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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
15 miles · May 2, 2011
Wheels

2002 ECLIPSE COUPE, OK THIS IS A MAJOR PROMBLEM, HOPE SOMEONE WILL LISTEN THE WHEELS (RIMS) CRACK ON THESE CARS "CHEAP" BOTH FRONT WHEELS AND DRIVERS SIDE BACK WHEEL. IF YOU HIT A POTHOLE YOUR GONNA PURCHASE NEW WHEELS. I AM A SINGLE MOM MY KIDS RIDE IN THIS CAR. MANY OTHERS HAVE "COMPLAINED" DO SOMETHING BEFORE YOU ARE SCRAPPIN…

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2002 ECLIPSE COUPE, OK THIS IS A MAJOR PROMBLEM, HOPE SOMEONE WILL LISTEN THE WHEELS (RIMS) CRACK ON THESE CARS "CHEAP" BOTH FRONT WHEELS AND DRIVERS SIDE BACK WHEEL. IF YOU HIT A POTHOLE YOUR GONNA PURCHASE NEW WHEELS. I AM A SINGLE MOM MY KIDS RIDE IN THIS CAR. MANY OTHERS HAVE "COMPLAINED" DO SOMETHING BEFORE YOU ARE SCRAPPING CHILDREN OFF THE EXPRESSWAY.....THESE WHEELS ON THE 2002 ECLIPSE ARE DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE TO KEEP REPLACING I CAN NOT AFFORD IT,, *TR

NHTSA ODI #10398457

Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2011
Wheels

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RIMS WERE BENDING ABNORMALLY AND CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE EXCESSIVELY. THE RIMS WERE REPLACED FOUR TIMES TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RIMS WERE BENDING ABNORMALLY AND CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE EXCESSIVELY. THE RIMS WERE REPLACED FOUR TIMES TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 05/03/11*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10386868

85,000 miles · Oct 15, 2009
Structure

THERE IS A MAJOR DEFECT IN THE DASHBOARDS OF MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE'S (YEARS 2000-05). THE DASHBOARD WILL CRACK AS THE CAR HITS UNEVEN ROAD SUCH ASH POT HOLES. IN THE HEAT AND COLD ALTHOUGH COVERED AND PROTECTED FRO DIRECT SUNLIGHT THE DASH WILL EXPAND AND RETRACT IN SIZE CREATING SMALL FRACTURES THAT CAN CRACK. ONCE THE CRACKS BECO…

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THERE IS A MAJOR DEFECT IN THE DASHBOARDS OF MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE'S (YEARS 2000-05). THE DASHBOARD WILL CRACK AS THE CAR HITS UNEVEN ROAD SUCH ASH POT HOLES. IN THE HEAT AND COLD ALTHOUGH COVERED AND PROTECTED FRO DIRECT SUNLIGHT THE DASH WILL EXPAND AND RETRACT IN SIZE CREATING SMALL FRACTURES THAT CAN CRACK. ONCE THE CRACKS BECOME LARGE ENOUGH PIECES WILL EITHER FLY OUT TOWARDS THE DRIVER OR FALL INTO THE HEATING AND COOLING DUCTS CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CARS BLOWER MOTOR. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE FOR PIECES OF THE DASHBOARD TO SHATTER AROUND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DURING A COLLISION CAUSING FATAL DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGERS OR DRIVER. THIS IS NOT A CASE BY CASE BASIS BUT ON EVERY 2000-05 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE I HAVE COME ACROSS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10288599

Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 2009
Structure

2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE THE LIFTBACK DOOR SUDDENLY FELL. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE LIFTBACK DETACHED FROM THE LEFT PISTON AND VIOLENTLY SLAMMED SHUT. THE PISTON ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE WELDED BACK INTO PLACE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10283170

Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2009
Structure

I BOUGHT A BLACK 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE IN 2004. THE PAINT JOB SEEMED FINE BUT SOON I REALIZED THAT MY PAINT IS DISSOLVING OFF MY CAR! THE CLEAR COAT IS ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE AND I AM AFRAID MY CAR WILL SOON START TO RUST. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER BLACK ECLIPSES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT APPL…

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I BOUGHT A BLACK 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE IN 2004. THE PAINT JOB SEEMED FINE BUT SOON I REALIZED THAT MY PAINT IS DISSOLVING OFF MY CAR! THE CLEAR COAT IS ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE AND I AM AFRAID MY CAR WILL SOON START TO RUST. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER BLACK ECLIPSES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT APPLY THE BLACK PAINT OR THE CLEAR COAT CORRECTLY ON THE BLACK 2002 ECLIPSES. I FEEL LIKE THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY DID NOT MAKE THEIR PRODUCT TO LAST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10279415

Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2009
Wheels

FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WAS CRACKED. MY TIRE WOULD SLOWLY DEFLATE SO I PURCHASED A NEW TIRE THINKING THIS WAS THE PROBLEM. THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, MY TIRE CONTINUED TO LOOSE AIR. SO I WENT BACK TO TIRE COMPANY AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT IS WAS NOT THE TIRE BUT A CRACK IN THE RIM. SO I PURCHASED A NEW WHEEL AND NOW AFTER A FEW MO…

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FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WAS CRACKED. MY TIRE WOULD SLOWLY DEFLATE SO I PURCHASED A NEW TIRE THINKING THIS WAS THE PROBLEM. THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, MY TIRE CONTINUED TO LOOSE AIR. SO I WENT BACK TO TIRE COMPANY AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT IS WAS NOT THE TIRE BUT A CRACK IN THE RIM. SO I PURCHASED A NEW WHEEL AND NOW AFTER A FEW MONTHS I HAVE A BENT RIM. THESE WHEELS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO CONTINUE PURCHASING NEW WHEELS IF THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. I WOULD JUST PURCHASED A WHOLE NEW DIFFERENT SET OF WHEELS IF I HAD THE FUNDS AVAILABLE, WHICH I DO NOT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10257739

85,000 miles · Sep 8, 2008
StructureWheels

I HAVE A BLACK I GUESS YOU CAN CALL IT BLACK AND WHITE 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CLEAR COAT IT COMPLETELY OFF AND THE BLACK PAINT IS JUST ABOUT GONE. I HAVE RUST SPOTS COMING THROUGH NOW. IT FIRST STARTED ON THE HOOD ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND NOW IT IS EVERYWHERE. I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE TWO OF MY RIMS BECAUSE THEY WERE BENT. NOW…

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I HAVE A BLACK I GUESS YOU CAN CALL IT BLACK AND WHITE 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CLEAR COAT IT COMPLETELY OFF AND THE BLACK PAINT IS JUST ABOUT GONE. I HAVE RUST SPOTS COMING THROUGH NOW. IT FIRST STARTED ON THE HOOD ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND NOW IT IS EVERYWHERE. I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE TWO OF MY RIMS BECAUSE THEY WERE BENT. NOW I HAVE A SHIMMY IN MY STEERING WHEEL WHEN I GET UP TO 65MPH THIS STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AGO ALSO. I HAVE GOTTEN NEW TIRES AND RIMS ON IT HOPING THAT WOULD HELP THE PROBLEM BUT IT IS JUST AS BAD AS IT WAS LAST YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10241359

67,000 miles · Aug 16, 2008
Structure

AFTER HAVING MY CAR WASHED AND DETAILED IN LATE MAY OF 2008, I NOTICED A WHITE DETERIORATION OF PAINT ON THE HOOD. OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS THE DAMAGE HAS SPREAD OVER THE HOOD AND THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE LIKE A FUNGUS. I RECENTLY WENT ONLINE TO RESEARCH THE PROBLEM AND DISCOVERED HUNDREDS OF MITSUBISHI OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING…

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AFTER HAVING MY CAR WASHED AND DETAILED IN LATE MAY OF 2008, I NOTICED A WHITE DETERIORATION OF PAINT ON THE HOOD. OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS THE DAMAGE HAS SPREAD OVER THE HOOD AND THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE LIKE A FUNGUS. I RECENTLY WENT ONLINE TO RESEARCH THE PROBLEM AND DISCOVERED HUNDREDS OF MITSUBISHI OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. MOST HAVE STATED THAT MITSUBISHI HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM AND WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECT AS THE CAR IS "NO LONGER UNDER THE 36 MONTH WARRANTY PERIOD". MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS HAVE NOTED THE COST OF REPAIR AS HIGH AS $3,500 - 9,000 TO REPAINT THE CAR. TO REPAIR THE CAR COULD BE MORE THAN THE KELLEY BLUE BOOK VALUE FOR SOME OWNERS. I HAVE FOUND NO INFORMATION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED, HOWEVER, A GENTLEMAN IN PA IS ORGANIZING CONSUMERS TO INITIATE A CASE. THERE ARE SEVERAL WEBSITES THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED (IE: DEADECLIPSE.COM; MITSUBISHISUCKS.COM) AS A FORUM FOR HUNDREDS OF DISSATISFIED CUSTOMERS TO VOICE THEIR DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THE COMPANY/PRODUCT. IT SEEMS UNUSUAL THAT WITH HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS CIRCULATING ABOUT THE MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT (CLEAR COAT PAINT) ON MANY OF ITS MODELS, THE NHTSA HAS NO RECORD OF INVESTIGATION OR RECALLS. PLEASE CONSIDER THIS A FORMAL COMPLAINT AND INITIATE A FORMAL INVESTIGATION. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU. PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10238488

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2008
Structure

I HAVE A BLACK, 2002 MITSUBISHI, ECLIPSE GT AND THE PAINT IS COMING OFF. THE ROOF AND THE HOOD PAINT IS ALMOST DOWN TO THE BASE METAL. I HAVE ALSO SEEN OTHER ECLIPSE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10234118

94,090 miles · Jul 9, 2008
Wheels

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I'VE HAD TO REPLACE MY RIM DUE TO THE LIP BENDING BACK CAUSING THE TIRE TO DEFLATE. BOTH TIMES IT WAS ON THE FRONT TIRE. LOOKING AT ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT WITH THE MITSUBISHI RIMS WHICH RESULTS IN DECREASED STEERING CONTROL AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIO…

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THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I'VE HAD TO REPLACE MY RIM DUE TO THE LIP BENDING BACK CAUSING THE TIRE TO DEFLATE. BOTH TIMES IT WAS ON THE FRONT TIRE. LOOKING AT ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT WITH THE MITSUBISHI RIMS WHICH RESULTS IN DECREASED STEERING CONTROL AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10233707

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.