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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

Visibility/wiper complaints

3 reports
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135,000 miles · Jan 11, 2018
Air BagsVisibility/wiperCrashFireInjury

PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED CAUSED ME TO VEER OFF TO THE RIGHT FOR SAFETY.PASSENGER VISOR FLEW OFF HIT MY ARM AND FLEW OUT WINDOW. UNABLE TO SEE WITH AIRBAG IN MY FACE I ENDED UP HALF ON AND HALF OFF A CULVERT WITH CEMENT PIPE.CAR STOPPED AND THEN MY DRIVER AIRBAG SHOT FIRE AND CHEMICALS INTO MY FACE.HORRIBLE STILL AFTER A WHOLE …

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PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED CAUSED ME TO VEER OFF TO THE RIGHT FOR SAFETY.PASSENGER VISOR FLEW OFF HIT MY ARM AND FLEW OUT WINDOW. UNABLE TO SEE WITH AIRBAG IN MY FACE I ENDED UP HALF ON AND HALF OFF A CULVERT WITH CEMENT PIPE.CAR STOPPED AND THEN MY DRIVER AIRBAG SHOT FIRE AND CHEMICALS INTO MY FACE.HORRIBLE STILL AFTER A WHOLE YEAR NOONE CARES NOONE HELPS NO THERAPY FOLLOW UP NONE ONLY ER WHEN I CAN NO LONGER TOLERATE THE EXTREME PAIN.2 TITANIUM RODS N 38 SCREWS HOLD IT TOGETHER. SOME SCREWS ARE COMING OFF AND 3 BONES ARE STILL SHATTERED. SOME ARE EVEN MISSING. PLEASE HELP

NHTSA ODI #11062091

165,281 miles · Aug 26, 2015
Visibility/wiper

RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL FROM MITSUBISHI ON THE PASSENGER SUN VISOR REQUIRING A TETHER STRAP. I CALLED THEIR TOLL FREE NUMBER TO LOCATE A DEALER TO INSTALL THE TETHER STRAP AS DIRECTED BY THE NOTICE. MITSUBISHI DOES NOT HAVE A DEALER IN TUCSON AND INFORMED ME WE NEEDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A PHOENIX DEALER, OVER A 100 MILES AW…

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RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL FROM MITSUBISHI ON THE PASSENGER SUN VISOR REQUIRING A TETHER STRAP. I CALLED THEIR TOLL FREE NUMBER TO LOCATE A DEALER TO INSTALL THE TETHER STRAP AS DIRECTED BY THE NOTICE. MITSUBISHI DOES NOT HAVE A DEALER IN TUCSON AND INFORMED ME WE NEEDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A PHOENIX DEALER, OVER A 100 MILES AWAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE COST OF GAS AND THE TRAVEL TIME (OFF WORK OR MISSING SCHOOL) IS HIGHER THAN THE PARTS AND LABOR FOR .5 OF AN HOUR LABOR. THEY HAVE NOT MADE ARRANGEMENTS WITH A LOCAL TUCSON CAR REPAIR FACILITY TO PERFORM THIS RECALL, NOR DID THEY OFFER TO SEND ME THE PARTS FOR SELF INSTALLATION. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY POOR RESPONSE TO A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE. CAN YOU ASSIST AS I KNOW THERE ARE MORE OF THE SAME VEHICLE IN TUCSON.

NHTSA ODI #10759618

109,000 miles · Mar 23, 2015
StructureVisibility/wiper

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HATCH BACK AND SUN ROOF HAD WATER LEAKAGE. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

NHTSA ODI #10701095

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.