANCE. TODAY WAS THE SCARIEST. IT WAS RAINING AND I WAS GOING 45 IN THE MIDDLE LANE. THE CAR IN F…
Owner-reported narrative. 47,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10548962 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10549285 · 2013-10-23 (October 23, 2013)
I NOTICED THAT AS I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDDLE DOWN AND LET OFF THERE IS A WHISTLE SOUND AS THE BRAKE PEDDLE IS COMING BACK UP. THIS ISSUE IS CONTINUING TO GET WORSE.THE MORE THAT I DRIVE THE CAR, THE LESS EFFICIENT MY BRAKES ARE WORKING TO ACTUALLY STOP THE CAR. MULTIPLE MECHANICS HAVE LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND SAID IT COULD BE EITHER THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER OR THE ABS CONTROL WHICH IS VERY UNCOMMON FOR A CAR WITH SUCH LOW MILES.???? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10549285 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10562455 · 2014-02-01 (February 1, 2014)
UPON APPLYING MY BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND A HISSING NOISE COMING FROM THE PEDAL AREA. HAD DONE THIS BEFORE AND THEN IT WAS OK. STARTED DOING IT AGAIN AND HAD THE BRAKES CHANGED. WAS FINE FOR A WHILE THEN STARTED AGAIN. HAD ASE MECHANIC INSPECT MASTER CYLINDER, BLEED BRAKES AND BRAKE BOOSTER. STILL ALL THE SAME. I KNOW THEY RECALLED LANCER FOR THE SAME ISSUES. AND ALSO 2005-2207- ECLIPSE. THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. CANNOT ALLOW MY DAUGHTER TO DRIVE THIS CAR DUE TO THE PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10562455 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
15V337000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module
Reported: 2015-06-02 (June 2, 2015)
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Eclipse vehicles manufactured April 20, 2005, to February 13, 2009, and 2007-2009 Eclipse Spyder vehicles manufactured December 23, 2005, to February 13, 2009. Due to corrosion inside the antil-lock brake system (ABS) unit, one or more of the internal valves may seize. In a braking event that uses the ABS, a seized valve would increase brake pedal travel and reduce braking ability.
Consequence: A sudden reduction of braking performance may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, flush and clean the ABS hydraulic unit using high grade brake fluid, free of charge. If the inspection shows that the valves may seize, the ABS unit will be replaced. The recall began on July 21, 2015. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-15-004.
NHTSA campaign record ↗