Most common 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse problems
Share of the 42 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 →
2009 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 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse owners say
Brakes all 28 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH and going down hill with acceleration, the brake pedal failed to respond. As a result, the front driver side air bag failed to deploy. The contact crashed into a concrete base. The impact caused the rear of the driver seat to detach the over head light and the console fractured. The contact sustained bruises to the right side of her body head, back shoulder, hip and knees that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V337000 (service brakes, hydraulic) and stated that the part needed for the repair was not available. 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 approximate failure mileage was 46,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse. While driving approximately 2 MPH into a parking space, the brake pedal was depressed and the pedal traveled to the floor without resistance. The vehicle failed to slow down and crashed into the front end of another vehicle. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the exterior damages to the front end and bumper were repaired. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V337000 (service brakes, hydraulic); however, the part needed to perform the repair was unavailable. The manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 44,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available. Consumer stated Mitsubishi is denying any wrong doing on issue. Updated 6/6/18
Air bags
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH and going down hill with acceleration, the brake pedal failed to respond. As a result, the front driver side air bag failed to deploy. The contact crashed into a concrete base. The impact caused the rear of the driver seat to detach the over head light and the console fractured. The contact sustained bruises to the right side of her body head, back shoulder, hip and knees that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V337000 (service brakes, hydraulic) and stated that the part needed for the repair was not available. 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 approximate failure mileage was 46,000.
The lady crossed two lanes of traffic and ran a red light and hit my car on drivers side front including the door. Door won't open and airbags didn't deploy. The car was towed cause it couldn't start and wasn't drivable. Seat belts didn't lock so the people in my car hit steering, dashboard and back of the seats. My car was hit in the front in dec. 5, 2013 and same thing happened. Airbags didn't deploy and seatbelts didn't lock. From the accident before I made a complaint with Mitsubishi and they done nothing. Thanks for your time.
Body & structure
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse. The contact stated that the passenger side of the dashboard protruded out towards the front passenger seat. The contact was concerned that in the event of a crash, the front seat passenger could be injured. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the technician stated that the dashboard needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 65,000.
Dash pad in vehicle has come apart, completely blocking passenger side airbag. The dash pad is sticking up at least 3 inches in front of airbag. If airbag does deploy ever it will not properly and could cause more harm to passenger and driver. When this first happened my car was only 4 years old. There are several reports online of this happening to these vehicles. I think all affected cars should be fixed, since it is a safety issue on pretty new cars.
2009 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 | 6-speed manual | FWD | 16 / 25 / 19 |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 24 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse a good car?
Based on 42 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 Eclipse rates better than average: 62% 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 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse?
The brakes — 28 complaints, 67% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the air bags (8) and body & structure (6).
How many recalls does the 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse have?
There is 1 recall for the 2009 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 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 67,000 miles; 32% 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.