Most common 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse problems
Share of the 308 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mitsubishi Eclipse complaints by model year
Best Eclipse years: 2005, 2012, 2004. Years to avoid: 2000, 2001, 1997, 1995, 1996. Compare all years →
2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse recalls (7)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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…
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.
Equipment › Other › Labels
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.
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.
Steering › Hydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections
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.
Remedy: 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…
Power train › Automatic transmission › Cooling unit and lines
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.
Remedy: 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.
Steering › Gear box (other than rack and pinion)
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect these vehicles and replace the steering gear assembly if a loose nut connection is found.
Electrical system › 12V/24V/48V battery › Cables
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.
Remedy: Dealers will remove and discard a metal manifold bracket (from galant models only - eclipse has no such bracket). Dealers will also inspect the harness.
Show 1 more recall
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Switch/wiring
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The column switch levers can become loose or break over time.
Remedy: Dealers will install a redesigned switch.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse:
Headlights failure
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.
Alloy wheel denting and fracturing
Aluminum alloy wheel denting
See attached report.
What 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse owners say
Wheels & tires all 134 →
Year 2000 - Mitsubishi Eclipse gt with 17" wheel option - factory equipped 17" wheel/tire option. Dents repeatedly when contact is made with a moderate or larger size road defect. Dented wheels leak air and cause considerable vibration at highway speeds due to out of balance situation dents cause. A wheel suddenly lost all pressure and the tire became unseated from the rim. Fortunately I was able to maintain control of the car because the incident happened at a relatively low speed. The rim struck the ground directly and was damaged where tire contacts wheel. I have seen a number of cars identical to mine and all of them have had at least one dented wheel (17" wheel option). All dents occur where the wheel meets the rim on the outer facing side of the rim. The inner rim does not bend, leading me to believe there is a design flaw. Rims dent at recommended tire pressures. …
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 just bought after market rims. The second complaint, is I have had visible corrosion on the battery cables on my car for years and asked the dealer if there was a reason so much is gathering, they advised no. Well, I have replaced the battery and still am having the same problems such as: air conditioner goes out with the light blinking, car does not start, or while driving it will stall as well as run very sluggish. I have asked repeatedly if there is a problem and they stated not for my car, due to the date made. …
Body & structure all 41 →
1) a common issue according to the forums and facebook groups, the strut towers rust through which presents a safety issue when considering that the suspension is connected to the steering which could put an individual or others on the road at risk 2) yet another common issue, the dash and associated bezels crack over time. There has been no solution or alternative to complete replacement from anyone, including (I'm sure) Mitsubishi.
The car makes a sound in the rear when I make a turn.the turning radius is very bad.I wouldn't do a u turn with it.the other issue is that the A/C stopped working on a very hot day.when I turned on the A/C the car turned off this almost caused a accident due to the sudden stop.the dashboard is all cracked.other than that the car seems good.everything else about the car I do like.the paint is peeling off and there seems to be some rust.
Lights all 25 →
The contact owns a 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle, the turn signal and headlights failed. The contact stated that the high beam failed to operate correctly whether the vehicle was turned or not. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 99V305001 (Exterior Lighting, Visibility). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.
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 the car.
2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 20 / 28 / 23 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 25 / 21 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 25 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse a good car?
Based on 308 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2000 Eclipse rates avoid: 3.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Eclipse at the same age. It is one of the Eclipse years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse?
The wheels & tires — 134 complaints, 44% of all complaints for this model year, most often about rim. Next are the body & structure (41) and lights (25).
How many recalls does the 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse have?
There are 7 recalls for the 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse, the most recent from June 2, 2015 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mitsubishi Eclipse?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2005, 2012 and 2004. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2000, 2001, 1997, 1995 and 1996. See the full Mitsubishi Eclipse years comparison.
At what mileage do 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 70,000 miles; 30% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.