MYRModel Year Report

2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
209
Recalls
10

Campaigns on file for 2001

Investigations
4

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Wheels

35% of complaints

Complaints per year

1989: 2 complaints 1989 1990: 47 complaints 1991: 55 complaints 1992: 49 complaints 1992 1993: 37 complaints 1994: 35 complaints 1995: 307 complaints 1995 1996: 159 complaints 1997: 136 complaints 1998: 129 complaints 1998 1999: 120 complaints 2000: 308 complaints 2001: 209 complaints 2001 209 2002: 73 complaints 2003: 124 complaints 2004: 14 complaints 2004 2005: 6 complaints 2006: 99 complaints 2007: 107 complaints 2007 2008: 71 complaints 2009: 42 complaints 2010: 1 complaint 2010 2011: 1 complaint 2012: 8 complaints
1989: 2 complaints 1989 1990: 47 complaints 1991: 55 complaints 1991 1992: 49 complaints 1993: 37 complaints 1993 1994: 35 complaints 1995: 307 complaints 1995 1996: 159 complaints 1997: 136 complaints 1997 1998: 129 complaints 1999: 120 complaints 1999 2000: 308 complaints 2001: 209 complaints 2001 209 2002: 73 complaints 2003: 124 complaints 2003 2004: 14 complaints 2005: 6 complaints 2005 2006: 99 complaints 2007: 107 complaints 2007 2008: 71 complaints 2009: 42 complaints 2009 2010: 1 complaint 2011: 1 complaint 2011 2012: 8 complaints
1989: 2 complaints 1989 1990: 47 complaints 1990 1991: 55 complaints 1991 1992: 49 complaints 1992 1993: 37 complaints 1993 1994: 35 complaints 1994 1995: 307 complaints 1995 1996: 159 complaints 1996 1997: 136 complaints 1997 1998: 129 complaints 1998 1999: 120 complaints 1999 2000: 308 complaints 2000 2001: 209 complaints 2001 209 2002: 73 complaints 2002 2003: 124 complaints 2003 2004: 14 complaints 2004 2005: 6 complaints 2005 2006: 99 complaints 2006 2007: 107 complaints 2007 2008: 71 complaints 2008 2009: 42 complaints 2009 2010: 1 complaint 2010 2011: 1 complaint 2011 2012: 8 complaints 2012

2001: 209 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19860
19870
19880
19892
199047
199155
199249
199337
199435
1995307
1996159
1997136
1998129
1999120
2000308
2001209
200273
2003124
200414
20056
200699
2007107
200871
200942
20101
20111
20128

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Wheels

35% · 74 reports

Most commonly citing rim.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

While trying to avoid a spin out in heavy snow. I turned to into the curb to help stop my car. My wheel is aluminum spoke design. All the spokes fractured completely out of the wheel. The tire still had air. My wheel came off.

NHTSA ODI report, 2001-04-03

Structure

12% · 25 reports

Most commonly citing body and frame and members.

INJURY

Air bags

11% · 24 reports

Most commonly citing frontal and side/window.

CRASHFIREINJURYDEATH
Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2015-08-10

While driving at 50-55 MPH and attempting to Dodge something on road vehicle lost control and began to rollover. Air bags did not deploy. Dealer has been contacted.

NHTSA ODI report, 2001-03-09

Consumer was in an accident while driving 55 MPH, and vehicle in front of consumer had spun on snow and then hit consumer in front of vehicle. Air sensors were damaged, but air bags were never deployed.

NHTSA ODI report, 2001-02-22

Power train

10% · 21 reports

Most commonly citing manual transmission and automatic transmission.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

No summary.

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-11-01

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2019-01-30

Exterior lighting

10% · 20 reports

Most commonly citing headlights and switch.

FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

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...

NHTSA ODI report, 2020-07-01

Safety timeline

10 recalls · 4 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    2000-11-20Engine and engine cooling00V299001 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The harness for the crankshaft position sensor could come in contact with a new protective shield causing a grounded circuit.

    Remedy: Dealers will re-route the crankshaft position sensor harness.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. ▮
    2001Complaint volume 209 complaints filed for this model year.
  3. R
    2001-01-15Fuel system, gasoline00V320001 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The outer layer only of this 3-layer fuel return hose does not contain the desired ozone protection due to a processing error.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel return hose.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. R
    2001-02-15Seats01V005001 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A number of incorrect driver side seat mounting bolts were installed into vehicles.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the seat mounting bolts and then replace the bolts if necessary. Owner notification began February 15, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. I
    2001-03-01Preliminary evaluationClosed 2001-11-06 Front shoulder belt webbing guide
  6. R
    2001-03-26Fuel system, gasoline01V069000 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A bulge in the fuel tank caused by the manufacturing process resulted in thinning of the material during a welding operation, increasing the risk of fuel…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel tank assembly. Owner notification began March 26, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2001-03-26Power train01V011001 Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. A hose was mis-manufactured and could weaken over time, which could result in leakage of the automatic transmission…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the hose assembly for the automatic transmission oil cooler. Owner notification mailing will be phased over a five-month period starting March 26, through July 23, 2001.…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. I
    2001-12-18Preliminary evaluationClosed 2002-05-31 Alloy wheel denting and fracturing
  9. I
    2002-05-31Engineering analysisClosed 2003-05-01 Aluminum alloy wheel denting
  10. I
    2005-02-10Preliminary evaluationClosed 2005-06-08 Headlights failure
  11. R
    2006-04-03Exterior lighting06E026000 Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber…

    Remedy: Pro-a motors will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. The recall began on April 3, 2006. Owners may contact pro-a motors at 323-838-2988.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. R
    2006-07-01Exterior lighting06E049000 Certain ck motorsports combination headlights, clear corner, bumper, and side marker lights sold as replacement lamps for use on the passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are…

    Remedy: Ck motorsport will notify owners and replace the noncompliant lamps free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2006. Owners may contact ck motorsport at 1-909-610-7211.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  13. R
    2006-08-01Exterior lighting06E060000 Certain aai motorsports combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above list passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the…

    Remedy: Aai motorsports will notify owners and replace the lamps free of charge. The recall began on August 1, 2006. Owners may contact aai motorsports at 909-923-9188.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  14. R
    2015-07-20Air bags15V338000 Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

    Remedy: MMNA will notify their owners, and Chrysler will notify the Chrysler and Dodge owners. Dealers will install a tether strap to retain the passenger sun visor, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  15. R
    Date not on fileEquipment04V428000 Certain passenger vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no.

    Remedy: Mitsubishi caribbean will mail a customer notification letter containing a written description and a graphic of the bi-lingual dashboard air bag warning label.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Wheels: 74 reports on file for this year.
  • Structure: 25 reports on file for this year.
  • Air bags: 24 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 04V428000 · Equipment
  • Recall 00V299001 · Engine and engine cooling
  • Recall 00V320001 · Fuel system, gasoline
  • Recall 01V005001 · Seats
  • Recall 01V069000 · Fuel system, gasoline
  • Recall 01V011001 · Power train
  • Recall 06E026000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E049000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06E060000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 15V338000 · Air bags
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse?
The most-reported component is wheels, accounting for 35% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse have?
10 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.