MitsubishiEclipse20123.8L/mitsubishi/eclipse/2012/3-8l/

2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse — 3.8L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 Eclipse 3.8L.

Body PASSENGER CAREngine 3.8LTransmission Automatic (S5)

The 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse 3.8L is a passenger car equipped with a 3.8L engine and Automatic (S5) transmission that requires 4.5 qt of 10W-30 / 5W-20 API oil, registering EPA MPG ratings of 17/25/20 mpg. Ownership records for this specific model year show 0 recalls and 8 total owner complaints, with Air Bags cited as the top complaint area. When viewed against the model's 1990-2012 complaint history, the 2012 variant sits near the bottom of the spectrum with figures well below the 1995 high of 392 complaints and just above the 2011 low of 1, indicating a complaint volume significantly reduced from the model's historical maximum.

Model year2012201120102009200820072006

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque65-80 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy17/25/20 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24 · 550 CCA battery, OE oil filter MD352627. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 24 · 550 CCAOEM · verified
Tire size4WD:P225-75R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filterMD352627 alt MZ690072
Engine air filterMR571396
Fuel filter1770A122
Spark plugMN158596 alt 1822A002
Front wiper blades8250A536 alt 8250A098
Serpentine beltMN187016 alt MN187015
Thermostat1305A278 alt MD194988

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S5)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length179.9 in
Overall width72.4 in
Overall height54.7 in
Wheelbase101.6 in
Curb weight3274 lb
Track (front / rear)61.4 / 61.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)59/41

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 25 / 20 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume82 cu ft
Cargo volume16 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

No 2012 road test on record; the results below are same-engine tests from nearby model years, each shown under its own year.

5.8–6.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 5.80 sec — 2008 GT V6 Coupe
260 lb-ftTorque (as tested)
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2008GT V6 Coupe 3.8L V65.80 sec14.30 sec263 hpFWD
2007Spyder GT V6 3.8L V66.00 sec14.60 sec262 hpFWD
2007Spyder GT V6 3.8L V66.70 sec14.80 sec262 hpFWD
2007Spyder GT V6 3.8L V66.70 sec15.30 sec262 hpFWD
2006GT V6 Coupe 3.8L V65.90 sec14.20 sec263 hpFWD
2006GT V6 Coupe 3.8L V66.00 sec14.60 sec263 hpFWD
2006GT V6 Coupe 3.8L V66.10 sec14.50 sec263 hpFWD
2006GT V6 Coupe 3.8L V66.10 sec14.60 sec263 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 10W-30 / 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 · DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 65-80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0-22.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidMitsubishi Diamond Queen SP-III
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity8.9
Brake FluidDOT 3 · DOT 4
Engine Oil10W-30 · API · 5W-20
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt
Manual Transmission Fluid75W-80 · GL-3
Manual Transmission Fluid Capacity4.7
Power Steering FluidGenuine Mitsubishi PS fluid

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts134-140 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts54 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine BoltsBolts: 18 ft-lbs, nuts: 15 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts33-39 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts29-37 ft-lbs
Main Bearings54 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0-22.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs10 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts65-80 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub145-188 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)680 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.16-1.26 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.70 oz
Standard BCI Group Number24
Standard BCI Cranking Performance550 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test23 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature177-183 °F
Engine Compression225-161 PSI. 14 Maximum variation PSI.
Engine Oil Pressure4.2 psi @ Idle, 42-100 psi @ 3500 rpm psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket25-31 ft-lbs / 28-36 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle67-81 ft-lbs / 42-48 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.080; Rear: 0.080 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0039 in / 0.0016 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.023 in / 0.394 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.023 in / 0.394 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.96 in / 0.33 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
120 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90-9420 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages
158 ft. lbs.58 ft. lbs
2Loosen all bolts completely in reverse order.
315 ft. lbs.15 ft. lbs
490 degrees.90 degrees
590 degrees.; Replace any cylinder head bolts that exceed the maximum length 99.4 mm (3.91).90 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
176-84 ft. lbs.76–84 ft. lbs
2Loosen all bolts.
376-84
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
16 ft. lbs., step 2: tighten only bolts 8 and 9: 8.1 ft. lbs., step 3: tighten all but 8 and 9: 6.6 ft. lbs., step 4: turn all but bolts 8 and 9, 906 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs at 105,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
At 60,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miFuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect) · Fuel System (inspect)
At 105,000 miSpark Plugs (replace) · Timing Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse sits at the very tail of the fourth-generation run, and its federal record reflects a model in its final, low-volume year: just 8 complaints, 0 recalls, 0 investigations, and 34 TSBs. That complaint count is notably higher than the immediately preceding 2011 model year (1 complaint) but a steep drop from the 20062008 launch years, which logged 99, 107, and 71 complaints respectively along with 1–4 recalls each. The overall arc across this generation shows a classic debut-year spike (2006–2007), a tapering through 2008, and then minimal activity in 2011–2012 — consistent with declining sales as the nameplate wound down. Within the 2012 complaints, air bags account for 4 of the 8 filings, with the remaining four split across suspension/structure, electrical/brakes, and electrical/exterior lighting; the data does not specify a root cause, and only 1 crash complaint with no fire complaints was logged. The takeaway: the 2012 Eclipse is a defensible used buy from a federal-recording standpoint — no recalls, no investigations, and a complaint footprint dominated by a single component area (air bags) — though buyers should still have that system inspected and confirm aftermarket airbag service history, since low total volume means a handful of reports can disproportionately shape the picture.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
34
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
8
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 8 complaints on record, top 5 components.

Air Bags4
Suspension,Structure1
Electrical System,Service Brakes1
Electrical System,Exterior Lighting1
Service Brakes1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 34 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
DEALER LETTER2023-07-21EquipmentThis is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has…
TSB-23-00-0042023-04-24StructureThis Technical Service Bulletin provides instructions and material safety data sheets for…
TSB-23-00-0012023-04-24EquipmentThis Technical Service Bulletin reviews the regulations that require a label showing the…
DEALER LETTER2023-04-21EquipmentThis is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has…
TSB-11-66-001REV2023-03-07Electrical SystemThis Technical Service Bulletin contains technical information and troubleshooting for…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

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VIN
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Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
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Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2012 Eclipse 3.8L take?

4.5 qt of ABOVE 100 degreesF 10W-30 SM API, BELOW 100 degreesF 5W-20 SM API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2012 Eclipse have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 3.8L get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 25 highway / 20 combined mpg.