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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
50,000 miles · Jun 21, 2008
Structure

I OWN A 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GT WITH A PAINT-PEELING PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS A HORRIBLE PAINT-PEELING PROBLEM ALL OVER THE TOP AREAS OF THE CAR. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH ABOUT 48,000 MILES, AND THE PAINT PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT TWO THOUSAND MILES LATER. I HAVE SEEN MANY, MANY VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS MY CAR. I TOOK MY…

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I OWN A 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GT WITH A PAINT-PEELING PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS A HORRIBLE PAINT-PEELING PROBLEM ALL OVER THE TOP AREAS OF THE CAR. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH ABOUT 48,000 MILES, AND THE PAINT PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT TWO THOUSAND MILES LATER. I HAVE SEEN MANY, MANY VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS MY CAR. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP SO THAT THEY COULD TAKE PICTURES AND SEND THEM IN. I RECEIVED A RESPONSE ABOUT THREE WEEKS LATER SAYING THAT THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO THE CAR BECAUSE I WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FACT THAT I WASN'T THE ORIGINAL OWNER HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PAINT BEING A PROBLEM ON OTHER PEOPLE'S CARS. THEY REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT THE DEFECT IS ON THEIR BEHALF AND REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE IS BEGINNING TO RUST AND I AM NOT ABLE TO AFFORD THE REPAINTING OF MY CAR. THE VEHICLE WILL JUST CONTINUE TO RUST AND BECOME A ROAD HAZARD THAT IS OUT OF MY CONTROL. I TAKE WELL-ABOVE DECENT CARE OF MY VEHICLES, BUT THERE IS NOTHING I COULD DO ABOUT THE PAINT. WHILE IT MAY NOT BE A ROAD HAZARD OR CAUSE IN DEATHS OR INJURIES, IT DOES CAUSE EXCESSIVE, AND UNNECESSARY, RUST WHICH WOULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO HAZARDOUS VEHICLES, WHICH PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX BECAUSE THEY ARE STILL PAYING FOR THE VEHICLE. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS. CHAD *TR

NHTSA ODI #10231913

Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2008
TiresCrashInjury

2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE HAD A TIRE BLOW OUT. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE THEN STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THEN HIT THE MEDIAN WALL BEFORE COMING TO A REST ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *KB EXAMINATION OF THE TIRE REVEALED TWO HOLES IN THE SIDEWALL WHICH CAUSED THE BLOWOUT. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED A LACERATION TO HER KNEE…

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2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE HAD A TIRE BLOW OUT. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE THEN STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THEN HIT THE MEDIAN WALL BEFORE COMING TO A REST ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *KB EXAMINATION OF THE TIRE REVEALED TWO HOLES IN THE SIDEWALL WHICH CAUSED THE BLOWOUT. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED A LACERATION TO HER KNEE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0220-91

NHTSA ODI #10226214

72,000 miles · Jul 10, 2007
Exterior LightingVisibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COLUMN SWITCH LEVER BECAME DETACHED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE VEHICLE. THE LEVER WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL # 99V305001 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING). THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNO…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COLUMN SWITCH LEVER BECAME DETACHED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE VEHICLE. THE LEVER WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL # 99V305001 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING). THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 83,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ODI #10195949

58,900 miles · May 31, 2007
Equipment

I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM FOWLER MITSUBISHI, NORMAN, OK AND EVERY TIME I RUN THE A/C, THE ENTIRE DRIVERS SIDE (FRONT & REAR) FILLS UP WITH WATER. (2 INCHES DEEP) NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW OR CARE WHAT TO DO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10192088

Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2007
Structure

MY DOOR HANDLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GT BROKE OFF INTO MY HAND WHEN I WAS OPENING THE DOOR. THE DOOR HANDLE APPEARS TO HAVE LITERALLY SNAPPED IN HALF FROM INSIDE THE DOOR CAVITY WHERE IT WAS CONNECTED. CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE PART. MY CAR IS IN GREAT SHAPE--I AM VERY SURPRISED THIS HAPPENED. AFTER TA…

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MY DOOR HANDLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GT BROKE OFF INTO MY HAND WHEN I WAS OPENING THE DOOR. THE DOOR HANDLE APPEARS TO HAVE LITERALLY SNAPPED IN HALF FROM INSIDE THE DOOR CAVITY WHERE IT WAS CONNECTED. CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE PART. MY CAR IS IN GREAT SHAPE--I AM VERY SURPRISED THIS HAPPENED. AFTER TALKING TO A MITSUBISHI DEALER, THE HANDLE ITSELF COSTS ABOUT $45; TO PAINT IT COSTS $110; AND IT'S ANOTHER $150 FOR LABOR, FOR A TOTAL OF $305 PLUS TAX. NOT A COST ONE WOULD EXPECT TO INCUR ON A 2002 VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10186921

32,147 miles · Feb 10, 2007
Wheels

THIRD TIME WHEELS HAVE FAILED CAUSING RAPID DEFLATION OF TIRE AND SUBSEQUENT CONTROL OF THE CAR. TIRE SUSTAINS NO DAMAGE, BUT LIP ON RIM GETS BENT BACK RELEASING AIR. RIMS ARE TOO SOFT, OR THE CAR NEEDS A HIGHER PROFILE RIM AND TIRE. DAMAGE ALWAYS OCCURS ON FRONT WHEELS DUE TO EXTRA WEIGHT OF ENGINE, ETC. ON FRONT END. AT AGE 6…

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THIRD TIME WHEELS HAVE FAILED CAUSING RAPID DEFLATION OF TIRE AND SUBSEQUENT CONTROL OF THE CAR. TIRE SUSTAINS NO DAMAGE, BUT LIP ON RIM GETS BENT BACK RELEASING AIR. RIMS ARE TOO SOFT, OR THE CAR NEEDS A HIGHER PROFILE RIM AND TIRE. DAMAGE ALWAYS OCCURS ON FRONT WHEELS DUE TO EXTRA WEIGHT OF ENGINE, ETC. ON FRONT END. AT AGE 62, I'VE OWNED A NUMBER OF CARS WITH ALLOY WHEELS AND CAUGHT A POTHOLE OR TWO, BUT NEVER HAD A WHEEL FAILURE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10182197

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 …

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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

Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2006
Wheels

THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL GETS BENT WHILE GOING OVER POTHOLES OR RAIL ROAD CROSSING AT NORMAL SPEEDS. IN THE 1.5 YEARS I'VE HAD THIS (2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GT) CAR I HAVE HAD TO GET THE WHEEL STRAIGHTENED 3 TIMES ALREADY. THE TIRE LOOSES PRESSURE OVER A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER GOING OVER THE BUMP BECOMING COMPLETELY FLAT. *…

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THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL GETS BENT WHILE GOING OVER POTHOLES OR RAIL ROAD CROSSING AT NORMAL SPEEDS. IN THE 1.5 YEARS I'VE HAD THIS (2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GT) CAR I HAVE HAD TO GET THE WHEEL STRAIGHTENED 3 TIMES ALREADY. THE TIRE LOOSES PRESSURE OVER A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER GOING OVER THE BUMP BECOMING COMPLETELY FLAT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10175697

51,000 miles · Dec 5, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM BOTH FRONT BRAKES. ALSO, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNALS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM BOTH FRONT BRAKES. ALSO, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNALS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER.

NHTSA ODI #10175262

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

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.