Head-to-head reliability
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross vs Toyota Camry
How the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross and Toyota Camry compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross vs Toyota Camry: The Eclipse Cross has 59 complaints over 9 years (6.6/yr) versus the Camry's 2143 over 10 years (214.3/yr). The Camry shows more transmission and brake issues, while the Eclipse Cross has electrical glitches. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is a compact crossover that, in owner reports, shows a pattern of intermittent electronic gremlins rather than consistent mechanical wear. Complaints cluster around the electrical system, with sudden shutdowns, warning-light cascades, and touchscreen failures that can affect daily usability. Airbag and brake complaints add safety concerns, but the overall volume is low, suggesting issues may be sporadic rather than widespread.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry, a popular midsize sedan, has a much higher complaint volume, reflecting its large sales base. Owners frequently report transmission grinding and replacement needs, sudden acceleration incidents, and brake failures, which are serious safety issues. While many complaints are isolated, the sheer number and the nature of the powertrain and brake problems indicate that some Camrys may have significant reliability concerns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 59 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 3 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 9 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 6.6 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 6 Better | 163 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM17
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER12
- 03AIR BAGS11
- 04SERVICE BRAKES10
- 05ENGINE9
Owners report the car suddenly shutting down on the freeway, then restarting with a dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree and entering limp mode. Others describe a faulty gas gauge that leaves them unaware of fuel level, and a touchscreen with unresponsive areas, making climate and audio controls hard to use.
Some owners found that placing a phone on the passenger seat triggers the airbag and seatbelt warning lights, suggesting the occupant detection system is overly sensitive. Another report mentions tampered airbags in a used car, which is a serious safety concern if not properly inspected.
One owner experienced a sudden loss of braking power while accelerating from a stop, with the engine making abnormal sounds. Another reports a loud cracking or clicking noise from the rear when reversing, possibly indicating a stuck brake component.
“WHILE DRIVING THE ABOVE VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR SHUT DOWN. I PULLED OVER SAFELY TO THE SIDE. SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF COMPLETELY AND THEN RESTARTED IT.THE DASH WAS LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE AND THE CAR STARTED AND WAS TO DRIVE HOME IN A LIMP MODE IN. CA…”
“THIS VEHICLE IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO ANYONE ON THE ROAD, ESPECIALLY THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER OF SAID VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN IN AN OUT OF THE SHOP FOR A MULTITUDE OF ISSUES. IT HAS AN ISSUE THAT CANNOT BE FIXED OF A FAULTY GAS READING CAUSING A PERSON TO NEVER KNO…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Multiple owners describe grinding noises from the front end during acceleration, with dealerships confirming the transmission needs replacement. Some note that transmissions are on backorder, leaving owners without a vehicle for extended periods.
There are reports of uncontrollable sudden acceleration, leading to crashes and total loss. Another owner received a code for a coolant valve bypass that is under recall for some Camrys but not their VIN, causing safety concerns.
A driver reports complete brake failure while descending a steep hill, requiring multiple attempts to stop. Another describes a situation where the car accelerated unexpectedly into a parking block despite gentle brake application, suggesting a possible pedal misapplication or brake system issue.
“I turned into a restaurant’s parking lot, found a spot and slowly drove into the lot, I eased off the gas pedal and gently applying the brake as the lot has a slight downward slope. When I reach the chunk (the parking block), I added more force to the brake,…”
“Grinding noise coming from front end upon acceleration. Brought to dealership who confirmed noises coming from transmission. Transmission needs to be replaced per dealer recommendation. Recalls on 2021 Toyota Camry for same issue. Transmissions on backorder a…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross — 3 recalls
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Outlander Sport, 2018-2019 Eclipse Cross, and 2017-2018 Outlander vehicles equipped with a Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) system that detects pedestrians. Due to incorrect software, the FCM-ECU (Electron…
The risk: If the FCM-ECU software activates the brake for longer than necessary, the driver may react by applying additional braking. The resulting rapid deceleration of the vehicle can increase the risk of a rear-end collision.
The fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the FCM-ECU software with updated software, free of charge. The recall is began October 16, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall…
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport vehicles equipped with a Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) system and 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Eclipse Cross vehicles and 2017-2018 Outlander vehicles equipped with an Adaptive Cruise Contro…
The risk: If the safety systems do not function as intended, it can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will update the Hydraulic Unit-ECU software, free of charge. The recall began October 16, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-008.
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Outlander Sport, 2018-2019 Eclipse Cross, and 2017-2018 Outlander vehicles equipped with a Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) system that detects pedestrians. Due to incorrect software, the FCM-ECU (Electron…
The risk: If the FCM-ECU software activates the brake for longer than necessary, the driver may react by applying additional braking. The resulting rapid deceleration of the vehicle can increase the risk of a rear-end collision.
The fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the FCM-ECU software with updated software, free of charge. The recall is began October 16, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall…
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross has far fewer complaints per year (6.6) compared to the Toyota Camry (214.3), indicating a lower frequency of reported issues. However, the Camry's higher volume may reflect its larger market presence, and the nature of its powertrain and brake complaints is more severe. In practice, the Eclipse Cross may present fewer immediate safety risks, but the Camry's issues are more likely to be addressed through recalls and service campaigns.
Key differences
- The Eclipse Cross has a higher proportion of electrical system complaints (17 out of 59) leading to shutdowns and warning light issues, while the Camry's top issue is powertrain (395 out of 2143) with transmission failures.
- Camry owners report sudden acceleration incidents, which are rare in the Eclipse Cross data.
- The Eclipse Cross has a lower overall complaint rate (6.6/yr) versus the Camry (214.3/yr), but the Camry's numbers are inflated by its popularity.
- Both have airbag-related complaints, but the Eclipse Cross includes a case of tampered airbags in a used vehicle, while the Camry has a recall for occupant classification sensor.
- Check the touchscreen for unresponsive areas and ensure all electrical systems (gauges, warning lights) function properly during a test drive.
- Inspect the passenger seat airbag sensor by placing objects on the seat to see if warnings trigger unexpectedly.
- Listen for grinding noises during acceleration and have the transmission inspected by a mechanic, as replacements are common.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, including on a hill, to ensure there is no loss of braking power.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report to check for previous accidents or airbag tampering, especially for the Eclipse Cross.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic focusing on the transmission and brakes for the Camry, and electrical system for the Eclipse Cross.
- Check for open recalls on both vehicles using the VIN and ensure they are completed.
- Test drive both on varied roads, including hills, to assess braking and acceleration behavior.
- Ask for service records, particularly for any transmission or electrical repairs.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 119 |
| 2025 | 4 | 153 |
| 2024 | 7 | 48 |
| 2023 | 5 | 62 |
| 2022 | 6 | 59 |
| 2021 | 0 | 155 |
| 2020 | 5 | 270 |
| 2019 | 13 | 393 |
| 2018 | 19 | 736 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross vs Toyota Camry
- Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross total complaints
- 59
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross total recalls
- 3
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross avg complaints/year
- 6.6
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
- Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN