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2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 49.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

39 reports with mileage · 34 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.

  • Wheels. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports4 fire reports5 injury reports

What owners actually said

73 reports
185,000 miles · Sep 1, 2015
Fuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON REFUELING THE VEHICLE, FUEL LEAKED OUT THROUGH THE FUEL NECK DUE TO RUST. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAIL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON REFUELING THE VEHICLE, FUEL LEAKED OUT THROUGH THE FUEL NECK DUE TO RUST. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.

NHTSA ODI #10760854

200,000 miles · Jul 29, 2015
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. WHILE IN PARK, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WERE MULTIPLE FRACTURES ACROSS THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ODI #10744796

70,000 miles · Dec 10, 2014
Electrical SystemFire

CAUGHT FIRE OVER NIGHT WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY. WOKE UP THE FOLLOWING MORNING TO FIND THE DASH BOARD MELTED, WINDOWS SMOKED OUT, FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND DRIVER SIDE DOOR BURNT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10663500

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2014
Structure

THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE CRACKED SEVERAL YEARS AGO. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAD HAPPENED, AS I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAD ASSUMED THAT IT POSSIBLY GOT TOO HOT FROM THE SUN ONE DAY. I WAS APPALLED TO HEAR THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. PARTS OF A CAR SHOULD NOT BREAK IN TWO OR THREE PIECES. MITSUBISHI SH…

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THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE CRACKED SEVERAL YEARS AGO. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAD HAPPENED, AS I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAD ASSUMED THAT IT POSSIBLY GOT TOO HOT FROM THE SUN ONE DAY. I WAS APPALLED TO HEAR THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. PARTS OF A CAR SHOULD NOT BREAK IN TWO OR THREE PIECES. MITSUBISHI SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ISSUES. I HAVE TO TAKE A BITE IN THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE, THE FUNDS SHOULD COME OUT OF MITSUBISHI'S POCKET, NOT MINE! I ALSO AM HAVING ISSUES WITH THE PAINT ON THE SPOILER. THE PAINT HAS STRANGELY DISAPPEARED AND THE PART HAS TURNED WHITE. IT'S WEIRD! AGAIN, I FEEL THAT IF MITSUBISHI HAD A PROBLEM WITH THEIR PAINT JOBS, THEY SHOULD FIX THEM! *JS

NHTSA ODI #10617355

Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2013
Child Seat

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A BABY TREND CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT, MODEL NUMBER: TJ94128 (NA), AND MANUFACTURED JULY 7, 2012. THE CHILD SEAT WAS BEING USED IN A 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHILD SEAT LOWER LATCH CONNECTOR FAILED TO LOCK DURING THE INSTALLATION OF THE BASE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE D…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A BABY TREND CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT, MODEL NUMBER: TJ94128 (NA), AND MANUFACTURED JULY 7, 2012. THE CHILD SEAT WAS BEING USED IN A 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHILD SEAT LOWER LATCH CONNECTOR FAILED TO LOCK DURING THE INSTALLATION OF THE BASE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHILD SEAT WOULD BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE INFORMATION WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10531754

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2012
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

MY LEFT TURNING SIGNAL WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE OFF POSITION AFTER TURNING AND THEN OUT OF THE SUDDEN MY HEADLIGHTS ON HIGH BEAM WOULD STAY ON PERMANENTLY, LOW BEAMS WOULD NOT START . MY TURNING SIGNAL STOP WORKING AND NOW MY CAR WONT START. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10481548

135,000 miles · May 19, 2012
Power Train

TRANSMISSION STOPS FUNCTIONING DUE TO WAVE/CUSHION SPRING FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10459013

132,000 miles · Mar 19, 2012
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

WE WERE DRIVING AND CAR JUST DIED. BUT IT STILL WANTED TO START JUST ACTED LIKE DIDN'T HAVE GAS. TO BUT WE JUST FILLED UP. SO WE FIGURED FUEL PUMP. REPLACED IT AND NOTHING STILL SO THEN WE CALL A DEALER AND HE SAYS MOST COMMON THING THAT HAPPENS IN THESE CARS IS COMPUTER GETS FRIED. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10452265

172,000 miles · Sep 22, 2011
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON 95 IN VIRGINIA (ABOUT 20 MINS OUTSIDE OF RICHMOND) MY 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE'S ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK. THE CAR ENDED UP OVERHEATING AND THE BRAKES FAILED (THE FRONT DRIVER ROTOR ACTUALLY RIPPED APART) BEFORE I PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10426841

96,000 miles · Aug 22, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

AFTER CHECKING OUT SERVICE ENGINE CODES P0456 AND P0457 (EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM LEAK DETECTED) I FOUND THE FUEL FILLER NECK TUBE AND ALL VENT LINES TOTALLY CORRODED THROUGH. THE VEHICLE IS A 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE AND THIS ASSEMBLY IS LOCATED IN THE REAR RIGHT SIDE WHEEL WELL. DRIVING AREA IS THE NORTHEAST AND FOUN…

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AFTER CHECKING OUT SERVICE ENGINE CODES P0456 AND P0457 (EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM LEAK DETECTED) I FOUND THE FUEL FILLER NECK TUBE AND ALL VENT LINES TOTALLY CORRODED THROUGH. THE VEHICLE IS A 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE AND THIS ASSEMBLY IS LOCATED IN THE REAR RIGHT SIDE WHEEL WELL. DRIVING AREA IS THE NORTHEAST AND FOUND SAND AND DEBRIS PACKED ALL AROUND ASSEMBLY WHERE TUBES MAKE A 90 DEGREE TURN THROUGH A SUPPORT/PROTECTIVE BRACKET. I REPAIRED WITH A NEW FUEL NECK ASSEMBLY (PART NO. MR73836) PURCHASED FROM A LOCAL DEALERSHIP AT A COST OF $200 FOR PARTS ONLY. NO FUEL HAD YET LEAKED OUT BUT WOULD HAVE IN A SHORT TIME IF THIS PART WAS NOT REPLACED. DEALER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT OTHER MITSUBISHI MODELS AROUND THIS SAME YEAR HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS SAME CONDITION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10420972

Official recalls

2

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.

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

1

EA02007 · Aluminum Alloy Wheel Denting

Opened May 31, 2002 · Closed May 1, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Wheels

SEE ATTACHED REPORT.