SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

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 →
73Owner complaints

Model-year median: 49

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
120
1999308
2000209
200173
2002124
200314
20046
2005
Compare all Eclipse years →

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

What owners reported most

Wheels
29Structure
15Tires
6Electrical System
5Power Train
4
All reported categories
Exterior Lighting
3Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Air Bags
2Engine And Engine Cooling
2Fuel System, Gasoline
2Visibility
2Child Seat
1Equipment
1Fuel System, Other
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Seats
1Suspension
1Unknown Or Other
1Vehicle Speed Control
1

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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY 2002 ECLIPSE STARTED TO SOUND VERY LOUD. ITOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER.THEY BLEW ME OFF . THEY NEVER CHECKED THE CAR IN THE SHOP BUT THEY SAID THE CAR WAS OK.ONE WEEK LATER THE ENGINE CEASED DUE TO LACK OF OIL. THEY REFUSED TO FIX THE CAR BECAUSE OF "CUSTOMER NEGLIGENCE".THEY STATE THAT AS A RESULT OF THIER INVESTIGATION THE DI…

Read full complaint

MY 2002 ECLIPSE STARTED TO SOUND VERY LOUD. ITOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER.THEY BLEW ME OFF . THEY NEVER CHECKED THE CAR IN THE SHOP BUT THEY SAID THE CAR WAS OK.ONE WEEK LATER THE ENGINE CEASED DUE TO LACK OF OIL. THEY REFUSED TO FIX THE CAR BECAUSE OF "CUSTOMER NEGLIGENCE".THEY STATE THAT AS A RESULT OF THIER INVESTIGATION THE DID NOT LEAK OR BURN THE 3 QUARTS OF "MISSING OIL". THREFORE WHERE COULD IT BE.THIS OBVIOSLY THE OIL WAS NEVER THERE .MITSUBISHI DOES NOT WANT TO ADMIT THIS EVEN THOGH IT IS THE ONLY POSSIBLE THING THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED.PLEASE HELP . ISPENT 30000 DOLLARS ON THIS CAR AND CANT AFFORD TO FIX IT. NLM

NHTSA ODI #767184

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

A RANDOM CODE FAILURE IN THE COMPUTER LEAD TO REPEATED ENGINE STALLS AT STOP, AND LEAD TO OTHER SPARK PLUG FOULING AND EGR VALVE FAILURE. PROBLEM REPEATS AFTER CODE IS CLEARDED. BEEN REPAIRED 5 TIMES NOW, A 6TH ON THE WAY. NLM

NHTSA ODI #760828

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.