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FCM-ECU Software Recall — Extended Pedestrian Braking (Recall 18V620)
warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair
Safety2018-2019
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2018-2026 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross recalls, CVT shudder, heater failure, Android Auto dropout, EPB issues & California lemon law rights. Free case review.
You chose the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross because it promised adventurous design, all-wheel control, and a practical compact SUV at a price that makes sense. The badge says sporty. The marketing says dependable. But many Eclipse Cross owners — from California commuters to Pacific Northwest winter drivers — have found themselves back at the dealership far more often than they bargained for. The story starts with the CVT. The Eclipse Cross shares its Jatco JF016E continuously variable transmission with the Nissan Rogue and Mitsubishi Outlander — a platform with a documented history of shudder, cold-start lunge, and that distinctive rubber-band pull under light throttle. When it shows up, owners describe it as unmistakable and worsening. Then there's the heater that stops working at a red light in January. Multiple 2018 owners returned to the dealer three times for one simple request — warm air — and were told it was 'supposed to be that way.' The infotainment Smartphone Display Audio (SDA) produces a consistent pattern of Android Auto dropouts around 41,000-67,000 miles. The backup camera required by California law can freeze alongside the infotainment failure. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rated the Eclipse Cross headlights Poor — across all trims by 2022. None of these issues alone necessarily makes your Eclipse Cross a lemon. But California's Song-Beverly Act does not require a single catastrophic failure — it requires a pattern: multiple repair attempts for the same defect, or cumulative visits across systems, within the warranty period. The Eclipse Cross has produced exactly that pattern for enough California owners to warrant a hard look at your repair history.
The issues owners report most, ranked by severity — each one verified against a cited NHTSA source.
warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair
brake pedal problem; reduced braking; unexpected braking; brake warning light
transmission shudder on light throttle; vibration at 25-45 mph during gentle acceleration; lags and jumps from stop; hesitation and stumble on cold start; CVT drone or groaning under load; rubber-band sensation when accelerating from standstill; rough shift feel between gear ratios
oil level drops between service intervals without visible leaks; oil/gas odor in cabin and engine bay; check engine light for camshaft position code; engine idles on its own unexpectedly; engine oil burning smell; possible blue or gray exhaust smoke under hard acceleration; engine hesitates on hills at 3,000-4,000 RPM
Android Auto disconnects randomly while driving; Bluetooth audio drops mid-playback; infotainment screen freezes requiring full system restart; Android Auto quits working entirely; backup camera image freezes or displays incorrectly; system does not reconnect without manual reboot; infotainment described as slow/unresponsive; head-up display flip-screen malfunction
heater produces no warm air when vehicle is at idle or stopped; heat returns only when moving or revving engine; air conditioning failure within first year; burning smell from HVAC system; cabin temperature control unresponsive; dealer states 'this is normal operation'
A settled Margarian Law case on this exact model, published with the actual settlement math.
Open any defect for the symptoms and why it matters for a California lemon-law claim. Each is tied to a cited NHTSA source.
warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair
Recall 18V620000 corrects FCM-ECU software that applies emergency braking for longer than necessary after a pedestrian is no longer detected, creating rapid deceleration and rear-end collision risk. Under Song-Beverly, a recall-backed safety defect that the dealer fails to remedy within 30 days of the owner presenting the vehicle is itself a qualifying repair attempt. If you brought your 2018-2019 Eclipse Cross in for this recall and the FCM system continued to malfunction afterward, that failed remedy counts toward your lemon-law repair tally. Owners who experienced actual FCM-induced hard braking events before or after the recall repair may also have an independent safety-impairment claim.
MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the FCM-ECU software with updated software, free of charge. The recall is began October 16, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-007.
brake pedal problem; reduced braking; unexpected braking; brake warning light
Recall 18V621000 covers incorrect software in the Hydraulic Unit ECU that could prevent automatic emergency braking, ABS, ESC, and the Brake Auto Hold (BAH) function from activating when needed. This is a direct loss-of-braking-control risk. Under California lemon law, a safety recall affecting the primary braking and stability systems — if not remedied on first presentation or if the braking anomaly persists after the software update — creates a strong Song-Beverly claim. The Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) governed by this same ECU has also produced post-recall stuck-caliper complaints (see iss-07), suggesting the software remedy may not fully address the EPB failure mode.
MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will update the Hydraulic Unit-ECU software, free of charge. The recall began October 16, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-18-008.
transmission shudder on light throttle; vibration at 25-45 mph during gentle acceleration; lags and jumps from stop; hesitation and stumble on cold start; CVT drone or groaning under load; rubber-band sensation when accelerating from standstill; rough shift feel between gear ratios
A CVT that lunges, hesitates, or shudders materially impairs the vehicle's use and value under Song-Beverly Civil Code §1793.2. If the dealer has serviced the transmission (fluid change, TCM recalibration) two or more times within 18 months or 18,000 miles without resolving the shudder, California's lemon law presumption may apply. The shared RNM Alliance CVT platform has a documented repair pattern across Nissan and Mitsubishi models, which supports a claim that the defect is systemic rather than owner-caused.
CVT fluid flush and refill with updated Mitsubishi DiaQueen CVT-J4 or equivalent; software recalibration of TCM shift logic if available; in persistent cases, CVT valve body or primary/secondary pulley replacement. Some owners report temporary improvement after fluid change.
oil level drops between service intervals without visible leaks; oil/gas odor in cabin and engine bay; check engine light for camshaft position code; engine idles on its own unexpectedly; engine oil burning smell; possible blue or gray exhaust smoke under hard acceleration; engine hesitates on hills at 3,000-4,000 RPM
Persistent oil/fuel odor in the cabin is a safety and use-impairment issue under Song-Beverly. If the dealer has visited two or more times unable to identify or resolve the odor source, that pattern supports lemon-law eligibility. A camshaft defect triggering a check engine light on a nearly-new vehicle, combined with dealer delays in scheduling warranty service, further strengthens a Song-Beverly timeline claim.
Verify oil consumption over 1,000-mile interval; if >1 qt/1,000 mi, engine inspection for valve stem seals or piston rings required. Camshaft position fault: inspect VVT solenoid and camshaft actuator; replace if faulty. For fuel/oil odor: inspect turbo PCV breather routing and HVAC fresh-air intake path.
Android Auto disconnects randomly while driving; Bluetooth audio drops mid-playback; infotainment screen freezes requiring full system restart; Android Auto quits working entirely; backup camera image freezes or displays incorrectly; system does not reconnect without manual reboot; infotainment described as slow/unresponsive; head-up display flip-screen malfunction
California lemon law covers any defect that substantially impairs use, value, or safety. A head unit that repeatedly loses Android Auto connectivity, drops Bluetooth, and freezes the backup camera display impairs use and — because the camera system is a primary reverse-safety feature — also implicates safety. Two or more dealer visits within 18 months without resolution can trigger Song-Beverly presumption.
Head unit software/firmware update if available from MMNA dealer; USB cable replacement (owner-replaceable); factory reset of head unit; in persistent cases, head unit replacement under warranty. Mitsubishi has issued software updates for SDA connectivity in various markets.
heater produces no warm air when vehicle is at idle or stopped; heat returns only when moving or revving engine; air conditioning failure within first year; burning smell from HVAC system; cabin temperature control unresponsive; dealer states 'this is normal operation'
A heater that fails to produce warmth at idle during California winters constitutes a functional impairment of the vehicle under Song-Beverly. Three documented dealer visits with the response 'this is how it works' — without a written technical explanation or engineering justification — is exactly the repair-attempt pattern the Song-Beverly Act was designed to address. If the condition persists through the warranty period despite multiple visits, the vehicle may qualify for repurchase.
Thermostat inspection and replacement; coolant system flush; heater core flow test; if AC failure: refrigerant leak inspection, compressor inspection, and evacuation/recharge. Owner-reported outcome: repeated dealer visits without resolution.
burning smell from rear brakes after battery replacement or vehicle reset; rear brake rotor running hot on one side; uneven brake pad wear (rear right significantly more worn); EPB warning light after power disconnection; brake drag during normal driving; premature rear brake pad and rotor replacement needed
A stuck EPB caliper that causes brake drag and burning smell is a safety defect under Song-Beverly. Because this system was already subject to Recall 18V621000 (EPB/ABS/ESC software), a recurring EPB malfunction — particularly if triggered by a routine battery replacement and not resolved by the dealer — indicates the recall remedy was incomplete. Multiple repair visits for a brake system linked to a prior safety recall strengthens a lemon-law claim significantly.
EPB maintenance reset procedure using dealer scan tool (MMNA Tech Service Manual procedure required); if caliper already stuck: caliper replacement, rotor and pad replacement on affected corner. Owner can verify by feeling all four wheel hub temperatures after driving.
battery drains even in non-cold temperatures; requires multiple key turns to start; engine stalls mid-drive; keyless entry system fails to detect key fob leaving driver stranded; all service warning lights illuminate simultaneously; vehicle unable to accelerate or brake normally with complete system failure; transmission stuck in second gear at high RPM during highway driving; fuel gauge malfunction (shows 50 miles range then drops to 0 within 5 miles); electrical burning smell with total power loss
Any electrical defect causing stalling at speed, loss of braking, or complete power loss is a safety defect qualifying for expedited Song-Beverly review under the 'serious safety hazard' provision. One documented complaint includes total power loss and fire while driving — the most serious failure mode. If the dealer cannot diagnose parasitic drain or TCM communication failure after two attempts, California law allows the owner to pursue buyback without waiting for additional repair attempts.
Battery drain: parasitic draw test and module sleep-mode diagnosis; potential BCM (Body Control Module) software update. Keyless entry failure: PATS module replacement or key fob reprogram. TCM limp-mode: TCM software update or replacement. Fire/total failure: full harness inspection required; potential total loss.
headlights illuminate only 25-30 feet ahead; cannot see curves or road hazards at night; automatic high-beam disengages at reflective road signs; automatic high-beam disengages going uphill; poor illumination in curves; driver compensates by over-using high beams
A design-level headlight deficiency independently confirmed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) — an authoritative safety organization — substantially impairs the safety of the vehicle under Song-Beverly. Owners who purchased the Eclipse Cross based on advertised safety features and later learned the headlights are rated Poor may have a misrepresentation angle in addition to the lemon-law safety claim. If nighttime driving incidents occur and the vehicle remains unsatisfactorily repaired, the claim is actionable.
No OEM recall or TSB remedy confirmed. Aftermarket high-performance halogen or LED upgrade kits are available. IIHS suggests manufacturers redesign headlight aim and beam pattern — not achievable by dealers under current configuration.
interior plastic trim strips peeling or falling off; window door seals melting or smearing in heat; trim panels rattling after less than one year; interior materials feel flimsy; stalks and switches feel cheap and break early
Interior trim defects alone rarely support a lemon-law claim unless they substantially impair the vehicle's value. However, if trim failures occur alongside more serious defects (HVAC, CVT, electrical), the cumulative repair history across multiple systems — each requiring separate dealer visits — can satisfy California's 'reasonable number of repair attempts' standard. Document each trim repair visit separately.
Trim strip and window seal replacement under warranty. Recurring failure after warranty may require dealer goodwill or Mitsubishi customer assistance escalation.
remedy available
Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Outlander Sport, 2018-2019 Eclipse Cross, and 2017-2018 Outlander vehicles equipped with a Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) system that detects pedestrians. Due to incorrect software, the FCM-ECU (Electronic Control Unit) may apply braking for longer than needed, even after a pedestrian is no longer detected.
remedy available
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport vehicles equipped with a Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) system and 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Eclipse Cross vehicles and 2017-2018 Outlander vehicles equipped with an Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system and/or an Electric Parking Brake (EPB) system. The software for the Hydraulic Unit Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may be incorrect, possibly preventing the intervention of a safety system such as automatic emergency braking, Anti-lock Braking (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), or the Brake Auto Hold (BAH) function when any of these systems are in use.
Every item below comes from this vehicle's documented defects. The more you recognize, the more a free case review is worth your time.
California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act requires Mitsubishi to repair any warrantied defect to specification. If it cannot do so after a reasonable number of attempts, you are entitled to a replacement vehicle or full refund of your purchase price (minus a mileage offset).
What counts for Eclipse Cross owners:
Eclipse Cross-specific angles:
Margarian Law handles Song-Beverly cases on contingency — no fee unless we recover. California requires Mitsubishi to pay your attorney fees if you prevail. Save every repair order, loaner agreement, and dealer communication.
“Could not duplicate” doesn't mean the defect isn't real. Here's exactly what to do to protect a potential California lemon-law claim.
Document the moment it happens. Photos, video, and screenshots of any warning lights — with the date and the mileage.
Get a repair order every visit — even “found nothing.” That paperwork is the foundation of a claim.
Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Note any recall that has no available remedy yet.
Track your out-of-service days. California law counts the cumulative days your vehicle spends in the shop.
Keep loaner & rental records. Alternate-transport paperwork during long repairs matters.
Save everything in one place. Symptoms, dates, repair orders, and every repeat visit — the intermittent ones especially.
The Eclipse Cross has specific defect patterns dealers routinely fail to replicate. Here is how to force documentation:
1. CVT shudder: The shudder triggers on light throttle at 25-45 mph during warm-up — not under heavy acceleration. Bring the car in cold, first thing in the morning. Ask the technician to accelerate gently on a flat road from 20 mph to 45 mph. Request a CVT fluid sample analysis; degraded fluid is diagnostic evidence even if the tech does not feel the shudder that day.
2. HVAC no-heat at idle: Bring the car below 45°F ambient and ask the service writer to sit in the vehicle at idle for five minutes with heat on max. Document the outside temperature on the repair order. Request a thermostat check with engine at idle — not at operating temperature from a prior drive.
3. Android Auto / SDA dropout: The freeze occurs after 30-60 minutes of driving, not on a short lot test. Request a one-hour test drive with Android Auto connected. Provide your own USB cable. Ask the dealer to record the head unit firmware version and confirm whether a software update exists for your VIN.
4. EPB / burning brake smell: After battery service, demand the dealer perform the EPB maintenance calibration using the MUT-III scan tool before writing 'no fault found.' Have this procedure named on the repair order. Post-drive, ask the technician to compare all four rotor temperatures by hand — unequal rear heat is confirmation.
5. Electrical drain: Request a parasitic draw test — key-off current after 30 minutes, spec below 50mA. Get the measured amperage documented on the repair order.
Each 'no fault found' visit after you described a defect is a repair attempt under Song-Beverly §1793.2(d). Four attempts or 30 cumulative out-of-service days triggers the statutory presumption.
The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is not a bad vehicle, but it carries real-world reliability gaps that the sticker price and marketing do not disclose. The CVT is a known weakness shared with the Nissan Rogue and Mitsubishi Outlander — not a fringe complaint but a platform-level characteristic. The HVAC no-heat-at-idle issue, documented in three-visit dealer runs with a 'by design' response, is the kind of dismissal that California lemon law was written to stop. The IIHS headlight ratings are worse than most competitors in the class, and they have not improved with model updates. If you are within your warranty period and have made multiple dealer visits for any one of the issues cataloged here — transmission, heating, infotainment, EPB, or electrical — your repair history deserves a professional review before you spend more money on the next service.
— The Margarian Law team
If your Eclipse Cross has been to the dealer multiple times for a shuddering CVT, a heater that stops working at idle, Android Auto dropout, or electrical problems the dealer cannot diagnose — you may have a California lemon-law claim. Margarian Law offers a free case review. California requires Mitsubishi to pay your attorney fees if you prevail.
The Eclipse Cross uses the Jatco JF016E continuously variable transmission, shared with the Nissan Rogue and Mitsubishi Outlander. This CVT is known to develop a shudder — a low-speed vibration during light-throttle acceleration between 20 and 45 mph — when the belt-and-pulley system wears or when the CVT fluid degrades. Cold-start lunging and hesitation are also reported, particularly in the first few minutes of driving. The issue is systemic to the RNM Alliance platform, not unique to individual vehicles. The first step is a CVT fluid flush with Mitsubishi-specified DiaQueen CVT-J4 fluid; some owners report temporary improvement. If shudder persists after a fluid change, a valve body inspection or pulley replacement may be needed. If your dealer has serviced the CVT two or more times without resolution within your warranty period, document every repair order — California's Song-Beverly Act may entitle you to a replacement or refund. []
No, it is not acceptable, and multiple owners have reported exactly this problem. The heater in 2018 Eclipse Cross vehicles has been documented failing to produce warm air when the vehicle is sitting at idle — a red light, parking lot, or drive-through. Heat returns when driving at speed. When owners brought this to dealers, some were told the behavior was 'supposed to be that way.' That dealer response is incorrect and legally significant: a heater that only works while moving does not conform to the vehicle's warranty. In California, if you visited the dealer three times for this heating problem without resolution — as at least one documented owner did — you have a strong basis for a Song-Beverly lemon-law claim. The thermostat, coolant flow at idle, and heater core bypass should be inspected by an independent mechanic if the dealer continues to dismiss the issue. Request all repair orders in writing, including those where the dealer found 'no fault.' []
Android Auto dropout is the most-reported interior issue for the 2020 and 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross on consumer complaint platforms. The Smartphone Display Audio (SDA) head unit loses the Android Auto session mid-drive, typically after 30-60 minutes of use. The failure often coincides with Bluetooth audio dropping and, in some cases, the backup camera freezing. Average onset is 41,000-67,000 miles, though early failures are also documented. The 2020 Eclipse Cross has over 150 Technical Service Bulletins on file — suggesting active OEM service activity — though specific SDA firmware update TSB numbers were not publicly confirmed at the time of this writing. Steps to try: use a high-quality USB-A cable (not USB-C adapters), update your phone's Android Auto app, and ask the dealer to check for head unit firmware updates for your VIN. If the problem recurs after firmware updates, head unit replacement under warranty is the next step. Two or more dealer visits for infotainment failure without resolution can support a California lemon-law claim. []
The Eclipse Cross has two confirmed NHTSA recalls, both from 2018 and both involving forward collision and braking software: Recall 18V620000 affects 2018-2019 models with FCM pedestrian detection software that applied braking too long, and Recall 18V621000 affects 2018 models with Hydraulic Unit ECU software that could prevent ABS, ESC, and the Electronic Parking Brake from activating when needed. Both are safety recalls with dealer software updates as the remedy. No additional formal recalls have been confirmed for 2020-2026 model years. However, the Eclipse Cross has documented owner-reported defect patterns beyond these recalls — CVT shudder, HVAC heater failure at idle, Android Auto dropout, EPB stuck-caliper incidents, and Poor-rated headlights (IIHS). Whether your specific vehicle qualifies as a lemon under California's Song-Beverly Act depends on your repair history: how many visits, for which defects, and how many days the vehicle was out of service within your warranty. A free case review with Margarian Law can assess your specific situation. []
If you replaced the Eclipse Cross battery without performing the required Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) maintenance reset procedure, the EPB actuator may have left the rear caliper partially engaged. This causes the brake pad to drag continuously against the rear rotor — producing a burning smell from the back of the vehicle, uneven heat across the four wheels, and accelerated wear on the rear right brake components. This is not a new problem with your brakes; it is a known consequence of power-loss events on vehicles equipped with electronic parking brakes. The fix requires a dealer to perform the EPB maintenance calibration using Mitsubishi's MUT-III diagnostic tool — it cannot be done with a standard code reader. After the reset, the technician should confirm all four rotors reach similar temperatures after a test drive. Note that the Eclipse Cross's Hydraulic Unit ECU — which governs the EPB — was the subject of safety Recall 18V621000 for software defects. If EPB misbehavior recurs after the maintenance reset, the recall remedy may be incomplete. []
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross headlights as Poor across all trim levels — not just the base model. The 2019 model received Poor ratings for all halogen trims (the majority of the lineup). One 2024 Eclipse Cross owner measured effective road illumination of only 25-30 feet ahead of the vehicle — less than one second of stopping distance at highway speeds. The automatic high-beam system compounds the problem by incorrectly disengaging when it detects reflective road signs or when the vehicle climbs an incline — exactly the situations where maximum illumination is most needed. Mitsubishi has not issued a recall to address this deficiency. Owners can partially mitigate the risk by ensuring headlight aim is correctly adjusted (dealers can check and adjust) and by using approved higher-output replacement bulbs where legal. If you purchased the Eclipse Cross relying on its advertised safety technology and the headlights remain demonstrably inadequate after dealer service, this may support a California Song-Beverly claim for a safety defect that cannot be repaired to specification. []
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