2005 Mitsubishi Eclipse

The Verdict

Worst problem area

Electrical

Electrical leads by volume: 3 of 8 complaints (38%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Suspension, Wheels & Tires include more reported injuries (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.

Complaints filed fell from 20 in 2004 to 8 in 2005.

Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology

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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History

Fuel cost, fuel economy, and complaint history by model-yearScroll sideways to see all 5 years. Fuel figures show the range across trims for years with more than one EPA-rated configuration.Also cataloged for 2005: 6 configuration(s) of a different vehicle class, excluded from the comparison bar only (but included in the figures above).
Category20032004200520062007vs. 2005 Subcompact Cars
Annual fuel cost ($)2,600–3,9002,700–3,7002,700–3,9002,700–4,1002,700–4,300
Combined MPG20–2420–2320–2319–2318–23
City / Highway MPG18–21 / 24–2918–20 / 24–2818–20 / 24–2816–20 / 25–2816–20 / 24–28
CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi)370–444386–444386–444386–468386–494
Complaints filed15120899129Not compared
Recalls issued55444Not compared
Crash-involved complaints2080919Not compared
Fire-involved complaints71301Not compared
Injuries reported1461515Not compared
Deaths reported00001Not compared
Configurations compared87744

Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.

Common questions

How many recalls does the 2005 Mitsubishi Eclipse have?

4 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.

What is the most common complaint about the 2005 Mitsubishi Eclipse?

Electrical: 3 of 8 NHTSA complaints (38%) mention it.

What gas mileage does the 2005 Mitsubishi Eclipse get?

EPA rates it 20–23 MPG combined.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2005 Mitsubishi Eclipse?

EPA estimates $2,700–$3,900 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.

EPA-Rated Configurations (13)

Every EPA-rated configuration on this page, one row each.A number tagged (low) or (high) is this page’s own cost-table figure of that name, above.
ConfigurationTransmissionCylindersDisplacementDrivetrainFuel TypeVehicle ClassCityHighwayCombinedAnnual Fuel CostCO₂
Configuration 1Manual 5-spd42.4LFront-Wheel DriveRegularMinicompact Cars20 mpg (high)28 mpg (high)23 mpg (high)$2,700 (low)386 g/mi (low)
Configuration 2Automatic (S4)42.4LFront-Wheel DriveRegularMinicompact Cars18 mpg (low)24 mpg (low)20 mpg (low)$3,100444 g/mi (high)
Configuration 3Manual 5-spd63.0LFront-Wheel DrivePremiumMinicompact Cars18 mpg (low)26 mpg21 mpg$3,700423 g/mi
Configuration 4Manual 5-spd63.0LFront-Wheel DrivePremiumMinicompact Cars18 mpg (low)26 mpg21 mpg$3,700423 g/mi
Configuration 5Automatic (S4)63.0LFront-Wheel DrivePremiumMinicompact Cars18 mpg (low)25 mpg21 mpg$3,700423 g/mi
Configuration 6Automatic (S4)63.0LFront-Wheel DrivePremiumMinicompact Cars18 mpg (low)25 mpg20 mpg (low)$3,900 (high)444 g/mi (high)
Configuration 7Automatic 4-spd42.4LFront-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars19 mpg25 mpg21 mpg$2,950423 g/mi
Configuration 8Manual 5-spd42.4LFront-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars20 mpg (high)28 mpg (high)23 mpg (high)$2,700 (low)386 g/mi (low)
Configuration 9Automatic (S4)42.4LFront-Wheel DriveRegularSubcompact Cars19 mpg25 mpg21 mpg$2,950423 g/mi
Configuration 10Manual 5-spd63.0LFront-Wheel DrivePremiumSubcompact Cars18 mpg (low)27 mpg21 mpg$3,700423 g/mi
Configuration 11Manual 5-spd63.0LFront-Wheel DrivePremiumSubcompact Cars18 mpg (low)26 mpg21 mpg$3,700423 g/mi
Configuration 12Automatic (S4)63.0LFront-Wheel DrivePremiumSubcompact Cars18 mpg (low)25 mpg21 mpg$3,700423 g/mi
Configuration 13Automatic (S4)63.0LFront-Wheel DrivePremiumSubcompact Cars18 mpg (low)25 mpg21 mpg$3,700423 g/mi

Complaints by Category

Complaints by category, in the same fixed order on every page
CategoryComplaintsCrash-InvolvedFire-InvolvedInjuriesDeaths
Engine00000
Transmission & Drivetrain00000
Fuel System10000
Electrical30300
Brakes00000
Steering00000
Suspension, Wheels & Tires10010
Airbags & Restraints10000
Driver Assistance & Speed Control00000
Body, Seats & Latches30100
Visibility & Lighting10100
Other10000

A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.

Recalls (4)

  • AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · Campaign 15V338000 · Jun 2, 2015

    Defect: 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.

    Consequence: If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.

    Remedy: 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.

  • FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY · Campaign 08V454000 · Sep 9, 2008

    Defect: 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.

    Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

    Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT TO SEE IF THE LEFT REAR FUEL TANK STRAP MOUNTING BRACKET HAS SPLITTING BEYOND A SPECIFIC LIMIT. VEHICLES WITH MODERATE TO SEVERE SPLITTING WILL BE REPAIRED USING A REINFORCEMENT CAP, A SPECIAL STRUCTURAL ADHESIVE, AND A RIVET TO REINFORCE THE FUEL TANK MOUNTING BRACKET. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037.

  • EXTERIOR LIGHTING · Campaign 06E026000 · Mar 23, 2006

    Defect: 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.

    Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

    Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

  • EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS · Campaign 04V428000 · Sep 3, 2004

    Defect: 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.

    Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

    Remedy: 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.