Most common 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse problems
Share of the 71 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 →
2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse recalls (1)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Eclipse vehicles manufactured April 20, 2005, to February 13, 2009, and 2007-2009 Eclipse Spyder vehicles manufactured December 23, 2005, to February 13, 2009.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, flush and clean the ABS hydraulic unit using high grade brake fluid, free of charge. If the inspection shows that the valves may seize, the ABS unit will be replaced.
What 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse owners say
Brakes all 58 →
The contact owns a 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 15 MPH and descending an incline on the road, the contact depressed the brake pedal, and the brake pedal went to the floorboard. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact used the parking brake to slow down the vehicle. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer because the closest dealer was 2 hours away, and the brakes had failed. The contact was aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V337000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact had called the manufacturer and was advised to find a local independent mechanic, and the manufacturer would ship the parts needed to complete the recall repair. The manufacturer had not included a key computer tool to set the ABS system correctly. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed about the lack of support. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse. While driving approximately 55 MPH, the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard when depressed and the vehicle continued to accelerate. The vehicle spun out of control and the transmission shifted independently into the reverse position, which caused the vehicle to crash into a tree. The contact sustained injuries to the head, right arm, and fingers. The contact also suffered from a large hematoma on the right hip. The front passenger sustained head injuries. Medical attention was required for the injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a salvage facility. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact mentioned that the failure was related to the recall associated with NHTSA campaign number: 15V337000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
Air bags
The contact owns a 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, for unknown reasons, he veered off the road, traveled over a hill, and crashed into a dirt pile. The steering wheel air bag failed to deploy. The contact had previously unplugged, the passenger seat air bag. The air bag and check engine warning lights were illuminated. After the crash, the curtain and driver's seat air bag were deployed. The contact noticed the passenger's side rear tire was low and had a slash in the side wall. The contact sustained whiplash and pain, and medical attention was provided. The vehicle was towed to his residence. There was no reported fire or police report. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse. While driving 70 MPH, the contact struck an animal and lost control of the vehicle. The contact struck a guardrail and the vehicle flipped over several times before landing in an embankment. The contact stated that the curtain air bags deployed on the driver side. All the other air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained a contusion and sprained wrist, which required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was awaiting appraisal from the contact's insurance adjuster. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.
Electrical system
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse. While driving approximately 70 MPH, there were white fumes emitting from the hood of the vehicle as an unknown warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was overheated. The failure recurred on one occasion. The vehicle was taken a dealer where it was diagnosed that the unit breaker and the water pump needed to be replaced and the head gasket needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse. The contact stated that a bump was encountered while driving at 5 MPH, and the brakes hesitated to respond. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V337000 (service brakes, hydraulic) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 79,000. The VIN was not available.
2008 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 / 26 / 22 |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 16 / 25 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse a good car?
Based on 71 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Eclipse rates better than average: 41% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Eclipse at the same age. 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 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse?
The brakes — 58 complaints, 82% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the air bags (6) and electrical system (3).
How many recalls does the 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse have?
There is 1 recall for the 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse, the most recent from June 2, 2015 (control unit/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 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 72,000 miles; 23% 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.