Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 71 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse, and it carries 1 recall. 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 | 46 | 65% |
| Service brakes | 7 | 10% |
| Air bags | 2 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 3% |
| Air bags | 1 | 1% |
| Power train | 1 | 1% |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 1% |
| Suspension | 1 | 1% |
| Engine | 1 | 1% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Wiring harness for air bag system that is under driver seat severed by normal seat movement
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
The contact owns a 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 15 MPH and descending an incline on the road, the contact depressed the brake pedal, and the brake pedal went to the floo
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
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 fai
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
The contact owns a 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse. The contact stated that while stopped at an intersection with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle accelerated forward inadvertently. The contact had her husband inspect the
NHTSA complaint: Power train
I was driving on I-15 north bound about 06:30pm near the city of Escondido Ca. weather temperature 78°F Incident: Sunroof spontaneously exploded shattering glass. Sunshade visor was closed between vehicles passenger com
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE ECLIPSE, SHE TURNED ONTO A SIDE STREET AND THE CAR SPUN OUT OF CONTROL CAUSING HER TO HIT A PARKED CAR. THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE IS SIDEWAYS, I HAVE PICTURES OF THE CAR AFTER THE ACCIDENT. MY I
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V337000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) IN JULY OF 2015. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GOLDSTEIN MITSUBISHI (613 NE
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
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
NHTSA complaint: Engine
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2008 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.
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
| Reliability raw | 79 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 76 | 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 71 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 46 of them (65%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 79/100 (good) 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 76/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2008 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 69/100. 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.