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2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 308 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse, most often about the wheels and tires (44% of complaints, typically around 41,500 miles). It is the most complained-about Eclipse model year since 2000 and has 7 recalls.
Most common 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse problems
Wheels and tires
134 complaints · 44%Half of these problems showed up before 41,500 miles. Parts named most often: rim, tread/belt, sidewall, multi piece.
Consumer stated that all four rims were bent, and front two tires leaked. The dealer in consumer's area closed down, and there was no contact with the manufacturer.
When driving over a little bump in the road the front passenger rim bent. As a result, the tire was punctured. Please provide additional information.
Body and structure
41 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
I have a 2000 Eclipse gt and the dash is cracked in it. It is made of a cheap plastic that cracks very very easily. I have complained to Mitsubishi numerous times and they have done nothing to help me. I know that there are thousands of eclipses that also are having this problem. Someone can go to numerous Eclipse…
I have a 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse gt. The dash started cracking about a year and a half ago. Almost every part of the dash is cracked now. I got a quote from a Mitsubishi dealer and the cost to replace the dash was $600+. I also checked a salvage yard with no luck at finding a replacement. I am worried that the…
Lights
25 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 81,000 miles. Parts named most often: headlights, turn signal, fog lights.
The headlights turn on at random times. My auto repair center says it is a known issue, but the recall covers vehicles made up to the month before mine was made. I have the same problem as described in nhsta campaign # 99v305001
Both the right and left headlamp on my wife's 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse stopped working (both high and low beams) at the exact same time. Upon investigating, we found that all fuses were ok, but the headlamp wiring harnesses had melted. This is the same problem that has been reported in case numbers 10145878, 10111932…
Electrical
21 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 99,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, 12v/24v/48v battery, ignition, starter assembly.
Recall notice 99v305001 the turn signals wont cancel and wont stay on and the headlights stay on. I contacted the dealer and Mitsubishi customer service [phone] and both say my car is not part of the recall. The turn signals don't work when the car is in motion and the headlights stay on when I parked and turned off…
I have 2 complaints. My wheels were also dented and fractured upon inspection and had visible wear to my tires. Two different garages had stated to go to the dealer and check on it. They of course said there was no problem and just to buy new rims at $385.00 each or tires. Of course, after buying tires a few times, I…
Visibility and wipers
21 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 69,500 miles. Parts named most often: windshield, sun/moon roof assembly, windshield wiper/washer, power window devices and controls.
Washer fluid hose failed (broke) at hood attachment point, making windshield washers inoperative. Unable to clean window during inclement winter weather conditions (salt, sand), causing reduced visibility until can be manually cleaned after stopping. Possible cause incorrect/poor routing of hose in and through body…
Both windows developed cracks on the sides without the windows being hit or t being involved in an accident. Vehicle was taken to a dealership, who indicated that there wa s a technical bulletin on this issue.
Transmission
17 complaints · 6%Parts named most often: automatic transmission, clutch assembly, manual transmission, driveline.
I have a 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse that has 34000 miles on it, and about a month after I bought it the 2nd gear in the transmisswion kept grinding when shifting and I found out that a lot of other owners are having the same problem so I was wondering if there is a possibility of a recall for the parts involved.
When depressing the clutch while in motion the gear would not shift properly or not at all into first/second or third gear. This almost caused a vehicle crash. They informed consumer that the vehicle was not covered under a recall. The clutch problem was a daily intermittent problem. The A/C had gone out as well.
Other or unspecified
13 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 97,000 miles.
Cracked dash due to sun rays. This deficiency could result in injury during an accident. New parts are hard to find and expensive; used parts are defective as well.
My 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse continues to be an unsafe vehicle. Incidences that I assumed were part of regular wear and tear are actually related to multiple recalls. When I shared this information with Mitsubishi, they decided it was not their fault, without even looking at my car. I provided numerous materials to…
Engine
12 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 58,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system, exhaust system.
I had no problem out of car leading up to the point at hand. I started the car and turned on the heat. The car ran for about 30 to 35 minutes. Ar was warm inside, I had to turn the heat off. I left my friends house headed up north i81. My car had no signs of problems. The car shot flames out either side of the car and…
My car has been making a strange sound, so I took it in to the dealership yesterday. They discovered that I was out of oil- though there have been no obvious oil leaks, and the oil light has never come on. Due to this, extensive damage was found through out the engine. I was told that the oil lights don't always work.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
Fix: 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. Owners may contact mmna customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mmna's number for this recall is sr-15-005. Chrysler and dodge owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is r30.
Full defect summary
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.
Equipment: labels
Risk: This does not meet the requirements of the standard.
Fix: Mitsubishi caribbean will mail a customer notification letter containing a written description and a graphic of the bi-lingual dashboard air bag warning label. In addition, all current 2000-2004 nativa owners will also receive replacement air bag alert labels for the sun visors. This recall is expected to begin during march or april 2005. The notification to the nativa owners is expected to begin during april or may 2005. Owners should contact mitsubishi caribbean at 1-787-251-8715.
Full defect summary
Certain passenger vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 208, 'occupant crash protection.' the bilingual english/spanish removable air bag warning labels affixed to the dash and to the sunvisor do not meet the size requirements of the standard.
Steering: hose, piping, and connections
Risk: Leaking power steering fluid can result in a fire and continued loss of fluid will result in a loss of power assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the power steering tube with one having a new routing. Owner notification began november 26, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact mitsubishi america at 1-800-222-0037.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles built with v6 engines to federal emission standards. The power steering fluid feed tube can come in contact with an exhaust manifold mounted heat shield causing a hole to be worn through the power steering pipe allowing fluid leakage.
Transmission: cooling unit and lines
Risk: Fluid leakage from the cooler hoses can cause transaxle driveability problems and smoke if the oil contacts the front exhaust pipe.
Fix: 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. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact mitsubishi at 1-800-222-0037.
Full defect summary
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.
Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)
Risk: A loss of steering control could increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect these vehicles and replace the steering gear assembly if a loose nut connection is found.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A nut in the steering gear assembly was not properly tightened, resulting in symptoms ranging from steering wheel vibration to stiff steering, and in the worst case, no ability to turn left.
Electrical: cables
Risk: This circuit failure could cause any of the following to occur: (1) the engine will not start because the main fuse will blow if the power lead is grounded; (2) the low oil pressure warning lamp will illuminate if the signal wire is grounded; (3) the airconditioning system will become inoperative if the lead to the magnetic clutch is grounded; and (4) the turn signal/hazard lamps will become inoperative if the voltage monitor lead is grounded.
Fix: Dealers will remove and discard a metal manifold bracket (from galant models only - eclipse has no such bracket). Dealers will also inspect the harness. If the harness wires show no damage, the dealer will install a heat insulator along with heat resistant harness clips. If the harness wires do show damage, the dealers will install a new harness with preinstalled integral heat protection.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with v6 engines and federal emission equipment. The battery cable harness can become heat damaged by the front exhaust manifold which could cause grounded circuits.
Visibility and wipers: switch/wiring
Risk: Loosening or cracking of the levers can cause directional lamps that do not self-cancel or operate, head lamps that do not turn off, windshield washers that operate continuously and/or windshield wipers that do not operate.
Fix: Dealers will install a redesigned switch.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The column switch levers can become loose or break over time.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Headlights failure
Summary
Improper installation of the original equipment headlight connector can cause increased terminal resistance and overheat the headlight connector.this problem can affect independently either headlight but does not cause simultaneous failure of both headlights. The problem also does not affect front parking lamps.as a result, the complaints typical report single failure of one headlight.there are no crashes or loss of vehicle control reported.a safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.the agency
Aluminum alloy wheel denting
Summary
See attached report.
Alloy wheel denting and fracturing
Questions about the 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse
- What are the most common problems with the 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: wheels and tires (134 complaints, typically around 41,500 miles); body and structure (41 complaints, typically around 60,000 miles); lights (25 complaints, typically around 81,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse have?
- 7 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 2, 2015 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2000 a bad year for the Mitsubishi Eclipse?
- It is the most complained-about Eclipse model year since 2000, with 308 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.