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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

Wheels complaints

4 reports
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161,900 miles · May 19, 2013
Wheels

DRIVING ON RESIDENTIAL STREET (APPROX. 20 MPH). CAR SHIFTED SLIGHTLY TO RIGHT AS I WAS ROUNDING A CURVE. CAME TO STOP SIGN AND REAR RIGHT WHEEL FELL OFF. THE HUB CRACKED AND BROKE OFF AT BEARING.. IT WAS A VERY CLEAN CUT AS THOUGH THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE HUB. CAR TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. $300 REPAIR BILL. REPAIRMAN SAID HE…

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DRIVING ON RESIDENTIAL STREET (APPROX. 20 MPH). CAR SHIFTED SLIGHTLY TO RIGHT AS I WAS ROUNDING A CURVE. CAME TO STOP SIGN AND REAR RIGHT WHEEL FELL OFF. THE HUB CRACKED AND BROKE OFF AT BEARING.. IT WAS A VERY CLEAN CUT AS THOUGH THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE HUB. CAR TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. $300 REPAIR BILL. REPAIRMAN SAID HE HAS NEVER SEEN THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE IN THE 40 YEARS HE HAS BEEN REPAIRING CARS. COULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS HAD I BEEN DRIVING AT A HIGHER SPEED AS ON AN OPEN HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10512693

Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 2005
Wheels

I HAVE A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GTS. IT HAS ABOUT 75,000 MILES ON IT NOW. I HAVE NOW BENT 4 WHEELS ON THIS MODEL. THEY KEEP BLAMING IT ON ME, SAYING ITS MY DRIVING, BUT AFTER THE FOURTH TIME, I KNOW IT IS NOT ME. I SHOULD NOT BE REGULARLY BENDING WHEELS ON A CAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE VAST MAJORITY OF MY DRIVING IS HIGHWAY DRIVIN…

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I HAVE A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GTS. IT HAS ABOUT 75,000 MILES ON IT NOW. I HAVE NOW BENT 4 WHEELS ON THIS MODEL. THEY KEEP BLAMING IT ON ME, SAYING ITS MY DRIVING, BUT AFTER THE FOURTH TIME, I KNOW IT IS NOT ME. I SHOULD NOT BE REGULARLY BENDING WHEELS ON A CAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE VAST MAJORITY OF MY DRIVING IS HIGHWAY DRIVING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10139177

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…

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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

9,800 miles · Jun 1, 2004
Wheels

BULGE ON FRONT TIRE OF 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GTS. TIRE IS A GOODYEAR RSA P215/50 R17. LESS THAN 10,000 MILES ON TIRE WHEN BULGE APPEARED. BOTH MITSUBISHI AND GOODYEAR BLAMED DEFECT ON ME AND OFFERED NO COMPENSATION. ALSO HAVE TWO BENT ORIGINAL RIMS ON CAR. THE RIMS AND TIRES ON THE ECLIPSE HAVE A POOR HISTORY AND SAFETY …

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BULGE ON FRONT TIRE OF 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GTS. TIRE IS A GOODYEAR RSA P215/50 R17. LESS THAN 10,000 MILES ON TIRE WHEN BULGE APPEARED. BOTH MITSUBISHI AND GOODYEAR BLAMED DEFECT ON ME AND OFFERED NO COMPENSATION. ALSO HAVE TWO BENT ORIGINAL RIMS ON CAR. THE RIMS AND TIRES ON THE ECLIPSE HAVE A POOR HISTORY AND SAFETY RATING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10074586

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.