MajorCommonElectrical

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross: PHEV drive battery capacity loss and shrinking EV range

PHEV drive battery capacity loss and shrinking EV range is a common electrical fault on the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross on the 2021 onward cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $8,000 to $20,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 21 documented faults on the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross.

Vehicle: Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
Only on: plug-in
Years: 2021 onward
Fuel: hybrid
System: Electrical

This page covers the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross faults21 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph for this fault yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of something else.

What goes wrong

The Eclipse Cross PHEV shares its 13.8 kWh battery and twin-motor system with the Outlander PHEV, and owners in NZ and Australia report the indicated EV range dropping from the claimed ~55 km to 30-38 km within two to three years. Mitsubishi's 8-year/160,000 km battery warranty only guarantees 66-70% capacity retention and the company treats gradual degradation as normal chemistry, not a defect, so capacity-loss claims are routinely declined unless a cell has actually failed. A replacement pack outside warranty is a five-figure job, so buy on measured battery health, not the odometer.

What you would notice

Full-charge EV range estimate well below 45 km
EV range dropping noticeably year on year
Petrol engine starting earlier and more often than expected
Charging errors or charge stopping early

How to check it

Where to look. Traction battery under the cabin floor; charge ports on rear flank

Charge the car to 100% and note the indicated EV range; under about 35 km on a 2021+ car is a red flag.
Ask a Mitsubishi dealer to read the battery capacity (Ah) via diagnostics before purchase.
Confirm the remaining balance of the 8-year PHEV battery warranty and that servicing was done at Mitsubishi to keep it valid.

What it costs to put right

$8,000 to $20,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“What EV range does it actually show on a full charge?”
“Has a dealer battery capacity test been done? Can I see the result?”
“How was it charged - wall socket, wallbox or frequent DC fast charging?”

Now check the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

eclipsecrossforums.com - 'PHEV battery degradation' thread
Mitsubishi Motors NZ - Plug-in Hybrid Warranty terms (capacity retention clause)
Simon Lucas Mitsubishi NZ - Eclipse Cross PHEV long-term review
outlanderforums.com - Battery Capacity Degradation thread (shared drivetrain)

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross buyer questions

Is phev drive battery capacity loss and shrinking ev range serious on a Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross?

We rate it major and common on the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross. The Eclipse Cross PHEV shares its 13.8 kWh battery and twin-motor system with the Outlander PHEV, and owners in NZ and Australia report the indicated EV range dropping from the claimed ~55 km to 30-38 km within two to three years. Mitsubishi's 8-year/160,000 km battery warranty only guarantees 66-70% capacity retention and the company treats gradual degradation as normal chemistry, not a defect, so capacity-loss claims are routinely declined unless a cell has actually failed. A replacement pack outside warranty is a five-figure job, so buy on measured battery health, not the odometer.

How much does it cost to fix on a Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross?

$8,000 to $20,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2021 onward Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Charge the car to 100% and note the indicated EV range; under about 35 km on a 2021+ car is a red flag. Ask a Mitsubishi dealer to read the battery capacity (Ah) via diagnostics before purchase. Confirm the remaining balance of the 8-year PHEV battery warranty and that servicing was done at Mitsubishi to keep it valid. Look here: Traction battery under the cabin floor; charge ports on rear flank