Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 99 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse, and it carries 4 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 50 | 51% |
| Service brakes | 12 | 12% |
| Power train | 5 | 5% |
| Structure | 4 | 4% |
| Air bags | 4 | 4% |
| Tires | 4 | 4% |
| Air bags | 3 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 2% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 2% |
| Steering | 1 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
We recently went to the dealership to have a recalled brake booster fixed and the brake booster is failing again.
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
Vehicle went in for repair in March of 2025 for an open recall for the brakes. 3 months later the vehicle is experiencing brake issues related to a brake booster/master cylinder that was also recalled. Replacement is nee
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
My in insurance has a recall page and when I went on there. My car was on there for ABS. My ABS light been on since I got the car 6 months ago
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
There was a previous recall on the anti braking system. Prior to the recall I had noticed that the ABS light was always coming on & I also noticed the brakes were at times seemed to be grabbing metal & not working . I to
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
As with the early 2000's recall the paint (Clear coat) on Kalapana Black (Code X13) has started to peel off and Mitsubishi refused to address the issue. My vehicle has less than 75k miles and has been garaged most of its
NHTSA complaint: Structure
THE TOP COAT, CLEAR COAT, OF PAINT HAS BEGUN TO SEPARATE FROM THE BLACK PAINT. THIS IS HAPPENING VERY RAPIDLY AND CONTINUES TO SPREAD OVER THE TOP OF THE CAR. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS IN LATE 90'S EARLY 2000'S FOR THE
NHTSA complaint: Structure
POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE FELL AND RUBBED ON THE SERPENTINE SPELL UNTIL IT ATE A HOLE IN I. I AND THE TRACTION CONTROL IS ENGUAGEING AND DISENGAGEING ON ITS OWN ANS MY AIRBAG LIGHTS ARE FLASHING UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint: Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE EXITED THE ROADWAY, RAN INTO A SWAMP AND CRASHED INT
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN FITTED WITH A DEFECTIVE BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY.
Risk: THE BOOSTER BODY COULD SEPARATE DUE TO IMPROPER CRIMP JOINTS, RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKE SYSTEM PERFORMANCE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPAIR THE BRAKE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED BY TELEPHONE ON MAY 24, 2005, TO STOP DRIVING THEIR VEHICLES AND ARRANGEMENTS WERE MADE FOR A LOANER VE
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, ONE OF FOUR SEALS INSIDE THE MASTER CYLINDER MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IMPROPERLY. AS A RESULT, THE MASTER CYLINDER MAY UNEXPECTEDLY BY-PASS HYDRAULIC BRAKING FORCE PRESSURE AND ALLOW A LONGER THAN NORMAL PEDAL STROKE.
Risk: SHOULD THIS CONDITION OCCUR, THE BRAKING DISTANCE REQUIRED TO STOP THE VEHICLE MAY INCREASE AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN JUNE 28, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-888-648-7820.
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. Due to corrosion inside the antil-lock brake system
Risk: A sudden reduction of braking performance may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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
MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING 45,988 MY 2005-2007 ENDEAVOR, GALANT, ECLIPSE COUPE, AND MY 2007 ECLIPSE SPYDER VEHICLES. THE BRACKET THAT IS THE ATTACHMENT POINT FOR THE LEFT REAR FUEL TANK MOUNTING STRAP MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY FORMED DURING A METAL STAMPING PROCESS. THE PROCESS MAY HAVE CAUSED THE MET
Risk: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT TO SEE IF THE LEFT REAR FUEL TANK STRAP MOUNTING BRACKET HAS SPLITTING BEYOND A SPECIFIC LIMIT. VEHICLES WITH MODERATE TO SEVERE SPLITTING WILL BE REPAIRED USING A REINFORCEMENT
| Reliability raw | 86 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 81 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 55 | average |
| Performance | 49 | below average |
| Efficiency | 43 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 99 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 50 of them (51%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 86/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2006 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 71/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.