Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Structure5
- Air bags3
- Service brakes2
- Steering2
- Fuel/propulsion system2
- Unknown or other1
- Service brakes, air1
- Electrical system1
- Engine1
- Wheels1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 4 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 3 2004 Eclipse vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 1 person died inside them. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse failed the safety check 1.69% of the time — 23% less often than the average 2004 passenger car (2.21%). Median odometer at inspection: 105,526 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
1 cars built in 2004 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 1 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 5 variants: combined 10.1–11.4 L/100 km (about 21–23 mpg US), CO₂ 232–262 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eclipse · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 11.6 | 8.3 | 10.1 |
| Eclipse · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 12.7 | 9.4 | 11.2 |
| Eclipse · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 12.7 | 9.4 | 11.2 |
| Eclipse · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 13.1 | 8.8 | 11.2 |
| Eclipse · Subcompact · Premium gasoline | 13.2 | 9.3 | 11.4 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse.
| 2015220 22 May 2015 | Airbag On certain vehicles, in the event of a collision that warrants a deployment of the front passenger airbag, the deploying airbag could strike the passenger sun … |
| 2003277 10 Nov 2003 | Fuel System On certain vehicles, the fuel return line hose fitting on the electric fuel pump may be restricted, causing excessive fuel pressure to build up in the fuel inje… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL RETURN LINE HOSE FITTING ON THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP MAY BE IMPROPERLY MOLDED.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL RETURN LINE HOSE FITTING ON THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP MAY BE RESTRICTED, CAUSING EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE TO BUILD UP IN THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE MAY RESULT IN A LEAK IN THE FUEL RETURN HOSE.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mitsubishi told its dealers about the 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10240443 | This is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has launched the 3rd quarterly technician quiz for 2023. |
| 10235609 | This Technical Service Bulletin provides instructions and material safety data sheets for removal of rap-film adhesive residue. |
| 10235608 | This Technical Service Bulletin reviews the regulations that require a label showing the reduction in load carrying capacity be affixed to vehicles when the total net weight of accessories is more than 1.5 percent of the vehicle's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or 100 lbs. |
| 10235606 | This is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has launched the 2nd quarterly technician quiz for 2023. |
| 10211530 | This Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers to explain the difference between normal dew condensation, which is a natural phenomenon, and water penetration caused by improper sealing or a defective/broken part. |
| 10170852 | This Technical Service Bulletin updates the door adjustment procedure in the Body Section of the applicable service manuals. |
| 10170102 | This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers. |
| 10170100 | This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers. |
| 10170099 | This is an index of Tech Talk newsletter articles released in 2012. |
| 10170097 | This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers. |
| 10170096 | This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers. |
| 10170087 | This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers. |
| 10170086 | This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers. |
| 10170074 | This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers. |
| 10170071 | This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers. |
| 10170070 | This TSB contains troubleshooting steps for diagnosis of various customer complaints relating to the audio system speakers in Mitsubishi vehicles equipped with original equipment audio components. |
| 10169006 | This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers. |
| 10163703 | This is a Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers. This bulletin supersedes TSB-18-00-003, issued April, 2018, to add updated information for Carrying Capacity Reduced Label. |
| 10130469 | This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers. |
| 10130468 | This is a message sent to dealers, to inform them that an update for MEDIC will be available. |
| 10046519 | MITSUBISHI: ON SOME VEHICLES, AN ACTIVE STABILITY CONTROL (ASC) STEERING WHEEL SENSOR HAS BEEN INSTALLED, REPLACING ORIGINAL SENSOR. NEW SENSOR NOT TO BE ROTATED BEFORE INSTALLATION. MODELS 2007-12 OUTLANDER, 2008-11 LANCER EVOLUTION, 2010-12 LANCER/LANCER SPORTBACK & GALANT, 2008-12 ECLIPSE/ECLIPSE SPYDER, 2004-11 ENDEAVOR. *PE |
| 10021743 | REPROGRAMMING THE PCM DRIVABILITY OR SENSITIVITY ISSUES CAN BE CORRECTED. *KB |
| 10019047 | CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM CHECKS - SERVICE MANUAL REVISION. *TT |
| 10018368 | DOOR GLASS ALIGNMENT. MITSUBISHI. TECH TALK. *TT |
| 10017676 | CLUTCH RELEASE BEARING INSTALLATION. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)