← 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 →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected 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

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

Structure complaints

15 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 2007
Structure

THE FAILURE IS MY DASHBOARD. THE CARE IS A 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GS. THE DASH STARTED CRACKING ALL OVER THE TOP BACK IN SEPTEMBER. AT LEAST 4 OTHER PEOPLE I KNOW WITH THE SAME CAR HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. FORUMS THAT I AM A MEMBER OF ALSO HAVE MANY THIRD GENERATION ECLIPSE OWNERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THING. THE MANUFACTURER …

Read full complaint

THE FAILURE IS MY DASHBOARD. THE CARE IS A 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GS. THE DASH STARTED CRACKING ALL OVER THE TOP BACK IN SEPTEMBER. AT LEAST 4 OTHER PEOPLE I KNOW WITH THE SAME CAR HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. FORUMS THAT I AM A MEMBER OF ALSO HAVE MANY THIRD GENERATION ECLIPSE OWNERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THING. THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THIS ISSUE AS A DEFECT AND WILL DO NOTHING TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10177830

45,000 miles · Dec 4, 2006
Structure

DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED IN TWO. THIS IS THE SECOND DASHBOARD THAT HAS BEEN REPLACED IN THIS CAR, DODGE AND MITSUBISHI WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10175113

45,000 miles · Oct 17, 2006
Structure

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED WITH A SEVERLY CRACKED DASH. APPARENTLY AN OCCURING PROBLEM IN THE 2000-2006 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSES. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10171054

Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2004
StructureFireInjury

2002 MITSHABISHI ECLIPSE REAR BUMPER STARTED TO BURN AND I HAD JUST PARKED AT WORK I WAS FOUND SLUMPED OVER BEHIND THE WHEEL APPARENTLY FROM THE FUMES OF THE BURNING PLASTIC. I HOPE MY REPORTING THIS REMOVES PLASTIC IN AREAS THAT MAY BE IGNITED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10066505

Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2002
Structure

RON MARHOFER MITSUBISHI'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM TWICE AND REFUSES TO ATTEMPT ANOTHER REPAIR. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY AREA BODY SHOPS THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE FROM A BROKEN SUPPORT IN THE FRAME.*AK

NHTSA ODI #765933

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.