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Research · Subcompact Cars

2005 Mitsubishi EclipseRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 6 owner complaints for the 2005 Mitsubishi Eclipse. Most complaints involve electrical system (2) and latches/locks/linkages (2). The EPA rates it 21–23 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
21–23mpg
EPA · 7 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
4campaigns
Latest Jun 2015
Owner complaints
6
Top: electrical system
Fuel cost / yr
$2,800est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

4 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

Fuel system

Free remedy

MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING 45,988 MY 2005-2007 ENDEAVOR, GALANT, ECLIPSE COUPE, AND MY 2007 ECLIPSE SPYDER VEHICLES. THE BRACKET THAT IS THE ATTACHMENT POINT FOR THE LEFT REAR FUEL TANK MOUNTING STRAP MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY FORMED DURING A METAL STAMPING PROCESS. THE PROCESS MAY HAVE CAUSED THE METAL TO HAVE A SPLIT IN THE AREA WHERE THE BOLT THAT HOLDS ONE OF THE TWO FUEL TANK STRAPS TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS LOCATED. IN THE EVENT THE FUEL TANK IS FULL AND THE VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO A SEVERE COLLISION, THE BRACKET MAY BREAK AND ALLOW THE FUEL TANK TO DROP DOWN, POSSIBLY CAUSING A FUEL LEAK.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Sep 9, 2008NHTSA 08V454000

Exterior lighting

Free remedy

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 SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Exterior lightingReported Mar 23, 2006NHTSA 06E026000
See all 4 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 30, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

6 complaints filed with NHTSA · Oct 2004 – Jul 2018
  1. Electrical system2
  2. Latches/locks/linkages2
  3. Exterior lighting1
  4. Structure1
  5. Wheels1
  6. Other / unknown1

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
0
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
1
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Electrical system

2 reports2 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR AND A STREAM OF SMOKE EMITTING FROM INSIDE THE PASSENGER DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 13, 2015Electrical systemFire reportedODI 10672074

Latches/locks/linkages

2 reports
“MY VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS. I NOTICED THAT IF I CLOSE THE DOOR, LOCK THE DOOR, AND THEN TRY TO START THE CAR... IT WON'T. I HAVE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS BEFORE IT WILL START. *AK ON MY WAY TO WORK THIS MORNING, IN STOPPED, RUSH-HOUR TRAFFIC, I STALLED MY VEHICLE. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, THE STARTER WOULD NOT ENGAGE. KNOWING THAT THERE IS AN IGNITION IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM, I FIGURED THAT I WAS FIGHTING THAT. ALSO, I FIGURED I THAT I MAY NEED TO UNLOCK THE DOORS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD START. SO... I UNLOCKED THE DOORS... NO START... REMOVED AND RE-INSERTED THE KEY... NO START... I OPENED AND CLOSED THE DOOR, REMOVED & RE-INSERTED THE KEY... NO START... I FIDDLED AROUND WITH VARIOUS SEQUENCES OF KEY, LOCKS, AND DOORS, AND FINALLY THE VEHICLE STARTED. MEANWHILE, I WAS HOLDING UP TRAFFIC. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT SEQUENCE FINALLY ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO START. NOT BEING ABLE TO RESTART A STALLED VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. IF I HAD STALLED IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC, I WOULD BE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE. THIS NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 1, 2004Latches/locks/linkagesODI 10098138

Exterior lighting

1 report1 fire
“IN THE MORNING, I DROVE THIS MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE 2005 TO WORK(35 MILES AWAY FROM HOME), IT WAS OK. AFTER WORK, I DROVE BACK TO MY HOUSE, ENTERED OUR GARAGE, I GOT OFF THE CAR, I SAW A SMALL FIRE ON THE RIGHT FRONT LIGHTING PLACE, THEN I QUICKLY BACKED MY CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE FIRE WAS GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER, MY WIFE AND I USE A LOT OF WATER TO PUT THE FIRE OUT... THIS FIRE BURNED OUT THE FRONT LIGHT, BULB, SOME WIRE, AND SMALL PIECE OF RIGHT FRONT BUMPER... THEN I TRIED THIS CAR AGAIN, I COULD DRIVE IT, BUT IT HAS NO TURNING SIGNAL. I DROVE THIS CAR TO 2 DIFFERENT CAR SHOPS, ONE IS A LOCAL CAR SHOP, THEY WORKED ON MY CAR FOR 1 MONTH, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIX IT. THEN I DROVE THIS CAR TO A MITSUBISHI DEALER, THEY WORKED ON MY CAR FOR 2 MONTHS, THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE EXACT PROBLEM... RIGHT NOW THIS CAR IS STILL WITH NO TURNING SIGNAL, AND I CAN'T DRIVE IT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 10, 2014Electrical system, Exterior lighting, StructureFire reportedODI 10568296
Send 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

7 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Subcompact Cars
Engines
2.4L 4-cyl · 3.0L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Manual 5-spd · Automatic (S4) · Automatic 4-spd
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, SOHC · Front-Wheel Drive
202823$2,800386
Eclipse
Auto (S4), 4 cyl, 2.4 L, SOHC · Front-Wheel Drive
192521$3,050423
Eclipse
Auto (S4), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, SOHC · Front-Wheel Drive
182521$3,800423
Eclipse
Auto (S4), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, SOHC-VIS · Front-Wheel Drive
182521$3,800423
Eclipse
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L, SOHC · Front-Wheel Drive
192521$3,050423
Eclipse
Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, SOHC · Front-Wheel Drive
182721$3,800423
Eclipse
Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, SOHC-VIS · Front-Wheel Drive
182621$3,800423
  • Eclipse
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L, SOHC
    20 city · 28 hwy · $2,800/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • Eclipse
    Auto (S4), 4 cyl, 2.4 L, SOHC
    19 city · 25 hwy · $3,050/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Eclipse
    Auto (S4), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, SOHC
    18 city · 25 hwy · $3,800/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Eclipse
    Auto (S4), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, SOHC-VIS
    18 city · 25 hwy · $3,800/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Eclipse
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L, SOHC
    19 city · 25 hwy · $3,050/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Eclipse
    Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, SOHC
    18 city · 27 hwy · $3,800/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Eclipse
    Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, SOHC-VIS
    18 city · 26 hwy · $3,800/yr
    21
    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 2005 Mitsubishi Eclipse as of Oct 30, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 30, 2026Vehicle 1633
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

2005 Eclipse questions

How many recalls does the 2005 Mitsubishi Eclipse have?

4 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 2005 Mitsubishi Eclipse problems?

Owners filed 6 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are electrical system (2), latches/locks/linkages (2), exterior lighting (1). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2005 Mitsubishi Eclipse get?

The EPA rates the 2005 Mitsubishi Eclipse at 21–23 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (7 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 30, 2026