AI Damage2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross: common problems
Owners of the 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross filed 19 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and service brakes. The maker issued 83 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 19
- involving a crash
- 1
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 83
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 42% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 26% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 16% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 11% of all complaints
- 5 Steering 11% of all complaints
- 6 Air bags 11% of all complaints
- 7 Forward collision avoidance 11% of all complaints
- 8 Fuel/propulsion system 11% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 8 complaints (42% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 23.
- Service brakes: 5 complaints (26% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 5.
- Engine: 3 complaints (16% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (11% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 16.
- Steering: 2 complaints (11% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 5.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.5 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- CVT
Drive: FWD, 4WD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 19 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 8 | 0 | 23 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 16 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Air bags | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Lane departure | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 31 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The left rear panel was destroyed and the rear window and the vehicle was considered totaled.
The problem: You can drive fast or slow and at any given moment, the car display all alarms like the adaptive cruise control, emergency brake, engine. All the lights start to blink inside the car, there is a beep with those lights.
While parked, ASC system service required indicator light came on. Car was then disabled and unable to be started for approximately 1-2 hours. That happened twice in 2023.
Stalls out when driving Vehicle dealership has not been any help with getting issues fixed despite having purchased vehicle within past 6 months, and having engine issues since purchase. Charged for extra warranties not honored
The contact stated she was turning off the vehicle and shifted gears to park, when exiting the front driver's side, the vehicle began to roll backward and the front driver's side door knocked her down. The contact stated the emergency brakes were not applied.
When driving this vehicle, the bsw on the passenger side, does not always work.
The metal part where the door close is sticking up and hit my feet every time I get out my car. And it's not safe
After purchasing my vehicle on 10/31/18, I experienced 6 headlight changes from that point till 4/19/20. On 4/19/20, while driving I smelled an electrical burning smell.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,274 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 39% least complained about).
On average one model year of the Eclipse Cross has 6 complaints (10 years in the data). This year has 19, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This revised Technical Service Bulletin provides instructions on how to remedy noise from the HVAC system…
This revised Technical Service Bulletin provides instructions on how to remedy noise from the HVAC system (heater, air conditioner, ventilation vents) when the blower motor is turned on.
- Tech Talk is a service newsletter that was sent out to dealers
It covers various topics and reviews the previous months publications.
- This Technical Service Bulletin provides instructions to remedy a Roof Rack Center cover detaching during use
- Service Manual Revision -This Technical Service Bulletin provides correction to the description of the…
Service Manual Revision -This Technical Service Bulletin provides correction to the description of the Sunroof Assembly maintenance procedure in the applicable Service Manual sections.
- Service Manual Revision -This Technical Service Bulletin provides correction to the windshield wiper and…
Service Manual Revision -This Technical Service Bulletin provides correction to the windshield wiper and washer maintenance procedure in the applicable service manuals.
- Service Manual Revision -This Technical Service Bulletin provides correction to the torque for instrument…
Service Manual Revision -This Technical Service Bulletin provides correction to the torque for instrument panel assembly/reassembly in the applicable service manuals.
- Service Manual Revision -This Technical Service Bulletin provides additional information for roof rack…
Service Manual Revision -This Technical Service Bulletin provides additional information for roof rack removal and installation in the applicable service manuals.
- This Technical Service Bulletin instructs the dealer to update the Smartphone Link Display Audio software…
This Technical Service Bulletin instructs the dealer to update the Smartphone Link Display Audio software to resolve several issues.
- Service Manual Revision - This Technical Service Bulletin provides corrections to the description of…
Service Manual Revision - This Technical Service Bulletin provides corrections to the description of special tools used to install the oil seal within the Automatic Transaxle sections of the applicable Service Manuals.
- Service Manual Revision - This Technical Service Bulletin instructs dealers to diagnose and test drive…
Service Manual Revision - This Technical Service Bulletin instructs dealers to diagnose and test drive vehicles exhibiting a shudder or surge condition possibly caused by poor reaction of the hydraulic pressure circuit.
- Service Manual Revision - This Technical Service Bulletin provides the procedure for diagnostic trouble…
Service Manual Revision - This Technical Service Bulletin provides the procedure for diagnostic trouble code and on-vehicle service for belt & pulley assembly on certain CVT models.
- This Revised Technical Information Notice provides dealers with the requirements needed to be entered into…
This Revised Technical Information Notice provides dealers with the requirements needed to be entered into the Photo Required Condition & Pre-Approval Center (PRC) for a vehicle pulling/drifting and/or with steering…
NHTSA lists 83 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, service brakes, engine. Total complaints: 19. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (16%), stalls while driving (16%), warning lights, check engine (16%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross?
NHTSA lists 83 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2018 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.