# What to Look For When Buying a Used Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross > What to check on a used Eclipse Cross, petrol or PHEV, what a problem looks like, and when to walk away. Covers: YA (2018–2020), YB (2021–2025). Last updated: 13 October 2026. Web page: https://shufti.com.au/checklists/used-mitsubishi-eclipse-cross-inspection-checklist. Printable PDF: https://shufti.com.au/checklists/used-mitsubishi-eclipse-cross-inspection-checklist.pdf. ## Common Problems on a Used Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross The most commonly reported problems on a used Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross are shudder or surging from the CVT automatic, touchscreen and Bluetooth faults, the emergency braking system braking when there's nothing there, and hesitation or stalling when cold. On a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), check the battery's range and charging too. ### CVT Automatic Problems Many Eclipse Crosses use a CVT automatic, which uses a belt between two pulleys instead of fixed gears. A worn CVT can judder, surge or whine, and the fluid needs changing on schedule, which owners often skip. On the test drive, accelerate gently from a stop and then firmly up a hill. Feel for a shudder as you pull away, revs rising without the car speeding up to match, surging at steady speeds, and listen for a whine that grows with speed. Any warning light or the car going into a limp mode is a bad sign. Ask when the CVT fluid was last changed and whether the gearbox has ever been repaired or replaced, with receipts. A CVT replacement is one of the most expensive repairs on the car, so if it shows any of these signs, walk away or have a specialist check it. ### Infotainment and Bluetooth Faults Owners of Eclipse Crosses report touchscreens that freeze, reboot or lose the phone connection. It's an annoyance more than a danger, but on later cars the screen also runs the reversing camera and settings. Connect your phone by Bluetooth and by cable (CarPlay or Android Auto, if fitted), make a call, play music and use the navigation. Select Reverse and check the camera comes up straight away and stays on. A software update at a dealer sometimes fixes it; a replacement screen costs much more. Ask whether it's had either, and price a fault into your offer. ### Emergency Braking When There's Nothing There Owners report the automatic emergency braking system warning or braking hard for no reason, sometimes called phantom braking. It's unsettling and can be dangerous in traffic. On the test drive, drive on a mix of roads, past parked cars and under bridges, and watch for false collision warnings or sudden braking. Check the windscreen in front of the camera and the front sensor area for damage or a poor repair. A software update or recalibration at a dealer sometimes fixes it. Ask whether it's happened and what was done, with receipts; if it brakes for no reason on the test drive, have a dealer check it before you buy. ### Hesitation or Stalling When Cold Owners report the engine hesitating, running roughly or stalling in the first minutes after a cold start. Ask for the engine to be cold when you arrive. Start it yourself, let it idle, then drive off gently: it should idle smoothly and pull away without stumbling or cutting out. Check for an engine warning light. Ask whether any engine software updates or repairs have been done, with receipts. If it stalls or the engine light is on, have a mechanic check it before you buy. ## Which Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Years to Avoid? No Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross year is one to avoid outright. Which problems a particular car has depends on its generation, its engine and how it was used, so judge the one in front of you rather than the year alone, starting with its recalls and reported faults (Shufti looks these up from the listing). - **YA (2018–2020).** Most have done enough kilometres for wear items to come due: check the service history for regular servicing, and whether tyres, brakes and the battery need replacing. - **YB (2021–2025).** Most have done enough kilometres for wear items to come due: check the service history for regular servicing, and whether tyres, brakes and the battery need replacing. ## Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Inspection Checklist Tick it if it's fine. Cross it if it isn't, and note what you found so you can price it into your offer. - Safety critical: Affects how safely it drives or protects you in a crash. Best to have a mechanic check it before you buy. - Negotiate: Costs money to fix, from wear to major repairs. Get a quote and take it off the price. ### Before You Go - [ ] **Get the VIN and rego** before you travel. A seller who won't share them is a red flag on its own. - [ ] **Know what you're looking at:** turbo petrol or plug-in hybrid (PHEV); 2WD or AWD. PHEV and AWD checks below are marked. - [ ] **PHEV: ask the seller to charge it fully** before you arrive, and to have the charging cable there. - [ ] **Ask for the engine to be cold,** go in daylight, and bring a torch, paper towel and a friend. ### Exterior - [ ] **Panels and paint.** Uneven gaps, mismatched colour or overspray on seals and trim mean crash repair. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Hail and dents.** Look along the roof, bonnet and tailgate at a low angle to the light. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Bumpers and wheels.** Parking scrapes and kerbed alloys. A badly kerbed wheel can be bent, causing vibration. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Rear window and tailgate.** The split rear glass is clear and uncracked; the tailgate opens, shuts and locks cleanly. (Negotiate) - [ ] **PHEV: charge port.** The flap opens and shuts; the socket is clean, dry and has no burn marks. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Lights and glass.** All lights work, no condensation inside; windscreen free of chips in the driver's view. (Negotiate) - [ ] **VIN plate** (in a door frame or under the bonnet) is there, untouched, and matches the papers. ### Under the Bonnet - [ ] **Engine oil** between the dipstick marks, brown not black. Turbo engines don't forgive low or old oil. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Coolant** at the mark and brightly coloured. Rusty or oily coolant, or regular top-ups, needs a mechanic. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Brake fluid** (small tank at the back of the engine bay) is clear to light amber, not dark. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Belts, hoses and battery.** No cracked belts or swollen hoses. A weak 12V battery can stop a PHEV reaching "READY". (Negotiate) - [ ] **Leaks.** Wet oil on the engine or turbo pipes is a leak. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Cold start.** Petrol: starts easily and idles smoothly, no rattle or smoke. PHEV: "READY" shows; the engine may start and stop by itself. (Negotiate) ### Underbody and Wheels - [ ] **Tyres** above the wear bars, worn evenly and under ~6 years old. AWD models need four matching tyres; mismatched ones strain the AWD system. (Negotiate) - [ ] **AWD:** no oil leaking from the rear axle or drive parts underneath. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Rust and crash repairs.** Rust on the floor or around the suspension; bent metal, fresh welds or new black coating in one spot. (Safety critical) - [ ] **PHEV: underfloor battery.** Dents, scrapes or damage to the large flat battery case under the floor. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Scrapes and drips.** Dents underneath from dirt roads; drips where it's normally parked. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Suspension and brakes.** Oily shock absorbers; deep grooves or a raised edge on the brake discs. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Exhaust.** Heavy rust, holes or loose heat shields that rattle. (Negotiate) ### Interior and Electrics - [ ] **Warning lights.** Key to "on": every dash light comes on, then goes out once running. An airbag, brake, engine or "check EV system" warning that stays on needs explaining. (Safety critical) - [ ] **PHEV: electric range.** Fully charged, note the range shown. A range well below what the model had new can mean a worn battery; get a dealer battery report. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Seatbelts** pull out fully, retract and latch, with no fraying. (Safety critical) - [ ] **Wear matches the kilometres.** Steering wheel, pedals, driver's seat and cargo area. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Air con** blows cold within a minute or two, without a musty smell; heater gets hot. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Electrics.** Screen and touchpad, Bluetooth/CarPlay, head-up display, cameras, sensors and windows. Count the keys. (Negotiate) ### Test Drive - [ ] **CVT automatic.** Smooth, steady pull with no judder, surging, slipping or loud whine. Ask when its fluid was changed. (Negotiate) - [ ] **PHEV.** Drives on electric power alone at low speed, and the engine joins in smoothly with no surges or warnings. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Turbo: power.** Pulls strongly with no flat spots, sudden power loss or smoke. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Brakes.** Firm pedal; stops straight with no pulling, pulsing or grinding. (Safety critical) - [ ] **Steering and suspension.** Drives straight; no knocks over bumps or clunks through the wheel. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Noises at speed.** A hum that grows with speed is often a worn wheel bearing. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Afterwards,** check for new drips, a steady temperature gauge and no hot smells. (Negotiate) ### Documentation - [ ] **Seller's ID** matches the rego papers, and the VIN matches on the papers and VIN plate. - [ ] **Service history.** Logbook stamped on time, with receipts. Ask when the CVT fluid was last changed, if ever. (Negotiate) - [ ] **PHEV: battery report** from a Mitsubishi dealer showing the battery's health. Ask for it, or ask the seller to get one. (Negotiate) - [ ] **PHEV: charging gear.** The portable charging cable is included and works. (Negotiate) - [ ] **Warranty.** A newer Eclipse Cross may still be under Mitsubishi's new-car warranty. Check the start date and that servicing kept it valid. - [ ] **Rego and roadworthy.** Rego checked online; roadworthy supplied if your state requires one on sale. (Negotiate) ## Stay Safe Never go under a car held up only by a jack, and never open the radiator or coolant cap on a hot engine. Keep hands, hair and loose clothing clear of fans and belts when the engine is running, and do checks under the bonnet with it switched off where you can. On the test drive, hold a current licence, confirm the car is registered and insured, obey road rules, and only brake hard when the road behind is clear. Meet in a safe, public-facing place, take someone with you, and don't carry large amounts of cash to a viewing. ## Disclaimer Shufti is not affiliated with or endorsed by Mitsubishi; Mitsubishi and Eclipse Cross are trademarks of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation. Figures are counts from Shufti's analysis of official records and published reports, not a statement that any particular vehicle is affected. This checklist is general information only and is not professional, mechanical, legal or financial advice. It covers common checks, not every possible fault, and a car can pass every item here and still have problems. It is not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection by a qualified mechanic, which is worth considering before you buy, especially if anything tagged Safety critical turns up. Repair costs vary widely; get your own quotes. Roadworthy, registration and transfer rules differ by state, so check with your state road authority. Private sales generally don't come with the consumer guarantees that apply when you buy from a dealer. You use this checklist at your own risk and, to the extent permitted by law, Shufti accepts no liability for any loss, damage or injury arising from its use. ## Buying a Used Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross: Questions Answered ### Is a used Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross reliable? It depends more on the particular car than the badge: how it was driven, loaded and serviced. Work through the commonly reported problems above, read the service history for servicing done on time, and run a PPSR check. ### Which Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross years should I avoid? No Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross year is one to avoid outright. Which problems a particular car has depends on its generation, its engine and how it was used, so judge the one in front of you rather than the year alone, starting with its recalls and reported faults (Shufti looks these up from the listing). This checklist covers the YA (2018–2020) and YB (2021–2025) Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross. Problems reported across them include CVT shudder or surging, infotainment and Bluetooth faults, emergency braking when there's nothing there and hesitation or stalling when cold. ### How many kilometres is too many for a used Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross? Kilometres matter less than how the car was driven and serviced. A high-kilometre SUV with a full service history can be a better buy than a low-kilometre one that's missed services, done short trips or been used for rideshare. Check the history for regular servicing, and on a hybrid ask for a battery health check. ### Should I get a pre-purchase inspection on a used Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross? It's worth it if you can. All-wheel-drive and hybrid systems can hide faults that only a mechanic's tools will show. Most buyers don't book one, though, so whatever you decide, check the car thoroughly yourself with this checklist first. See Is a pre-purchase inspection worth it? (https://shufti.com.au/guides/is-a-pre-purchase-inspection-worth-it) ### How do I check a used Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross for money owing or a write-off? Run a PPSR check with the car's VIN. It shows whether there's finance owing and whether the car has been reported stolen or written off, and costs $2. Run it on the day you pay. See What a PPSR check covers and what it doesn't (https://shufti.com.au/guides/what-is-a-ppsr-check) --- Shufti is an Australian used car inspection app for iPhone and Android that tailors the inspection to the exact car you're looking at. It is not affiliated with Shufti Pro, the identity verification (KYC) company. From the listing link, it builds every check around that car's make, model and year, odometer reading and the seller's description. It runs PPSR and government recall checks, crosschecks a database of more than 3 million recalls and owner complaints, flags problems from your photos and audio, plans a test drive, produces a shareable report with repair cost estimates, and coaches you through the negotiation. A check costs $24.99, or $49.99 for three, including PPSR and recall checks. A mechanic's pre-purchase inspection costs $250–350. Made by Frontpoint Digital Pty Ltd (ABN 23 669 870 366), Melbourne, Australia. Contact: hello@shufti.com.au. Download: [App Store](https://apps.apple.com/au/app/shufti-used-car-inspection/id6795718336?pt=129235165&ct=Website%20guide&mt=8), [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=au.shufti.shufti_app&referrer=utm_source%3Dshufti.com.au%26utm_medium%3Dwebsite%26utm_campaign%3DWebsite%2520guide%26utm_content%3Dllms%26utm_term%3D%252Fllms.txt).