KnownCarProblemsHome › Mitsubishi › Eclipse › 2001
2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 209 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse, most often about the wheels and tires (37% of complaints, typically around 20,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Eclipse model year since 2000 and has 7 recalls.
Most common 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse problems
Wheels and tires
77 complaints · 37%Half of these problems showed up before 20,000 miles. Parts named most often: rim, tread/belt, sidewall, pressure monitoring and regulating systems.
I have 17 inch alluminum wheels on a 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse gt. Under normal driving rims bend and tires loose air resulting in weaken tires and bloww out under norma driving conditions. Not safe. Must check tire pressure daily. Metal used is soft and allows space between ties and rims. Tires fail. One tire blew on…
While accelerating on an on ramp to get onto interstate 84 in connecticut, I hit a small pothole in the road and it majorly bent the wheel and caused the tire to come off of the wheel. This happened in the night and on a stretch of the highway that had no shoulder. I had to drive approximately a mile on this blown out…
Air bags
22 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 28,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
My sons 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse hydroplaned on a standing puddle of water on US 50. He lost control of the car and hit the guard rail twice on the front and rear of the car. The insurance company totaled the car because of the excessive damage to front and back. My concern and complaint is that the air bags did not…
Sitting as stop light, turned green, started into intersection slowly and then dump truck with bad brakes went through red light and hit left fron side of car and spun around.
Body and structure
21 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 46,500 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
Dashboard becomes brittle, and cracks result--causing airbag on passenger side to be misaligned--this is on a 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse rs, 2.4l-----the company refuses to fix it, I would like a new dashboard.
I have a 2001 black Eclipse gt...bought brand new in jan. 01. At 43,000 miles all top surface areas were showing signs of paint pulling from the primer...at 53,000 miles the roof was down to the metal...took me months to get mits. To handle. They only would paint the affected surfaces? Then 20,000 the rest of the…
Electrical
19 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 63,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, ignition, alternator/generator/regulator.
Failure of headlight harnesses on a 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse. Both headlamps out on 9/12/06 after first finding was fixed. Lights would not come on until left side harness was wiggled.
Engine 20 amp fuse pops after driving car for a period of time then cutting off and restarted. If car is driven continuously does not blow fuse. Only after stopping and not letting engine cool down does it blow fuses.
Transmission
19 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 71,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission, axle assembly, clutch assembly.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse. While driving at an unknown speed, the contact was unable to shift the vehicle. The vehicle went into the neutral position. She had the vehicle towed to her residence. The dealer stated that the automatic transmission needed to be replaced. The replacement was made…
I have a 2001 Eclipse gt (v6) and I have had to change the transmission twice already. I live in minot nd were it snows. The first time my transmission jacked on me I was stopped at a light. Their was snow on the ground so when the light changed to green my tires slid a like and the grab the payment as that happened I…
Lights
19 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 53,000 miles. Parts named most often: headlights, brake lights, fog lights.
Headlights went out. Bought new bulbs to replace. Both plugs to the headlight bulbs had melted. Told by dealer it was not covered by warranty and was not an electrical problem.
Failure of headlight harnesses on a 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse. Both headlamps out on 9/12/06 after first finding was fixed. Lights would not come on until left side harness was wiggled.
Engine
16 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 47,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system, exhaust system.
Dt: the contact stated while driving at night the headlights malfunctioned. The vehicle was taken to a certified dealership. Upon inspection the dealer determined that the wiring harness to the head lights melted. Also, the oil light was coming on intermittently. The oil valve was replaced. These repairs were made at…
Loss of engine power or dies that locks the steering wheel after 10 to 20 minutes you could revive the engine again usually happen every day . Went to the dealer with service bulletin that might affect on it but they say no problem on it and they void the service bulletin or try to.
Visibility and wipers
14 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: sun/moon roof assembly, defroster/defogger/hvac system, windshield, power window devices and controls.
This is a Mitsubishi Eclipse 2001. This car has had several problems for the first 2 years. #1. Clutch fluid completly leaked out. Clutch slave cylinder was replaced. #2. Master brake cyliinder was leaking and replaced. #3. Pcm chip replaced. #4. Window mouldings for front and back winshields have come off.
The rear defroster fell off into the vehicle. Took vehicle to dealer, and rear window exploded, sending glass into the passenger compartment.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2001 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.
Fuel system: tank assembly
Risk: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Fix: 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 free remedy within a reasonable time should contact mitsubishi at 1-800-222-0037.
Full defect summary
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 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.
Seats
Risk: The rear anchor bolts securing the driver's seat may not properly secure the seat and could increase the risk of driver injury in an accident.
Fix: 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 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. A number of incorrect driver side seat mounting bolts were installed into vehicles.
Fuel system: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk: This hose is considered to be inadequate.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel return hose.
Full defect summary
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.
Engine
Risk: Prolonged wiring harness contact with the heat shield will cause the wiring insulation to wear and eventually to ground out. This could cause the engine to die-out, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will re-route the crankshaft position sensor harness.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The harness for the crankshaft position sensor could come in contact with a new protective shield causing a grounded circuit.
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
Front shoulder belt webbing guide
Summary
Alleged that the anchor bolt for the front shoulder belt fuide is loose or mis-installed
Questions about the 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse
- What are the most common problems with the 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: wheels and tires (77 complaints, typically around 20,000 miles); air bags (22 complaints, typically around 28,000 miles); body and structure (21 complaints, typically around 46,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2001 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 2001 a bad year for the Mitsubishi Eclipse?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Eclipse model year since 2000, with 209 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.