NHTSA — Exterior Lighting: Headlights Problems

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
33,629 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse lights problems

lights problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse Owner Comments

problem #14

Oct 282007

Eclipse 6-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 38,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a 2001 Eclipse GT, and I have been having problems with the headlights going on and off until one day they just stopped working. It kept smelling like something was burning and it had been the headlight harnesses. The dealership I purchased the vehicle from closed down so I brought it to key Mitsubishi of milford and they said that the headlight harnesses melted. They in turn told me that it would cost close to $300 to fix. I didn't do anything to make the wires melt and it should be Mitsubishi's responsibility to fix the problem. They said that I should take it to crabtree in milford and see if they would do it. They did not want to cover the defect either. I have no headlights on the car and this causes a huge safety risk. I need to know what I have to do in order to get the manufacturer to fix this defect. This is Mitsubishi's fault and mistake. Many other people have had the same problem and it is not something cheap to fix. I am currently using a relatives loner car to get around because I have no way to pay for this. Please advise on what to do. Thanks

- Trumbull, CT, USA

problem #13

Jun 082006

Eclipse 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 54,000 miles
Failure of headlight harnesses on a 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse. Both headlamps out on 9/12/06 after first finding was fixed. Lights would not come on until left side harness was wiggled.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #12

Jul 192006

Eclipse 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles
In my car the headlights will come on but very dim or sometimes not at all. If I hit a bump the headlights will also go out. Moving wire connection on back of headlights will fix the problem momentarily. Problem occurs more and more frequently. The other evening I was driving and both headlights went out. I pulled over and popped the hood and there was smoke coming from the wiring harness. The whole harness was melted off.

- Jackson, MI, USA

problem #11

Oct 122005

Eclipse 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 48,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Contact owns a 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse gs. Contact took vehicle to dealer to have colored halogen lights enhancers put in, and the mechanic let the contact know that the wiring harness melted on the halogen lights. The vehicle is at the dealership. They would not let the contact drive it home because it was a fire hazard. The parts will be in on 10-13-05. The dealership gave the contact a loaner vehicle. The cost was going to be more than the extended warranty. T $200 deductible the contact will have to pay out of her pocket.

- Cleveland , TN, USA

problem #10

Jul 202002

Eclipse

  • miles
I was driving down the road when I smelt something burning, then my headlight went out and I thought the bulb just went out, when actually it had melt the connection unit for my headlight. I have also had rim and sunroof problems. My sunroof has been to mishibushi three times and still doesn't work right!!!

- La Porte, IN, USA

Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...

problem #9

Oct 012001

Eclipse 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30 miles
Not only do I have the aggrevation of bent rims and flat tires, and financial hardship on this, my left side of the car doesn't align to the right. Water leeks in on the left side. Sometimes the heater blows out cool air. The sunroof shakes when opening. I already had a manufacuters defect in my strut on the left side. I have sctraches on the left side fom the car scrapping the ground when I make a right hand turn. I had to have the cooling system replaced the first week I financed it.my hood won't open and my headlights fail causing me to dirve only with the fog lights. All these issues are the same and constant since I purchased this lemon.

- Garnerville, NY, USA

problem #8

Oct 012001

Eclipse 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Since I bought the car in 9/01 I have had over 20 flat tires, causing me to miss work getting stuck over the bridge. I have had to pay for 4 new rims and several tires because the rims seperate from the tire. I have had scratches appear around the drivers left side of the car which now move all the way to the license plate I was putting on the donut in 2002 and saw my strut was blown after several attempts with the dealership as to why my car shakes after hitting a bump they kept telling me I was hitting curbs when I said to them my strut is blown they tried blaming me and after several attempts they investigated and realized I had a manufactuers defect in my left drivers front tire. I said they should replace the front side of my bumper bacause of the scratches they refused. My drivers side door, hood and rear doesn't align with the right side of my car and water seeps in when in rains. My hood doesn't open and my headlights keep failing where I only can drive with the fog lights. I have over 50 receipts of the same problem and the attorney general in 2003 said I filed for the lemon law too late. I really need help. The car was never in an accident since I purchased it and the dealership I went to is now closed down.

- Garnerville, NY, USA

problem #7

Feb 052005

Eclipse 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles
I have a 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse. About 6 months ago I had the passenger side headlight go out. The fault was a melted connector attached to the lamp. I fixed it by soldering a wire in its place. 4 months months later the other headlight had the same problem. I'm writing this because I saw a complaint for the same issue and figured I'd give my two cents as well. I am actually looking for brake problems because the brakes on the car have been replaced twice and they still don't work very well.

- Hope Valley, RI, USA

problem #6

Feb 012004

Eclipse 6-cyl

  • miles
Right bulb keeps going out on 2001 Eclipse GT. I replaced it only to find out the bulb connector was melted.

- Vacaville, CA, USA

problem #5

Nov 162004

Eclipse

  • Automatic transmission
  • 33,500 miles
There was a burning smell in my car and the headlights went out, but they would come back on after awhile. Eventually they both went out, and would not come back on. I am getting this repaired at a Mitsubishi dealership. They told me that this happens very often with Eclipses, and that they would have to replace the sockets.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #4

Jul 202004

Eclipse

  • Manual transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Headlights began to go out, but moving wire connection on back of headlamps would correct the problem momentarily. Problem occurred more and more frequently, and one headlamp stopped functioning altogether, while waiting several days for service appointment at dealer. Dealer determined that wiring connections to headlamps had melted, and the wiring had to be replaced.

- North Attelboro, MA, USA

problem #3

May 242004

Eclipse

  • 52,245 miles
Headlights went out. Bought new bulbs to replace. Both plugs to the headlight bulbs had melted. Told by dealer it was not covered by warranty and was not an electrical problem.

- Canton, GA, USA

problem #2

Apr 202004

Eclipse 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles
On a 2 occassions, on my 2001 Eclipse, the headlight connectors on both sides were melted from some kind of arcing. Also the fuel door broke and was rusted considerably from just normal wear and tear.

- Newman, CA, USA

problem #1

Aug 072001

Eclipse

  • miles
Consumer stated that the rear brake light stayed on, dealer found a broken brake light switch and adjusted brake light switch, front left headlight socket melted, dealer replaced the headlight harness.

- Wilton, CT, USA

Not what you are looking for?