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2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Eclipse years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse are substantially higher than the model-year median of 49.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

75 reports with mileage · 49 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Structure. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

15 crash reports4 fire reports7 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

5 reports
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132,000 miles · Jul 24, 2015
Exterior LightingFuel/propulsion SystemSuspension

FUEL MILEAGE IS BAD AND WHEN FILLING UP IF YOU CAN IT KEEPS CLICKING AND SMELLING LIKE FUEL INSIDE CAR. NO LIGHTING IN CAR AT ALL. HAD TO REPLACE SUSPENSION AS THE BOLTS WERE WORN. PAINT CHIPPING ALL OVER CAR. COOLING SYSTEM KEEPS FAILING AND SOMEHOW I HAVE WATER KEEPS COMING IN ON FLOOR BOARDS AND THE FLOOR IS SOAKED AND ST…

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FUEL MILEAGE IS BAD AND WHEN FILLING UP IF YOU CAN IT KEEPS CLICKING AND SMELLING LIKE FUEL INSIDE CAR. NO LIGHTING IN CAR AT ALL. HAD TO REPLACE SUSPENSION AS THE BOLTS WERE WORN. PAINT CHIPPING ALL OVER CAR. COOLING SYSTEM KEEPS FAILING AND SOMEHOW I HAVE WATER KEEPS COMING IN ON FLOOR BOARDS AND THE FLOOR IS SOAKED AND STINKS.

NHTSA ODI #10736178

Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingPower Train

I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT REGARDING MY MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GTS 2003. THE PRODUCT HAS NOT PERFORMED WELL BECAUSE DURING THE SIX MONTHS THAT I HAVE HAD MY BRAND NEW CAR, I HAD TO BRING IT FOR SEVERAL REPAIRS. FIRST, THE CAR WENT TO THE SHOP AT MITSUBISHI BOSAK CHICAGO FOR A LOOSE BOLT, SECOND THE CAR HAD A LEAK ON THE COOLAN…

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I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT REGARDING MY MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GTS 2003. THE PRODUCT HAS NOT PERFORMED WELL BECAUSE DURING THE SIX MONTHS THAT I HAVE HAD MY BRAND NEW CAR, I HAD TO BRING IT FOR SEVERAL REPAIRS. FIRST, THE CAR WENT TO THE SHOP AT MITSUBISHI BOSAK CHICAGO FOR A LOOSE BOLT, SECOND THE CAR HAD A LEAK ON THE COOLANT SYSTEM, THIRD THE WHEEL WAS NO LONGER ALIGNED, AND FOURTH THE REAR DEFROSTER DOES NOT DEFROST PROPERLY. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED OF THAT MATTER BECAUSE ONE OF THE REASON I INVESTED MY MONEY IN BUYING A BRAND NEW CAR AND CHOOSING MITSUBISHI SO I DONT HAVE TO SPEND MORE TIME IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIR AND SPEND MORE CASH. THE CAR WAS ONLY SIX MONTHS OLD AND ALREADY EXPERIENCING A LOT OF PROBLEMS, NOW THE CAR HAS BEEN A YEAR AND I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO MITSUBISHI BOSAK DEALER TO HAVE THE REAR LIGHT FIXED BECAUSE WATER WAS GOING INSIDE AND STILL WAITING TO HAVE THE SUNROOF TO BE FIX BECAUSE IT DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY AND THE AXLE OF THE CAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACE. THEY WOULDNT REPLACE IT RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE ITEM TO BE DELIVERED. WHAT IF DURING THAT TIME OF WAIT SOMETHING HAPPEN TO THE CAR? (MAY GOD FORBID) I HAVE BEFORE TRY TO COMPLAIN WITH THE MITSUBISHI HEADQUARTER IN CALIFORNIA, BUT THE PERSON WOULDNT DO ANYTHING. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE OF MY CAR. I THINK THAT THE COMPANY SHOULD CHECK THEIR ENTIRE PRODUCT BEFORE SELLING IT TO THE PUBLIC. DRIVING MY ECLIPSE IS SOMETHING THAT I FEAR BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THE CARS DEFECT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10091344

Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2004
Exterior Lighting

I PRUCHASED A 2003 ECLIPSE IN MAY 2002 AND NOW THE COATING ON MY HEADLIGHTS IS CRACKING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10064121

200 miles · Jan 18, 2004
Exterior Lighting

HI, I BOUGHT MY ECLIPSE IN SEPTEMBER 2003 AND A MONTH LATER ONE OF MY EXTERNAL FOG LIGHTS BROKE WITHOUT ANY REASON, I WENT TO THE DEALER AND TOLD ME THAT MUST BE A ROCK HITTING THE FOG LIGHT AND THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NEW CAR WARRANTY, ALSO TOLD ME THE PRICE FOR REPLACEMENT WAS $160.00 WHICH IT SEEMS TO ME A RIDICULOUS PR…

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HI, I BOUGHT MY ECLIPSE IN SEPTEMBER 2003 AND A MONTH LATER ONE OF MY EXTERNAL FOG LIGHTS BROKE WITHOUT ANY REASON, I WENT TO THE DEALER AND TOLD ME THAT MUST BE A ROCK HITTING THE FOG LIGHT AND THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NEW CAR WARRANTY, ALSO TOLD ME THE PRICE FOR REPLACEMENT WAS $160.00 WHICH IT SEEMS TO ME A RIDICULOUS PRICE FOR A FOG LIGHT SO I WENT BACK THINKING WAS MY BAD LUCK IT HAPPEN TO ME, NOW HERE I AM A YEAR AND HALF AFTER THE INCIDENT WITH MY FOG LIGHT STILL BROKEN SINCE I HAVE HAD NOT THE MONEY TO REPLACE IT. BUT NOW I AM SEEING A LOT OWNERS WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM THAT MINE AND I THINK THOSE FOG LIGHTS ARE DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED AT NOT COST TO THE OWNER. *CB

NHTSA ODI #10054403

Mileage unknown · Dec 17, 2003
Exterior Lighting

I HAD THE CAR, ABOUT FOR 5 TO 6 MONTHS, AND ONE DAY I WAS HEADING OUT TO A FRIENDS WHEN I REALIZED THAT MY FOG LIGHT WAS BUSTED. I KNEW I NEVER HIT ANYTHING OF THAT SORT OR HAD ANYTHING HIT IT. I TOOK IT TO THE MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID A ROCK MIGHT HAVE HIT IT. I WENT ONLINE TO WWW.NEWECLIPSE.ORG, THAT IS THE CAR C…

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I HAD THE CAR, ABOUT FOR 5 TO 6 MONTHS, AND ONE DAY I WAS HEADING OUT TO A FRIENDS WHEN I REALIZED THAT MY FOG LIGHT WAS BUSTED. I KNEW I NEVER HIT ANYTHING OF THAT SORT OR HAD ANYTHING HIT IT. I TOOK IT TO THE MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID A ROCK MIGHT HAVE HIT IT. I WENT ONLINE TO WWW.NEWECLIPSE.ORG, THAT IS THE CAR CLUB FOR ECLIPSE OWNERS AND YOU GO UNDER PROMBLEM REPORTS AND YOU SEE THAT MANY PEOPLES FOG LIGHTS HAVE JUST BUSTED. EVEN IF A ROCK WOULD HAVE HIT IT, THEN IT SHOULD HAVE WITH STOOD IT. AND MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS SAY THAT THE MITSUBISHI TEAM STATES THAT A ROCK MUST HAVE HIT IT. IF YOU COULD PLEASE CHECK ON THIS, THANKS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10050669

Official recalls

3

15V338000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Jun 2, 2015

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2000-2005 Eclipse vehicles manufactured April 5, 1999, to December 17, 2004, 2001-2005 Eclipse Spyder vehicles manufactured January 19, 2000, to March 18, 2005, 2001-2005 Chrysler Sebring vehicles manufactured April 17, 2000, to February 21, 2005, and 2001-2005 Dodge Stratus vehicles manufactured April 17, 2000, to February 22, 2005. In the affected vehicles, the passenger side sun visor may be folded down in such a position that, if the passenger frontal air bag deploys, the passenger side sun visor may detach.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.

Remedy: MMNA will notify their owners, and Chrysler will notify the Chrysler and Dodge owners. Dealers will install a tether strap to retain the passenger sun visor, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-15-005. Chrysler and Dodge owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R30.

04V428000 · Equipment:other:labels

Sep 1, 2004

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH REMOVABLE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS AFFIXED TO THE DASH AND TO THE SUNVISOR DO NOT MEET THE SIZE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Remedy: MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL CURRENT 2000-2004 NATIVA OWNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. THE NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIVA OWNERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL OR MAY 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.

03V442000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Nov 4, 2003

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL RETURN LINE HOSE FITTING ON THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP MAY BE RESTRICTED, CAUSING EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE TO BUILD UP IN THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE MAY RESULT IN A LEAK IN THE FUEL RETURN HOSE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP PRESSURE. THOSE VEHICLES EXHIBITING HIGHER THAN NORMAL FUEL PUMP PRESSURE WILL RECEIVE FUEL PUMP MODIFICATIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN DECEMBER 3, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037 OR MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-800-981-0452.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.