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Mitsubishi Eclipse Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Mitsubishi Eclipse car check

Is the Mitsubishi Eclipse reliable? We analysed 55,415 real MOT tests across 9,891 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 55,415 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
88.2%
Typical Mileage
34,623mi
Annual Mileage
6,724mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
yrs

The Mitsubishi Eclipse is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Mitsubishi Eclipse.

Mitsubishi Eclipse Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Mitsubishi Eclipse. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Mitsubishi Eclipse MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Mitsubishi Eclipse to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

88.6%
2020
88.5%
2019
88.7%
2018
88.1%
2017
77.4%
2006
60.4%
2004
76.5%
2003
66.7%
2002
65.2%
2001
70.3%
2000
67.1%
1997
66.7%
1996

Mitsubishi Eclipse Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Mitsubishi Eclipse models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 782
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 446
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 296
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 197

Mitsubishi Eclipse Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Mitsubishi Eclipse owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
4,396 mi/yr
Typical
6,724 mi/yr
Average
7,509 mi/yr
Heavy usage
9,604 mi/yr

Mitsubishi Eclipse MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Mitsubishi Eclipse year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2020 1,365 88.6% 19,427 27,611 38,353
2019 18,299 88.5% 22,554 33,385 46,521
2018 33,296 88.7% 23,498 34,802 49,092
2017 725 88.1% 25,323 35,970 50,302
2006 62 77.4% 30,353 43,023 72,480
2004 53 60.4% 53,067 73,542 97,614
2003 68 76.5% 50,676 71,582 97,034
2002 138 66.7% 49,590 71,608 99,179
2001 66 65.2% 29,636 54,104 75,706
2000 128 70.3% 42,134 74,526 111,572
1997 167 67.1% 81,824 125,565 152,816
1996 96 66.7% 86,445 126,588 155,780

How Long Does a Mitsubishi Eclipse Last?

Based on 9,891 Mitsubishi Eclipse vehicles on UK roads.

Average
6.4 years
Median
6.0 years

Mitsubishi Eclipse Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Mitsubishi Eclipse MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
34,623 mi
75th Percentile
48,988 mi
95th Percentile
76,637 mi
Max Recorded
378,140 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Mitsubishi Eclipse

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2018

88.7% MOT pass rate from 33,296 tests

Year to avoid
2004

60.4% MOT pass rate from 53 tests

The best year to buy a used Mitsubishi Eclipse is 2018, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.7% across 33,296 tests. The 2004 model year has the lowest pass rate at 60.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Mitsubishi Eclipse Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Mitsubishi Eclipse THIS CAR 88.2% 55,415 34,623 mi — yrs
Mitsubishi L200 74.1% 1,362,678 80,302 mi 29 yrs
Mitsubishi Shogun 71.9% 1,312,716 107,142 mi 37 yrs
Mitsubishi Colt 72.5% 950,325 59,666 mi 30 yrs
Peugeot Expert Professional L1 Bluehdi 81.2% 29,008 59,544 mi — yrs

Compared to the Mitsubishi L200 (74.1% pass rate) and the Mitsubishi Shogun (71.9% pass rate), the Mitsubishi Eclipse outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Mitsubishi Eclipse?

The Mitsubishi Eclipse has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.2% across 55,415 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Mitsubishi Eclipse with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Mitsubishi Eclipse owner drives around 6,724 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Mitsubishi Eclipse — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Mitsubishi Eclipse reliable?
Based on 55,415 MOT tests, the Mitsubishi Eclipse has a 88.2% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Mitsubishi Eclipse?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Mitsubishi Eclipse do per year?
The typical Mitsubishi Eclipse does around 6,724 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Mitsubishi Eclipse last?
Lifespan data is not yet available for this model.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Mitsubishi Eclipse?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Mitsubishi Eclipse?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Mitsubishi Eclipse is 2018 with a 88.7% pass rate across 33,296 tests.