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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.

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

What owners actually said

124 reports
5,800 miles · Jun 1, 2004
Power Train

I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR AND YESTERDAY I NOTICED A GRINDING SOUND WHEN I LET OUT THE CLUTCH TO START THE CAR. I TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE CLUTCH DISK THAT WAS GONE AND THEFORE PROBABLY MY FLYWHEEL TOO. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THIS WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AS IT WAS CONSIDERED NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10074604

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

12,000 miles · May 25, 2004
Power Train

THE CLUTCH FAILED AFTER ONLY 12,000 MILES. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HOT RODDED BUT THE DRIVER STATED THAT SHE WAS AN EXPERIENCED MANUAL TRANSMISSION DRIVER. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE CLUTCH WAS SLIPPING. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10074254

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

150 miles · Feb 6, 2004
Structure

WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW IS IN THE FULL UPWARD POSITION, THE DOOR IS HARD TO OPEN/CLOSE; THE GLASS GETS STUCK IN THE WINDOW MOLDING. TOOK TO DEALER, WHO REPLACED WINDOW MOLDING, BUT REALLY DIDN'T WORK. WILL TAKE BACK TO DEALER. SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10056682

24,460 miles · Feb 2, 2004
Electrical SystemFire

AFTER DRIVING 65 MPH THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND OPENED THE HOOD TO SEE ALL THE INSULATION SMOLDERING. ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL WIRES WERE ALSO MELTED. THE DEALER IS EXAMINING THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10057338

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 · Jan 15, 2004
Unknown Or OtherVisibility

WE BOUGHT A 2003 ECLIPSE FROM SUN COAST MIS. RIGHT AWAY WE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SMELL OF MOLD. FINALLY WE TOOK THE CAR IN ON A RAINY DAY AND MY WIFE GOT OUT OF THE BACK SEAT TOTALLY WET. THEY REPAIRED THE PROBLEM, BUT WE WERE BACK AGAIN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS LAST TIME WE TOOK THE CAR IN WE COULD SMELL MOLD AGAIN. THEY F…

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WE BOUGHT A 2003 ECLIPSE FROM SUN COAST MIS. RIGHT AWAY WE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SMELL OF MOLD. FINALLY WE TOOK THE CAR IN ON A RAINY DAY AND MY WIFE GOT OUT OF THE BACK SEAT TOTALLY WET. THEY REPAIRED THE PROBLEM, BUT WE WERE BACK AGAIN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS LAST TIME WE TOOK THE CAR IN WE COULD SMELL MOLD AGAIN. THEY FOUND ANOTHER LEAK AT THE FIRE WALL ON THE PASS. SIDE. WE LIVE 66 MILES AWAY FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE HAD OUR CAR FOR REPAIRS OVER 30 DAYS. WE HAVE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR LIKE PAINT CHIPS ON THE HOOD, SIDE MIRROW HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE RADIO CD HAD TO BE FIXED AND OTHER THINGS.

NHTSA ODI #10070427

20,000 miles · Jan 2, 2004
Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO REAR END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER DRIVER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT THE DRIVER IMPACTED THE STEERING WHEEL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10052248

37 miles · Dec 31, 2003
Structure

WHEN THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE, IT WAS HARD TO SEE OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED WITH THE BACK SETTING TO HIGH UP. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB *MR

NHTSA ODI #10052224

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.