IllustrationTRANSMISSION STOPS FUNCTIONING DUE TO WAVE/CUSHION SPRING FAILURE. *TR
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
Compare all Eclipse years →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
90–25K
1125–50K
850–75K
575–100K
3100–150K
3150K+
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
Power Train complaints
4 reportsDT: STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS SHIFTING AND STARTED HEARING A NOISE SOUNDING LIKE METAL SPINNING. WAS TOLD BY TWO DEALERS THAT THE NOISE WAS NORMAL. HE HAS HAD THE REVERSE SYNCHROS, PRESSURE PLATE AND CLUTCH REPLACED. WORK DONE AT DEALER WHERE HE BOUGHT IT. WAS TOLD BY MANUFACTURER THAT THEY WILL RESEARCH THE PROBLEM. IN LATE FEB…
Read full complaint
DT: STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS SHIFTING AND STARTED HEARING A NOISE SOUNDING LIKE METAL SPINNING. WAS TOLD BY TWO DEALERS THAT THE NOISE WAS NORMAL. HE HAS HAD THE REVERSE SYNCHROS, PRESSURE PLATE AND CLUTCH REPLACED. WORK DONE AT DEALER WHERE HE BOUGHT IT. WAS TOLD BY MANUFACTURER THAT THEY WILL RESEARCH THE PROBLEM. IN LATE FEBURARY CAME TO STOP WHEN HE WENT OT TAKE OFF HE HEARD LOUD METAL CLANKING NOISES AND SHEARING NOISES. PARKED IT THEN. HIS DEALER WENT OUT OF BUSINESS AND HAD TO TAKE THE CAR TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO SAID IT WAS THE INPUT SHAFT AND INPUT SHAFT SEAL. WAS TOLD ONRIGINALLY IT WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. NOW THE DEALER IS SAYING IT IS NOT A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THE DEFECTIVE INPUT SHAFT AND INPUT SHAFT SEAL HAS TOTALLY DISTROYED THE TRANSMISSION. THE WARRANTY COMPANY IS SAYING IT IS OWNER FAULT AND ALL THEY WILL PAY FOR IS TH INPUT SHAFT AND INPUT SHAFT SEAL.
CLUTCH FEELS SLUGGISH IN 2ND- 5TH GEAR, LIKE ALMOST A SLIP. ONLY HAVE 27K MILES ON IT AND I DON'T ABUSE MY CAR IN ANYWAY. A FEW OTHER OF MY FRIENDS EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR MITSUBISHI ECLIPSES. *JB
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Official recalls
215V338000 · 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
1EA02007 · Aluminum Alloy Wheel Denting
Opened May 31, 2002 · Closed May 1, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Wheels
SEE ATTACHED REPORT.