Airbag complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 4 | 50% | 86,000 miles |
| 2009 | 8 | 19% | 79,000 miles |
| 2008 | 6 | 8% | 118,000 miles |
| 2007 | 9 | 8% | 120,000 miles |
| 2006 | 11 | 11% | 113,000 miles |
| 2004 | 3 | 21% | 83,000 miles |
| 2003 | 10 | 8% | 65,000 miles |
| 2002 | 2 | 3% | 64,000 miles |
| 2001 | 22 | 11% | 28,000 miles |
| 2000 | 11 | 4% | 148,000 miles |
| 1999 | 3 | 3% | — |
| 1998 | 18 | 14% | 109,000 miles |
| 1997 | 14 | 10% | — |
| 1996 | 17 | 11% | — |
| 1995 | 32 | 10% | 125,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
9/16/15 took vehicle to riverside Mitsubishi due to the airbag popping out on the passenger side. Airbag was replaced and issued resolved. On 1/25/16 had to return the vehicle to riverside Mitsubishi due to a bad rattle on the passenger side dash area, the airbag was removed and the screws and bolts were re-torqued and reinstalled the airbag. On 4/22/19 took vehicle to auto gallery Mitsubishi -murrieta due to the airbag and airbag hatch had again popped out again. The technician at Mitsubishi-murrieta said they do not have a technician that can adequately diagnose and fix the problem and the airbag manufacturer was no longer in business. We also contact Mitsubishi corporate office and was told the Mitsubishi does not manufacture the hatch or dash parts any longer. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse. The contact stated that the driver and passenger air bags were visibly exposed from the air bag compartment. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 109,000.
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.
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.
My car was stolen last year by someone I knew, and was wrecked. After the wreck, myself and pennsylvania state police spoke to the person and he said the accident was caused because the brakes failed to engage as he was making a turn and the right lower control arm failed, which caused the tie rod to snap which punctured through the wheel and out the tire. Damage done to the vehicle confirms this, and I have pictures and documentation to support this claim. Car was left on the side of the road with entire front right suspension detached, cv shaft ripped out from the manual transmission, entire front right wheel hub assembly was ripped off, caliper, brake pads and rotor remained attached to the hub, but were disconnected from the vehicle. The wheel also remained intact on the hub. There was significant front end damage to the bumper, fender, inner wheel hub splash guards, headlight, etc. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse. While driving approximately 50 MPH and exiting the expressway, the vehicle struck a bump in the road. The contact depressed the brake pedal as the rear end of the vehicle began to sway back and forth without warning. The contact lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle spun around several times and crashed into a guardrail, causing damage to the front and rear of the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a salvage yard. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
Related recalls (1)
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which Mitsubishi Eclipse years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1995 (32), 2001 (22), 1998 (18), 1996 (17) and 1997 (14) model years. Airbag complaints make up 10% of all complaints for the 1995.
Is there a recall for Mitsubishi Eclipse airbag problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 15V-338 (inflator module, Jun 2, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Mitsubishi Eclipse airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 94,000 miles; 35% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (92 mentions), followed by the side/window (4).
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.