2009 Mitsubishi ECLIPSE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
42 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
67,070 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 23 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 27 of 42 complaints (64.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 28 | 66.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.4% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.4% |
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 | 27 |
| Air Bags | 8 |
| Structure:Body | 4 |
| Structure | 2 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 |
Service Brakes: 27; Air Bags: 8; Structure:Body: 4; Structure: 2; Power Train: 1; Seat Belts: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 1
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 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 19 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 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 19 |
| 2016 | 15 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
2010: 1; 2014: 4; 2015: 19; 2016: 15; 2017: 1; 2018: 2
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 28 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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 10343207 · 2010-07-14 (July 14, 2010)
THERE IS A HOLLOW OPENING BEHIND CARPET IN FLOOR UNDER GAS PEDAL. IN LESS THAN 10,000 MILES, A HOLE WORE THROUGH THE CARPET. NOW HEELS OF SHOES (JUST NORMAL WOMEN'S SHOES, NOT SPIKE HEELS!) GET STUCK WHILE DRIVING. AN ACCIDENT IS INEVITABLE IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT REPAIRED. I HAVE DRIVEN MANY OTHER MODEL CARS, MANY WITH WORN CARPETING, BUT NONE HAD A DESIGN FLAW LIKE THE 2009 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. I HAVE BEEN CLOSE TO CRASHING SEVERAL TIMES. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY SAID IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. *T…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10343207 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10559430 · 2014-01-11 (January 11, 2014)
ANOTHER DRIVER WAS TRAVELING WEST AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN LEFT. I WAS TRAVELING EAST WHEN THE OTHER CAR TURNED FROM A DIRECT LINE AND HIT THE FRONT OF MY CAR. MY CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS, SIDE AIRBAGS, AND SIDE HEAD CURTAIN AIRBAGS. AT THE MOMENT OF IMPACT MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 67,070 miles reported. Look up ODI 10559430 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10614854 · 2014-07-20 (July 20, 2014)
THE LADY CROSSED TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC AND RAN A RED LIGHT AND HIT MY CAR ON DRIVERS SIDE FRONT INCLUDING THE DOOR. DOOR WON'T OPEN AND AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE CAR WAS TOWED CAUSE IT COULDN'T START AND WASN'T DRIVABLE. SEAT BELTS DIDN'T LOCK SO THE PEOPLE IN MY CAR HIT STEERING, DASHBOARD AND BACK OF THE SEATS. MY CAR WAS HIT IN THE FRONT IN DEC. 5, 2013 AND SAME THING HAPPENED. AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND SEATBELTS DIDN'T LOCK. FROM THE ACCIDENT BEFORE I MADE A COMPLAINT WITH MITSUBISHI AND THEY DONE NOTHING. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 79,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10614854 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10619056 · 2014-08-05 (August 5, 2014)
THERE HAS BEEN NO INCIDENT YET. HOWEVER IF THIS VEHICLE GETS IN AN ACCIDENT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT DEPLOY CORRECTLY. THE DASH PAD IN FRONT OF THE AIR BAG HAS COME UNGLUED AND IS BLOCKING THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG IF IT WERE TO DEPLOY. THIS DASH PAD IS STICKING UP 4 INCHES IN FRONT OF RIGHT DASH AIRBAG. THESE SHOULD BE REPLACED ON ALL AFFECTED UNITS. I HAVE SEEN OTHER BRANDS DASH PADS LIFT AROUND DEFROST HOLES, ESPECIALLY GM IN THE 90S, THIS IS THE FIRST I HAVE SEEN WHERE IF THE PAD STARTS LIFTING IT WILL BLOCK THE AIRBAG. …
Owner-reported narrative. 102,623 miles reported. Look up ODI 10619056 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10631201 · 2014-09-05 (September 5, 2014)
DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA AND HIT MY BRAKES TO AVOID A CAR STOPPING ABRUPTLY. MY BRAKES WENT SOFT AND I HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID SLAMMING INTO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. MY BRAKES REMAINED VERY SOFT WITH LITTLE TO NO BRAKING POWER FOR AT LEAST A DAY. THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE IN A MONTH. THE BRAKES WHEN PRESSED WERE VERY SOFT AND WHISTLED WHEN I LIFTED MY FOOT. I RECORDED THE SOUND FOR DOCUMENTATION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10631201 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10682146 · 2015-02-09 (February 9, 2015)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. IN ADDITION, THE SHIFT GEAR WOULD INDEPENDENTLY SHIFT FROM THIRD GEAR TO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10682146 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10683728 · 2015-02-16 (February 16, 2015)
DASH PAD IN VEHICLE HAS COME APART, COMPLETELY BLOCKING PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THE DASH PAD IS STICKING UP AT LEAST 3 INCHES IN FRONT OF AIRBAG. IF AIRBAG DOES DEPLOY EVER IT WILL NOT PROPERLY AND COULD CAUSE MORE HARM TO PASSENGER AND DRIVER. WHEN THIS FIRST HAPPENED MY CAR WAS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. THERE ARE SEVERAL REPORTS ONLINE OF THIS HAPPENING TO THESE VEHICLES. I THINK ALL AFFECTED CARS SHOULD BE FIXED, SINCE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE ON PRETTY NEW CARS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 74,789 miles reported. Look up ODI 10683728 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10706559 · 2015-04-19 (April 19, 2015)
THE AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WON'T DEPLOY IF ITS IN A ACCIDENT. THE DASH PAD ON THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SIDE IS ELEVATED AND OUT OF ITS POSITION BY AROUND 2-3 INCHES WITH THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SIGN ON. SURPRISED TO SEE SIMILAR ISSUE BY OTHER CUSTOMERS AS WELL HERE. LOOKS LIKE IS A COMMON COMPLAINT AND NEED TO BE FIXED BY MITSUBISHI. GOD FORBID IF THERE IS ANY INCIDENT........UPDATED 12/16/15 *BF *TR UPDATED 10/06/2017*CN
Owner-reported narrative. 47,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10706559 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 ↗