← New search

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.

About this comparison →

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

Suspension complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
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…

Read full complaint

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 · Nov 6, 2004
StructureSuspensionVisibility

HAVE A 2003 ECLIPSE AND MANY MANY PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASING. AFTER REGULAR SCHEDULED TIRE BALANCE AND ROTATION, TOOK THE CAR BACK BECAUSE OF SHAKING AT 50-60 MPH, THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE RIMS WERE BENT, AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED, AND THEY DID (RIGHT AFTER BALANCE AND ROTATING? WOULD THEY BALANCE IF THE RIMS WERE BE…

Read full complaint

HAVE A 2003 ECLIPSE AND MANY MANY PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASING. AFTER REGULAR SCHEDULED TIRE BALANCE AND ROTATION, TOOK THE CAR BACK BECAUSE OF SHAKING AT 50-60 MPH, THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE RIMS WERE BENT, AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED, AND THEY DID (RIGHT AFTER BALANCE AND ROTATING? WOULD THEY BALANCE IF THE RIMS WERE BENT?) HAD MY CAR IN NUMEROUS TIMES FOR MOISTURE IN MY WINDOWS WHEN PUTTING THEM DOWN AND BACK UP, A LOT OF MOISTURE AND BAD VISIBILITY, REPLACED STRIPS WHICH HELPED MOLD SMELL, BUT CAN'T FIX THE MOISTURE. B/C OF THE BAD VISIBILITY I AM EXTRA CAREFUL, BUT MY CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. RECENTLY THE MOLDING ON THE WINDSHIELD WAS COMING LOOSE, THE DEALERSHIP FIXED IT (SENT IT TO A WINDOW PLACE) AND SINCE THEN I HAVE A FILM ON MY WINDSHIELD WHICH MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE...I HAVE CLEANED THE GLASS NUMEROUS TIMES, MY WIPERS WERE FAIRLY NEW, MITSBUSHI WOULDN'T LOOK AT IT WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR ANOTHER RIM REPLACEMENT. MY CAR STILL SHAKES, MY WINDOWS AND WINDSHIELD HAVE BAD VISIBILITY PROBLEMS, AND NOW MY SUNROOF BUTTON HAS POPPED OUT AND WILL NOT OPEN UNLESS I HOLD IT IN FIRST. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10098389

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.