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2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse

The Verdict

42 Proceed with Caution

The 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse has 314 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (182 complaints) and electrical (61 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 42/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Mitsubishi Eclipse, consider the 2011 model year which has 99% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2011 has 99% fewer complaints

View the 2011 Mitsubishi Eclipse dashboard →

42

Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution

About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
20002148512017
20011829613230
200269413126
2003904232722
200463230
200540200
200610701035
20071185622
2008357722
201100100
201212500

By Category

Body
182
Electrical
61
Engine
32
Transmission
30
Brakes
9

By Severity

1
135
2
138
3
3
4
35
5
3

Worst Problems

Complaints

Engine 2

I almost got into a accident because it's late sobits really hard to see because the headlights u cnt see any at all at night I can use a flash light out the window and see better like that but on top of that my car just decides to up and stall on me and not wanna start back and it had melted my crankshaft sensor wires and I guess it just decided to also mess up the wiring on my camshaft sensor I literally had to wire up the wires straight around the plug on both just to make it home it was cold out and all I really love my car but I'm spending more money than I've got just tryna keep it running and between that and the lights that's gonna get sum1 hurt or killed if not fixed I was on a backroad had no service to call anybody for help and I was right between 2 blind turns

44mo ago
Electrical 1

I HAVE A 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE RS 2.4 ENGINE I BOUGHT IT OFF MY HUSBAND'S UNCLE FOUR MONTHS AGO AND EVER SINCE I GOT THE CAR I NOTICED THE LIGHT ADJUSTERS DON'T WORK AT ALL AND AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SO DIM THAT SOMETIMES I CAN'T EVEN SEE THE ROAD AT ALL THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF

73mo ago
Transmission 2

WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND CAME TO A STOP. TRIED TO SHIFT INTO 1ST AND COULD NOT DO SO. HAD TO TURN OFF MY CAR TO SHIFT INTO GEAR TO AVOID GRINDING. HAD A HARD TIME GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AS WELL. ONCE ARRIVING HOME COULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. SEEMS LIKE THE GEARS WERE TRYING TO STRIP AND A HORRIBLE GRINDING WAS OCCURRING. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING A STICK SHIFT FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. HAD TO TURN OFF MY CAR TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE TO GET INTO MY DRIVEWAY TO PARK. TRIED THE NEXT DAY TO DRIVE MY CAR...DID THE WARM UP DUE TO COLD WEATHER, AND AGAIN COULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEARS WHILE MY CAR WAS RUNNING. AS SOON AS I TURN THE IGNITION OFF I COULD SHIFT JUST FINE. I'VE RESEARCHED TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM AND EACH SOLUTION EQUATES TO PAYING A LOT FOR REPAIRS. I'M UPSET BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD A NEW CAR AT THIS TIME AND I NEED A RELIABLE VEHICLE FOR MY JOB. SEEMS THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR YEAR THE ECLIPSE WAS MANUFACTORED, AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE. A DEFINITE RECALL IS NEEDED FOR THIS WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM.

90mo ago
Body 1

"TAKAYA RECALL" 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GT, 3.0LV6 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. 16 YEARS OLD, BUT ONLY 157621 MILES DRIVING AS USUAL WHEN WITHOUT ANY NOTICE OR WARNING, NO LONGER HAVING ANY POWER TO WHEELS FROM TRANSMISSION (ENGINE STILL RUNNING NORMAL AS USUAL). AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAD COMPLETE TOTAL CATASTROPHIC FAILURE DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT OF AN INTERNAL PART CALLED WAVE CUSHION SPRING

107mo ago
Transmission 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO AN INTERNAL SPRING FRACTURING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V011001 (POWER TRAIN). THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO SERVICE CAMPAIGN AND RECALL TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

115mo ago
Engine 2

2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO EXTERIOR LIGHTING RECALL, ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM REPLACEMENT RECALL, POWER TRAIN, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COOLING UNIT AND LINES RECALL ISSUES. *SMD THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THEY ONLY HAD ONE RECALL APPLICABLE TO HIS VEHICLE, WHICH WAS FOR THE SUN VISOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER STATED THE GAS TANK IS LEAKING AND HAS MANY WELDING ISSUES. *JB

118mo ago
Transmission 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 05/11/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED REPAIR WAS MADE ON 04/13/2016. *TR

125mo ago
Transmission 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 117,000.

125mo ago
Electrical 2

SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM FAULT. SRS LIGHT ELLUMINATES ON DASHBOARD WHENEVER DRIVER OR PASSENGER SEATS ARE MOVED, INDICATING THAT THE SIDE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS DEACTIVATING THE ENTIRE SRS SYSTEM INCLUDING THE FRONT AIRBAGS.

126mo ago
Electrical 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A TUNE UP AND THE FAILURE CODES FOR P0301, P0401, AND THE EGR APPEARED. THE CODES WERE CLEARED, BUT THE P0301 FAILURE CODE REAPPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN IN FOR SMOG INSPECTION AND FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED FOR EGR FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN REPAIRED THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO A DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 315,000.

132mo ago
Engine 4

PROLONGED WIRING HARNESS CONTACT WITH THE HEAT SHIELD CAUSES THE WIRING INSULATION TO WEAR & GROUND OUT CAUSING THE ENGINE TO DIE-OUT. HAD AN ICCIDENT FEW DAYS AGO WHERE THE ENGINE DIED OUT AND I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND ALMOST GOT HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC . THIS IS SERIOUSLY NOT OKAY AND A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. PLEASE HELP ME.

132mo ago
Electrical 4

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH MAKING A SHARP TURN, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES WITHIN MOMENTS. LUCKY, THE FRONT PASSENGER WAS ABLE TO FREE THE CONTACT IN TIME. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED FRACTURES ON THE LEFT CLAVICULAR BONE, LEFT ULNA BONE AND BRUISING ON CHEST AND FACE WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

133mo ago
Body 3

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR OPENED INDEPENDENTLY AND STRUCK THE CONTACT ON THE BRIDGE OF HER NOSE, BREAKING HER GLASSES. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND REPOSITIONED THE SUN VISOR BACK ON THE CLIPS. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISORS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V338000 (AIR BAGS) DID NOT INCLUDE THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

133mo ago
Brakes 2

WAS DRIVING AND AS I WAS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. *TR

141mo ago
Electrical 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SRS AND AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAGS SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE AIR BAGS SYSTEM WAS REPLACED AGAIN. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 7,000.

142mo ago
Engine 2

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

146mo ago
Transmission 1

WHILE DRIVING FROM THE HIGHWAY ON AN OFF RAMP AT 50 MPH, ENGINE (RPM) STARTED BOGGING DOWN, THEN BOTH FRONT TIRES LOCKED UP TO A SCREECHING HALT. I ALMOST SLIDE OFF THE RAMP AND ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BY A SEMI TRUCK BEHIND ME. FRONT TIRES WERE LOCKED UP, WOULD NOT MOVE OUT OF THE ROAD AND WOULD NOT COME OUT OF GEAR. HAD IT TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP AND WAS QUOTED $3,000 JUST TO PULL THE TRANSMISSION FOR DIAGNOSTICS. WAS TOLD TRANSMISSION FAILED AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE WORTH THE MONEY TO FIX BECAUSE FRONT STRUT TOWERS BOTH WERE RUSTED. HAD VEHICLE TOWED HOME AND I WILL TRY TO PERFORM THE REPAIR MYSELF. *TR

149mo ago
Engine 2

THE FUEL FILLER NECK RUSTS SEVERELY AROUND THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE CAUSING LARGE AMOUNTS OF FUEL TO LEAK ON THE GROUND AND GASOLINE VAPORS TO ESCAPE. THE FILLER NECK ASSEMBLY IS CONSTRUCTED OUT OF METAL AND INCLUDES A LARGE TUBE/PIPE FOR THE FUEL TO ENTER THE GAS TANK, AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER SMALLER METAL PIPES. THE FILLER NECK ASSEMBLY EXTENDS FROM THE FILLER DOOR, WHICH IS SITUATED IN THE REAR PASSENGER QUARTER PANEL, DOWN AND ACROSS TO THE FUEL TANK WHICH IS SITUATED IN THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THERE IS A PARTICULAR POINT WHERE THE PIPES IN THE ASSEMBLY MAKE AN APPROXIMATELY 45 DEGREE BEND, MOVING FROM A DOWNWARD ANGLE TO AN ANGLE THAT IS MORE PARALLEL WITH THE GROUND. AT THIS BEND OR ELBOW, THE MANUFACTURER PLACED A THICK METAL SHIELD, PRESUMABLY TO PROTECT A WEAK POINT. THE SHIELD BOLTS TO THE BODY OF THE CAR IN FOUR PLACES AND CUPS THE FUEL PIPES IN A SEMI-CIRCLE AROUND THE BEND LEAVING AN APPROXIMATELY ONE-HALF INCH GAP BETWEEN THE PIPES AND THE SHIELD. THIS SHIELD AND PIPE ASSEMBLY IS SITUATED DIRECTLY BEHIND AND SLIGHTLY INBOARD OF THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE, HOWEVER, IT REMAINS EXPOSED. BECAUSE OF THE GAP BETWEEN THE PIPES AND THE SHIELD, AND BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE SHIELD IS ANGLED UPWARDS, AND BECAUSE THERE IS NO COVER OR OTHER PROTECTIVE DEVICE TO SEAL THIS GAP, THE SHIELD COLLECTS DIRT, DEBRIS, GREASE, AND MOISTURE. PRESUMABLY, THE REAR TIRE THROWS THIS FOREIGN MATERIAL AROUND WHICH THEN COLLECTS IN THE SHIELD, BUILDS UP, AND CONTACTS THE PIPES, CAUSING THEM TO RUST. EVENTUALLY THE PIPES RUST COMPLETELY THROUGH CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK ON THE GROUND WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS REFUELED. THE HOLES IN THE PIPES ALSO ALLOW GASOLINE VAPORS TO ESCAPE AND IMPAIRS THE EVAP SYSTEM. DESPITE THE BUILDUP AND CONTINUAL CONTACT OF FOREIGN MATERIAL IN THE SHIELD, THE SHIELD ITSELF DID NOT RUST AT ALL CREATING A PERFECT COLLECTOR TO GATHER FOREIGN MATERIAL AND CAUSE THE RUST TO FORM. *TR

149mo ago
Engine 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT TO START AND EXHIBITED AN OVERPOWERING GASOLINE ODOR. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE STARTED, IT WOULD SPUTTER AND STALL SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

179mo ago
Electrical 4

ON THE MORNING OF MARCH 3, 2011 I WAS INVOLVED IN A WRECK, SLAMMING INTO A CHEVROLET COBALT WHICH WAS LATER CITED FOR FAILURE TO YIELD. I WAS DRIVING A 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GT CONVERTIBLE AT THE POSTED SPEED OF 45 MPH. I SLID APPROXIMATELY 8 FEET BEFORE HITTING THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OF THE COBALT. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH, OR EVEN AFTERWARD FOR THAT MATTER. THE FRAME IN THE FRONT IS BENT SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN ITS PREVIOUS ARRANGEMENT, AND IS BEING FOUND AS A TOTAL LOSS. I PLAN ON PURSUING LEGAL ACTION BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY MAKING OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR

187mo ago

314 total

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