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Research · Subcompact Cars

2001 Mitsubishi EclipseRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 10 safety recalls and 300 owner complaints for the 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse. Most complaints involve wheels (112) and power train (31). The EPA rates it 19–23 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
19–23mpg
EPA · 9 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
10campaigns
Latest Jun 2015
Owner complaints
300
Top: wheels
Fuel cost / yr
$2,800est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

10 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2000-2005 Eclipse vehicles manufactured April 5, 1999, to December 17, 2004, 2001-2005 Eclipse Spyder vehicles manufactured January 19, 2000, to March 18, 2005, 2001-2005 Chrysler Sebring vehicles manufactured April 17, 2000, to February 21, 2005, and 2001-2005 Dodge Stratus vehicles manufactured April 17, 2000, to February 22, 2005. In the affected vehicles, the passenger side sun visor may be folded down in such a position that, if the passenger frontal air bag deploys, the passenger side sun visor may detach.

Air bagsReported Jun 2, 2015NHTSA 15V338000

Exterior lighting

Free remedy

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 REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Exterior lightingReported Jun 29, 2006NHTSA 06E060000

Exterior lighting

Free remedy

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 NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Exterior lightingReported May 24, 2006NHTSA 06E049000
See all 10 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 30, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

300 complaints filed with NHTSA · Apr 2000 – Nov 2022
  1. Wheels112
  2. Power train31
  3. Structure29
  4. Air bags28
  5. Electrical system21
  6. Exterior lighting21
  7. Visibility18
  8. Engine and engine cooling16
  9. Tires14

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Eclipse model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1996168
1997164
1998151
1999135
2000311
2001300
2002104
2003166
200414
20056
200699
2007107
200871
200942
20101
20111
20128
Crashes reported
32
Fires reported
8
Injuries reported
19
Deaths reported
3
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Wheels

112 reports2 crashes1 fire
“TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 100,000. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF VEHICLE HIT THE SMALLEST OF POT HOLES, AT ANY SPEED THE RIM WILL BEND, BOTH ON THE INSIDE AND OUT SIDE. THE CONTACT HAD 2 OF THE RIMS REPLACED AND TWO OF THE TIRES AS WELL. ON FIVE OCCASIONS THE RIMS WERE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAS REPAIR ORDERS, AND WILL HAVE PICTURES OF THE LATEST FAILURE.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 14, 2007WheelsODI 10182696

Power train

31 reports5 crashes1 fire
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 16, 2022Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 11493803

Structure

29 reports
“1. EVERY TIME IT RAINS THERE IS A LARGE ACCUMULATION OF WATER LEAKING FROM FRONT WINDOW/FRONT VENTS EVERY RAINFALL ON FRONT FLOOR BOARDS; 2. EVERY RAINFALL, SOAKS CARPET FLOOR BOARDS THROUGH TO BOTTOM FRAME OF CAR; 3. MANY, MANY THICK TOWELS ON FRONT FLOOR BOARDS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 14, 2008StructureODI 10245382
All 2001 Eclipse problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

9 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Subcompact Cars, Minicompact Cars
Engines
2.4L 4-cyl · 3.0L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Manual 5-spd · Automatic 4-spd · Automatic (S4)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline · Premium Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 30, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Eclipse
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
202723$2,800386
Eclipse Spyder
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
202723$2,800386
Eclipse
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
182521$3,050423
Eclipse
Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
182621$3,800423
Eclipse Spyder
Auto (S4), 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
182521$3,050423
Eclipse
Auto (S4), 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
182520$3,200444
Eclipse
Auto (S4), 6 cyl, 3.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
172620$4,000444
Eclipse Spyder
Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
172520$4,000444
Eclipse Spyder
Auto (S4), 6 cyl, 3.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
172419$4,200468
  • Eclipse
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    20 city · 27 hwy · $2,800/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • Eclipse Spyder
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    20 city · 27 hwy · $2,800/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • Eclipse
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    18 city · 25 hwy · $3,050/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Eclipse
    Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L
    18 city · 26 hwy · $3,800/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Eclipse Spyder
    Auto (S4), 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    18 city · 25 hwy · $3,050/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Eclipse
    Auto (S4), 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    18 city · 25 hwy · $3,200/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • Eclipse
    Auto (S4), 6 cyl, 3.0 L
    17 city · 26 hwy · $4,000/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • Eclipse Spyder
    Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L
    17 city · 25 hwy · $4,000/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • Eclipse Spyder
    Auto (S4), 6 cyl, 3.0 L
    17 city · 24 hwy · $4,200/yr
    19
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 30, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse as of Oct 30, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 30, 2026Vehicle 4217
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2001 Eclipse questions

How many recalls does the 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse have?

10 safety recalls as of Oct 30, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse problems?

Owners filed 300 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are wheels (112), power train (31), structure (29). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse get?

The EPA rates the 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse at 19–23 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (9 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 30, 2026