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2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Eclipse years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse are substantially higher than the model-year median of 49.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

75 reports with mileage · 49 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.

  • Structure. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

15 crash reports4 fire reports7 injury reports

Steering complaints

6 reports
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170,000 miles · Nov 20, 2015
SteeringCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. WHILE VEERING TO THE LEFT AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. WHILE VEERING TO THE LEFT AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ODI #10795060

37,946 miles · Apr 13, 2006
Steering

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND WENT TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN BUT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY TIGHT AND HARD TO TURN. WAS ABLE TO MAKE TURN. BROUGHT CAR BACK TO DEALER THAT DAY. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT BUT DECIDED TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING POWER. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10155260

34,530 miles · Dec 29, 2004
Steering

I AM FILING A COMPLAINT REGARDING THE STEERING MECHANISM IN MY 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GT - ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2004 - I WAS GOING HOME FROM WORK AND MY STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME STIFF AND I WAS ALMOST UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR ENOUGH TO GET TO MY HOME. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE INTERMITTENT. THE CAR IS STILL UNDER THE FACTORY …

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I AM FILING A COMPLAINT REGARDING THE STEERING MECHANISM IN MY 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GT - ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2004 - I WAS GOING HOME FROM WORK AND MY STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME STIFF AND I WAS ALMOST UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR ENOUGH TO GET TO MY HOME. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE INTERMITTENT. THE CAR IS STILL UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY AND I CALLED MITSUBISHI WHO HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. I HAVE NOT GOTTEN MY CAR BACK AND IT IS STILL IN THE SHOP; HOWEVER, I FIND THIS ISSUE TO BE A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE IN TERMS OF CONSUMERS OF THIS PRODUCT. I DID RESEARCH PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS ON YOUR SITE AND SEE THE SAME ISSUE WAS NOTED UNDER THE COMPONENTS OF STEERING WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR FOR THE 2003 ECLIPSE PRODUCT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10104689

Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingPower Train

I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT REGARDING MY MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GTS 2003. THE PRODUCT HAS NOT PERFORMED WELL BECAUSE DURING THE SIX MONTHS THAT I HAVE HAD MY BRAND NEW CAR, I HAD TO BRING IT FOR SEVERAL REPAIRS. FIRST, THE CAR WENT TO THE SHOP AT MITSUBISHI BOSAK CHICAGO FOR A LOOSE BOLT, SECOND THE CAR HAD A LEAK ON THE COOLAN…

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I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT REGARDING MY MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GTS 2003. THE PRODUCT HAS NOT PERFORMED WELL BECAUSE DURING THE SIX MONTHS THAT I HAVE HAD MY BRAND NEW CAR, I HAD TO BRING IT FOR SEVERAL REPAIRS. FIRST, THE CAR WENT TO THE SHOP AT MITSUBISHI BOSAK CHICAGO FOR A LOOSE BOLT, SECOND THE CAR HAD A LEAK ON THE COOLANT SYSTEM, THIRD THE WHEEL WAS NO LONGER ALIGNED, AND FOURTH THE REAR DEFROSTER DOES NOT DEFROST PROPERLY. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED OF THAT MATTER BECAUSE ONE OF THE REASON I INVESTED MY MONEY IN BUYING A BRAND NEW CAR AND CHOOSING MITSUBISHI SO I DONT HAVE TO SPEND MORE TIME IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIR AND SPEND MORE CASH. THE CAR WAS ONLY SIX MONTHS OLD AND ALREADY EXPERIENCING A LOT OF PROBLEMS, NOW THE CAR HAS BEEN A YEAR AND I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO MITSUBISHI BOSAK DEALER TO HAVE THE REAR LIGHT FIXED BECAUSE WATER WAS GOING INSIDE AND STILL WAITING TO HAVE THE SUNROOF TO BE FIX BECAUSE IT DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY AND THE AXLE OF THE CAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACE. THEY WOULDNT REPLACE IT RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE ITEM TO BE DELIVERED. WHAT IF DURING THAT TIME OF WAIT SOMETHING HAPPEN TO THE CAR? (MAY GOD FORBID) I HAVE BEFORE TRY TO COMPLAIN WITH THE MITSUBISHI HEADQUARTER IN CALIFORNIA, BUT THE PERSON WOULDNT DO ANYTHING. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE OF MY CAR. I THINK THAT THE COMPANY SHOULD CHECK THEIR ENTIRE PRODUCT BEFORE SELLING IT TO THE PUBLIC. DRIVING MY ECLIPSE IS SOMETHING THAT I FEAR BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THE CARS DEFECT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10091344

Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2003
Steering

POWER STEERING HOSE LEAK..WENT TO DEALER 3 TIMES CANNOT FIX LEAK. HAVE TO REPLENISH FLUID FROM TIME TO TIME.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10014191

Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 2002
SteeringCrash

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AROUND A CURVED ROAD AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLES STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME STIFF. CONSUMER HIT A WALL AS A RESULT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

NHTSA ODI #8020385

Official recalls

3

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.

03V442000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Nov 4, 2003

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL RETURN LINE HOSE FITTING ON THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP MAY BE RESTRICTED, CAUSING EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE TO BUILD UP IN THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE MAY RESULT IN A LEAK IN THE FUEL RETURN HOSE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP PRESSURE. THOSE VEHICLES EXHIBITING HIGHER THAN NORMAL FUEL PUMP PRESSURE WILL RECEIVE FUEL PUMP MODIFICATIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN DECEMBER 3, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037 OR MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-800-981-0452.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.