Most common 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse problems
Share of the 14 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 →
2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse recalls (4)
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.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
On certain passenger vehicles, the fuel return line hose fitting on the electric fuel pump May be improperly molded.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump. The recall began on July 26, 2004. Owners should contact Mitsubishi at 1-800-222-0037.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the fuel pump pressure. Those vehicles exhibiting higher than normal fuel pump pressure will receive fuel pump modifications. The recall began December 3, 2003.
What 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse owners say
Body & structure
Roommate driving my vehicle with myself in passenger seat. Struck a dear Monday morning at approximately 60mph. Vehicle was put into a ditch and rolled at least 1 time into a marsh on left side of the road. Vehicle received major: front, both side, rear and roof damage. Not one air bag was deployed.
On second day of ownership I heard a very loud metal cracking sound while sitting in the car preparing to drive. Car was not started or moving). Upon inspection there was no visible defect. About a week later I had an identical experience. This time I noticed a crack in the body seam located on the driver's side door. The door would no longer close properly , and I immediately scheduled a repair appointment. The dealership adjusted the door and assured me that the crack in the frame was only cosmetic. The crack was filled and painted and seems to be holding, but there is a leak in the door that leaves water on the door sill plate every time it rains or I wash the car. I am in the process of having additional repairs for that now.
Brakes
Brakes will intermittedly not respond to the brake pedal being depressed. Car has now been involved in two rear end collisions in 3 months. Repair shop cannot duplicate the problem described. Car was going 25 MPH both times in two cities when the car failed to brake.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle hesitated to stop. The failure recurred multiple times. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign id number: 15V337000 (service brakes, hydraulic); however, the part was unavailable to perform the repairs. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 63,000.
Air bags
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse. The contact stated while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle crashed into another vehicle on the driver side that LED to the vehicle rolling over three times. The air bags failed to deploy. There was one injury reported that required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available. The VIN was not provided.
Roommate driving my vehicle with myself in passenger seat. Struck a dear Monday morning at approximately 60mph. Vehicle was put into a ditch and rolled at least 1 time into a marsh on left side of the road. Vehicle received major: front, both side, rear and roof damage. Not one air bag was deployed.
2004 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 | 19 / 25 / 21 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 25 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse a good car?
Based on 14 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Eclipse rates better than average: 90% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Eclipse at the same age. It is one of the best Eclipse years by this measure. 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 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse?
The body & structure — 5 complaints, 36% of all complaints for this model year, most often about body. Next are the brakes (3) and air bags (3).
How many recalls does the 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2004 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 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 40,000 miles; 60% 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.