Caution statements regarding the disposal of certain SRS components have been incorrect in the service manuals of affected vehicles. This TSB provides updated caution statements.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse airbags problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
7crashes
5injuries
What stands out
Of the 4 model years of Mitsubishi Eclipse we track for airbags problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 10.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Airbag deployment failures dominate this complaint cluster. Owners describe multiple collision scenarios where frontal airbags simply did not deploy despite significant vehicle impact. In one case, an owner with less than a month of ownership sustained a rear impact collision that also damaged the front end—neither the driver nor passenger airbags deployed, resulting in severe injury. Another owner involved in a head-on collision found through airbag specialist diagnostics that both the front right and front left airbag sensors had malfunctioned; the Mitsubishi dealership confirmed the sensor failure. A third owner hit a fire hydrant at 30 mph after brake failure, and again the airbags did not deploy.
Structural problems have also emerged. One owner reported the lower dashboard on the passenger side split apart above the airbag compartment; a body shop stated the passenger airbag would not deploy if a collision occurred. Another owner's airbag warning light came on after the passenger airbag lifted slightly out of the dash, attributed to sun exposure.
A separate thread involves chronic horn malfunctioning alongside repeated airbag system work at the dealer over four service attempts, though the connection remains unclear. Across all narratives, no owner reports successful airbag deployment or resolution of deployment failures through manufacturer intervention.
Failure modes owners describe
Frontal airbags failed to deploy on impact
Driver and/or passenger frontal airbags did not deploy during crashes with significant impact, leaving occupants unprotected and resulting in head, neck, and back injuries.
When: 165,000 miles; 127,204 miles; 80,000 miles; under one month old (new vehicle); highway accident
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags did not deploy despite vehicle impact; Head struck windshield; Occupant head, neck, and back injuries; No airbag system activation during collision
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported airbag specialist diagnostics found both front right and front left airbag sensors had malfunctioned; Mitsubishi dealership confirmed sensor failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Mitsubishi notified in some cases (case number 1-273146714 cited); no recalls or warranty programs specifically for airbag deployment failure mentioned in narratives.
Airbag sensor malfunction
Front airbag sensors failed to detect impact conditions and trigger deployment, confirmed by diagnostic testing.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Front right airbag sensor malfunctioned; Front left airbag sensor malfunctioned; Airbags did not deploy during head-on collision
Repairs/costs cited: Airbag specialist diagnostics identified malfunctioning sensors; Mitsubishi dealership confirmed the failure.
Passenger airbag compartment dashboard split
Lower dashboard on passenger side split apart above the passenger airbag compartment, compromising the structural integrity of the airbag housing.
When: 113,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Lower passenger side dashboard split apart above airbag compartment; Body shop stated passenger airbag would not deploy if collision occurred
Repairs/costs cited: Body shop informed no recalls or defects were on record; no repair attempted.
Airbag warning light with physical airbag movement
Airbag warning light illuminated after passenger airbag lifted slightly out of the dashboard, suggesting internal failure or degradation.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light came on; Passenger airbag lifted up slightly from dash; Condition observed after sun exposure
Horn control issues with airbag service attempts
Chronic horn malfunction (sounding without warning, not sounding when pressed) coincided with repeated airbag system maintenance, though the direct connection is unclear from the narrative.
When: 13,000 miles (failure onset); 19,000 miles (current mileage)
Symptoms owners cite: Horn sounds without warning; Horn fails to sound when pressed; Problem recurred after dealer repair attempts
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced horn twice and performed maintenance to the airbag system over four repair attempts; manufacturer unable to diagnose.
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had airbags trouble with your 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 19,000 and 127,204 miles, with the median around 80,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 19,000; a quarter make it past 127,204. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Mitsubishi/Eclipse.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.