Head-to-head reliability

Mitsubishi Eclipse vs Honda Accord

How the Mitsubishi Eclipse and Honda Accord compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.

Mitsubishi Eclipse523 complaints · 24 recalls Fewer issues per year
Honda Accord4,406 complaints · 38 recalls

Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records

Which should you buy?

Mitsubishi Eclipse averages fewer NHTSA complaints per year. Mitsubishi Eclipse has 523 complaints and 24 recalls on record; Honda Accord has 4,406 complaints and 38 recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.

The numbers

Side-by-side NHTSA record

Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.

CategoryMitsubishi EclipseHonda Accord
Total complaintsAll model years combined523 Better4,406
Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns24 Better38
Crash reportsCrash-related complaints70 Better160
Complaints per yearAveraged across model years52.3 Better440.6
Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints47 Better144
Reported deathsTied to owner complaints1 Better3

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

  1. 01SERVICE BRAKES267
  2. 02STRUCTURE64
  3. 03AIR BAGS57
  4. 04HYDRAULIC44
  5. 05POWER TRAIN36
In owners' words — SERVICE BRAKES

MY 2008 ECLIPSE HAD AN OPEN RECALL ON ISSUES WITH ABS FOR OVER A YEAR. AFTER A YEAR I WAS FINALLY NOTIFIED THAT THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO FIX THE ISSUE. AFTER MUCH HASSLE DEALING WITH THE LOCAL DEAL I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR REPAIR. THE SERVICE CENTER CLAIMED TO…

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 NEW LOUDON RD, LATHAM, NY 12110, (518) 69…

Honda Accord

  1. 01ENGINE971
  2. 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM852
  3. 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE816
  4. 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER720
  5. 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM587
In owners' words — ENGINE

I am writing to file a complaint on the service that was provided at Vann York Honda. On February 17, 2026, I was returning home from work and my car had a hard idle at start up. I was able to drive it home without issue. The next day, February 18, I got in m…

2021 Honda Accord EX-L, 1.5T turbocharged engine. Within 8 months of purchase at approximately 21,900 miles, I experienced three separate incidents of sudden complete engine power loss at highway speeds. During each incident the vehicle would not exceed 2,000…

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 — 24 recalls

Air Bags — Frontal — Passenger Side — Inflator Module
#15V338000Feb 2015

The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2000-2005 Eclipse vehicles manufactured April 5, 1999, to December 17, 2004, 2001-2005 Eclipse Spyder vehicles manufactured January 19, 2000, to March 18, 2005, 2001-2005 Chrysler Sebring vehicles manufactured April 17, 20…

The risk: If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.

The fix: MMNA will notify their owners, and Chrysler will notify the Chrysler and Dodge owners. Dealers will install a tether strap to retain the passenger sun visor, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact MMNA custom…

Air Bags — Frontal — Passenger Side — Inflator Module
#15V338000Feb 2015

The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2000-2005 Eclipse vehicles manufactured April 5, 1999, to December 17, 2004, 2001-2005 Eclipse Spyder vehicles manufactured January 19, 2000, to March 18, 2005, 2001-2005 Chrysler Sebring vehicles manufactured April 17, 20…

The risk: If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.

The fix: MMNA will notify their owners, and Chrysler will notify the Chrysler and Dodge owners. Dealers will install a tether strap to retain the passenger sun visor, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact MMNA custom…

Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip — Control Unit/Module
#15V337000Feb 2015

The defect: 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…

The risk: A sudden reduction of braking performance may increase the risk of a crash.

The 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 will be replaced. The recall began on J…

Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip — Control Unit/Module
#15V337000Feb 2015

The defect: 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…

The risk: A sudden reduction of braking performance may increase the risk of a crash.

The 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 will be replaced. The recall began on J…

Honda Accord — 38 recalls

Seat Belts — Rear/Other — Retractor
#21V900000

The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, CR-V, Ridgeline, 2022 Insight and CR-V Hybrid vehicles. The automatic locking retractor on the second-row center seat belt assembly may deactivate improperly, which can result in an unsecured child restraint sys…

The risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

The fix: Dealers will replace the second-row center seat belt assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 14, 2022. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification — Front Passenger
#24V064000Jan 2024

The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura R…

The risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.

The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls ar…

Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery — Fuel Pump
#23V858000

The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV,…

The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansi…

Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification — Front Passenger
#26V332000

The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022…

The risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH,…

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 or Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.

Go deeper

Full reliability reports

Mitsubishi Eclipse vs Honda Accord — comparison facts
Comparison
Mitsubishi Eclipse vs Honda Accord
Mitsubishi Eclipse total complaints
523
Honda Accord total complaints
4,406
Mitsubishi Eclipse total recalls
24
Honda Accord total recalls
38
Mitsubishi Eclipse avg complaints/year
52.3
Honda Accord avg complaints/year
440.6
More reliable overall
Mitsubishi Eclipse
Mitsubishi Eclipse top complaint area
SERVICE BRAKES
Honda Accord top complaint area
ENGINE