2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse: common problems

Owners of the 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse filed 71 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and air bags. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 71
involving a crash: 9

What fails most often

1 Service brakes 82% of all complaints
2 Air bags 8% of all complaints
3 Electrical system 4% of all complaints
4 Engine 3% of all complaints
5 Latches, locks, linkages 3% of all complaints
6 Powertrain 3% of all complaints
7 Vehicle speed control 3% of all complaints
8 Seat belts 1% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Service brakes: 58 complaints (82% of all), 7 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Air bags: 6 complaints (8% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Electrical system: 3 complaints (4% of all).
Engine: 2 complaints (3% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Latches, locks, linkages: 2 complaints (3% of all).

Engines and transmissions

US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.

2.4 L · petrol · 4 cyl
3.8 L · petrol · 6 cyl
automatic, 4-speed
automatic, 5-speed
manual, 5-speed
manual, 6-speed

Drive: FWD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 71 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

brake failure13 · 18%
warning lights, check engine5 · 7%
airbags did not deploy4 · 6%
knocking, grinding or other noise2 · 3%
rust, corrosion2 · 3%
airbag warning light1 · 1%
hesitation when accelerating1 · 1%
overheating, coolant loss1 · 1%
rollaway, parking brake1 · 1%
infotainment or screen glitches1 · 1%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Service brakes	58	7
Air bags	6	2
Electrical system	3	0
Engine	2	1
Latches, locks, linkages	2	0
Powertrain	2	1
Vehicle speed control	2	0
Seat belts	1	0
Structure	1	0
Suspension	1	1
Visibility	1	0
Other	4	1

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

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.
Air bags · crash · 2024-05-28 · NHTSA complaint #11590989
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.
Air bags · crash · 2016-09-07 · NHTSA complaint #10904493
While driving at various speeds and attempting to depress the brake pedal, the brakes failed and the contact's vehicle rear ended another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was not filed and no injuries were sustained. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic.
Service brakes · crash · 2016-04-11 · NHTSA complaint #10854875
While the vehicle was approaching a stop, the anti-brake system warning light illuminated and the brakes failed to respond. The contact's vehicle rear ended another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed and no injuries were sustained.
Service brakes · crash · 2015-11-30 · NHTSA complaint #10807478
The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the brakes failed. As a result, the contact was involved in a head on collision. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 90,000. Vin tool confirms parts not available.
Service brakes · crash · 2015-10-28 · NHTSA complaint #10786823
The contact had her husband inspect the vehicle and while he attempted to start the vehicle with his foot depressed on the brake pedal, the vehicle accelerated forward. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN.
Powertrain · 2021-07-26 · NHTSA complaint #11426532
This car is a 2008 and I don't know if it is a factory error but is already asking for the catalyze converter to be changed and it only has 83,000 miles. I know because it didn't pass the emissions test. They asked me to fix code p0421.
Engine · 2017-03-18 · NHTSA complaint #10966701
2008 mitsubishi eclipse. Consumer writes in regards to issue with latch hook.
Latches, locks, linkages · 2017-03-13 · NHTSA complaint #10965569

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

20102
20111
20121
20133
20147
201528
201619
20173
20181
20191
20212
20241
20251
20261

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 4,390 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 12% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Eclipse has 79 complaints (27 years in the data). This year has 71, about average.

What to check before buying

Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, air bags, electrical system. Total complaints: 71. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: brake failure (18%), warning lights, check engine (7%), airbags did not deploy (6%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse?

NHTSA lists 0 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 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse 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 2008 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 2026-11-05.