BestCarRank
Mitsubishi

2012 Mitsubishi ECLIPSE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Mitsubishi ECLIPSE has 11 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.0x the segment average of 11. The most common issue is air bags problems (36% of all complaints), specifically: i was heading home at approximately 45 mph when a deer jumped in front on my car. my car had frontal impact and the air bags did not deploy. if i was going the actual speed limit which is 55 mph, the deer could have went through my windshield and where the air bags didn't go off my husband and i cou.

1 crash report

11

Total Complaints

0

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 6)

AIR BAGS

4 complaints
36%
  • • I WAS HEADING HOME AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN A DEER JUMPED IN FRONT ON MY CAR. MY CAR HAD FRONTAL IMPACT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IF I WAS GOING THE ACTUAL SPEED LIMIT WHICH IS 55 MPH, THE DEER COULD HAVE WENT THROUGH MY WINDSHIELD AND WHERE THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T GO OFF MY HUSBAND AND I COU
  • • DASHBOARD SEPARATION EXPOSING PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG
  • • 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 BO
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“I WAS HEADING HOME AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN A DEER JUMPED IN FRONT ON MY CAR. MY CAR HAD FRONTAL IMPACT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IF I WAS GOING THE ACTUAL SPEED LIMIT WHICH IS 55 MPH, THE DEER COULD HAVE WENT THROUGH MY WINDSHIELD AND WHERE THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T GO OFF MY HUSBAND AND I COU”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2012 Mitsubishi ECLIPSE

Live EIA prices
Per year
$2,182
Per month
$182
Per mile
18.2¢
MPG
22
City driving (worst-case MPG)
$2,824/yr
Highway driving (best-case MPG)
$1,715/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today
Current
$4.00
5-year low
$2.78
5-year high
$5.01
Since 2021
+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2012 Mitsubishi ECLIPSE

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.
Full coverage / year
$1,478
Full coverage / month
$123
Liability only / year
$611
vs US avg
-12%
How this estimate is calculated
US base full-coverage premium$1674
× state (US)1.00x
× vehicle class (sedan-midsize)0.96x
× theft risk1.00x
× safety rating1.00x
× vehicle age0.92x
= Full coverage estimate$1478

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Mitsubishi New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)
5 yr / 60K mi
Powertrain
10 yr / 100K mi
Hybrid/EV battery
10 yr / 100K mi
Corrosion (rust perforation)
7 yr / 100K mi
Roadside assistance
5 yr / unlimited mi

10 year powertrain not transferable

These are the terms for a new Mitsubishi. If you're buying a used 2012 ECLIPSE, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Mitsubishi dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)
$500
BRAKES(~50K mi)
$500
ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)
$500
LIGHTING(~50K mi)
$500
SUSPENSION(~50K mi)
$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 11 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

  • ☐
    AIR BAGS: I WAS HEADING HOME AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN A DEER JUMPED IN FRONT ON MY CAR. MY CAR HAD FRONTAL IMPACT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IF I WAS GOING THE ACTUAL SPEED LIMIT WHICH IS 55 MPH, THE DEER COULD HAVE WENT THROUGH MY WINDSHIELD AND WHERE THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T GO OFF MY HUSBAND AND I COU

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    BRAKES: BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHTS ARE ON. AFTER DIAGNOSIS AT A REPAIR SHOP WITH TESTING SYSTEM THE FAULT READS ABS HYDRAULIC ASSEMBLY IS DEFECTIVE. THE SHOP STATED THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS A 2012 I SHOULD CONTACT THE MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE A RECALL FOR THE ABS UNIT. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    ELECTRICAL: EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNITS RELATED TO HEADLIGHT OUTAGE, CAUSING FAILURE OF BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS, DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS AND HI-BEAM LIGHTS. BEGAN WITH SPONTANEOUS YET INFREQUENT HESISTATION-BLINKING ON/OFF OF DRIVER-SIDE HEADLAMP WHEN NIGHTTIME LIGHTS FIRST USED IN THE

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    LIGHTING: EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNITS RELATED TO HEADLIGHT OUTAGE, CAUSING FAILURE OF BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS, DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS AND HI-BEAM LIGHTS. BEGAN WITH SPONTANEOUS YET INFREQUENT HESISTATION-BLINKING ON/OFF OF DRIVER-SIDE HEADLAMP WHEN NIGHTTIME LIGHTS FIRST USED IN THE

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)

Mitsubishi ECLIPSE — Year Comparison

How does 2012 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.

2012
11Below Average
Full years-to-avoid analysis →

NHTSA Safety Rating

No NHTSA safety rating available

At a Glance

Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Fire reports
0
Crash reports
1
Injury reports
0
Segment avg
11

Check a Specific VIN

See recalls for YOUR 2012 Mitsubishi ECLIPSE

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