Problems · by component

2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse power train problems

31 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse cite power train, 10% of all 300 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
31
10% of all complaints
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 30, 2019Power trainODI 11173039
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 18, 2017Power trainODI 10945909
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 20, 2016Fuel system, gasoline, Power train, Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 10917134
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 4, 2016Power trainODI 10853326
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 24, 2016Power trainODI 10851460

Showing 6 of 31 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Power train: cooling unit and lines

Free remedy

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 FLUID.

Power trainReported Jan 16, 2001NHTSA 01V011001
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 30, 2026

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

Other 2001 Eclipse problem areas