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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

Structure complaints

31 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2008
Structure

I OWN A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GTS AND I HAVE NOTICED ON THE TOP OF MY ROOF THAT MY BLACK PAINT IS TURNING WHITE! IT IS VERY NOTICEABLE . I HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT I AM ONE OF HUNDREDS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO FOUND THAT COMPANY DOES NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND BLAMES IT ON THE ROAD, SA…

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I OWN A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GTS AND I HAVE NOTICED ON THE TOP OF MY ROOF THAT MY BLACK PAINT IS TURNING WHITE! IT IS VERY NOTICEABLE . I HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT I AM ONE OF HUNDREDS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO FOUND THAT COMPANY DOES NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND BLAMES IT ON THE ROAD, SALT, AND BIRDS. A CAR THAT IS THIS NEW SHOULD NOT BE HAVING PAINT PROBLEMS! I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED WITH MITSUBISHI AND WILL NOT BE A CONTINUING CUSTOMER IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED. I AM HOPING MITSUBISHI TAKES FULL RESPONSIBILITY IN FITTING THE PAINT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10234272

60,000 miles · Jun 16, 2008
Structure

I NOTICED RECENTLY THAT A SECTION OF THE ROOF ON MY CAR WAS WHITISH IN COLOR. QUITE APPARENT AS MY CAR IS BLACK IN COLOR. I HAVE HEARD AND READ FROM MANY SOURCES THAT THIS ISSUE WAS PREVALENT IN 2003 MODELS AND OBVIOUSLY MINE IS NOT EXEMPT MUCH TO MY DISAPPOINTMENT. I HOPE THAT MITSUBISHI STEPS UP TO THE PLATE TO CORRECT THIS M…

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I NOTICED RECENTLY THAT A SECTION OF THE ROOF ON MY CAR WAS WHITISH IN COLOR. QUITE APPARENT AS MY CAR IS BLACK IN COLOR. I HAVE HEARD AND READ FROM MANY SOURCES THAT THIS ISSUE WAS PREVALENT IN 2003 MODELS AND OBVIOUSLY MINE IS NOT EXEMPT MUCH TO MY DISAPPOINTMENT. I HOPE THAT MITSUBISHI STEPS UP TO THE PLATE TO CORRECT THIS MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10231149

40,000 miles · Jun 16, 2008
Structure

I OWN A 2003 BLACK MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GTS THAT HAS A HORRIBLE OXIDIZING PAINT PROBLEM. THE HOOD, TRUNK AND TOP OF MY CAR ARE NEARLY ALL GRAY AT THIS POINT. THE PROBLEM FIRST APPEARED ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO WHEN THE CAR WAS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAINT THE CAR STATING THAT IT WAS PAST WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10231116

Mileage unknown · May 15, 2008
Structure

I PURCHASED A BLACK 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE AND THE ENTIRE CAR LOOKS TERRIBLE BECAUSE OF PEELING PAINT AND WHITE SPOTS ALL OVER IT. I WAS TOLD BY AN AUTO BODY SPECIALIST THAT IT BECAUSE OF A CLEAR COAT FAILURE. I HAVE TAKEN REALLY GOOD CARE OF THE CAR AND IT IS GARAGED IN THE WINTER. MITSUBISHI NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AN…

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I PURCHASED A BLACK 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE AND THE ENTIRE CAR LOOKS TERRIBLE BECAUSE OF PEELING PAINT AND WHITE SPOTS ALL OVER IT. I WAS TOLD BY AN AUTO BODY SPECIALIST THAT IT BECAUSE OF A CLEAR COAT FAILURE. I HAVE TAKEN REALLY GOOD CARE OF THE CAR AND IT IS GARAGED IN THE WINTER. MITSUBISHI NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND REPAINT MY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10227864

Mileage unknown · May 13, 2008
Structure

I WILL HAVE HAD MY CAR 5YEARS IN MID-JUNE. LAST YEAR IN NOVEMBER I NOTICED THAT MY BLACK CAR WAS TURNING A WHITISH GREY BUT ONLY ON THE HOOD AND TRUNK. IN THE SPRING I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT BRAND NEW, HE TOOK PICTURES AND SHOWED IT TO THE REGIONAL MANAGER,AND THEY BOTH AGREED THAT IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE PAIN…

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I WILL HAVE HAD MY CAR 5YEARS IN MID-JUNE. LAST YEAR IN NOVEMBER I NOTICED THAT MY BLACK CAR WAS TURNING A WHITISH GREY BUT ONLY ON THE HOOD AND TRUNK. IN THE SPRING I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT BRAND NEW, HE TOOK PICTURES AND SHOWED IT TO THE REGIONAL MANAGER,AND THEY BOTH AGREED THAT IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE PAINT ,AND THAT THE PAINT WAS A PROBLEM THAT YEAR ( 2003 ).THEY PAINTED IT BUT ONLY THE HOOD AND TRUNK. THEN IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR I NOTICED THAT THE REST OF THE CAR IS DOING THE SAME THING. SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS CONSIDERED AN OLD CAR AND OUT OF WARRANTY,BUT IF THE PAINT WAS BAD LAST YEAR DO TO A DEFECT IN THE PAINT IT'S STILL THE SAME CAR WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE PAINT AND THEY REFUSE TO HAVE ANY THING TO DO WITH IT. MY CAR ONLY HAS 37,000 MILES ON IT .CAN SOME ONE PLEASE HELP ME? I LOVE MY CAR NEVER ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT,RUNS GREAT BUT LOOKS LIKE ?!@#$%. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10227646

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2008
Structure

BAD PAINT ON 2003 MITSUBISHI. DEALER WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. MITSUBISHI KNOWS THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BAD PAINT AND NEEDS TO FIX ALL COMPLAINTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10221867

Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2008
Structure

I PURCHASED A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GTS BRAND NEW IN AUGUST OF 2003. SINCE THAT TIME THE PAINT ON THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE HAS FADED AND THE CLEAR COAT IS CHIPPING AWAY. THE COLOR IS NOW A MILKY WHITE AND LOOKS TERRIBLE ONLY AFTER 4.5 YEARS AND 38,000 MILES OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT HERE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10218772

Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 2007
Structure

I AM EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE CORROSION OF MY PAINT ON MY 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE; I BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS IN EARLY 2005 (JUST A LITTLE OVER A YEAR OF OWNING THE BRAND NEW VEHICLE.) WHILE MY COMPLAINT DOES NOT INVOLVE A SAFETY ISSUE, IT DOES INVOLVE FALSE REPRESENTATION OF THE PRODUCT AND EXPECTATIONS. SEVERAL WEBSIT…

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I AM EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE CORROSION OF MY PAINT ON MY 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE; I BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS IN EARLY 2005 (JUST A LITTLE OVER A YEAR OF OWNING THE BRAND NEW VEHICLE.) WHILE MY COMPLAINT DOES NOT INVOLVE A SAFETY ISSUE, IT DOES INVOLVE FALSE REPRESENTATION OF THE PRODUCT AND EXPECTATIONS. SEVERAL WEBSITES CONTAIN HUNDREDS OF OTHER INDIVIDUALS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME SITUATION. I HAVE ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE WITH MY MITSUBISHI DEALER AND WAS TURNED AWAY SINCE I HAD EXCEEDED THE MILEAGE ACCORDING TO MY WARRANTY. I DO KNOW THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IF I KNEW THE PAINT WAS SO CHEAPLY DONE OR MANUFACTURED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS ON THE PAINT OR IF THERE ARE ANY CLASS ACTION SUITS AGAINST MITSUBISHI. WHILE SUCH ITEMS AS PAINT AND TIRES ARE CONSIDERED "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR", ONE WOULD NOT EXPECT THEIR TIRES TO BLOW OUT JUST DAYS AFTER LEAVING A DEALERSHIP JUST AS THE PAINT SHOULD LAST UNTIL I AT LEAST COMPLETE THE FINANCING PERIOD. AGAIN, THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE OVERALL VEHICLE HAVE NOT BEEN MET, EVEN WITH NORMAL UPKEEP OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW OF ANY INFORMATION THAT CAN BE OFFERED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10211844

Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2007
Structure

WE HAVE A 2003 BLACK MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE PAINT IS GOING BAD ON ALL THE TOP AREAS OF THE CAR. THE CLEAR COAT PEELING AND IT IS TURNING WHITE. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER BLACK MITSUBISHI'S LIKE THIS AND HAVE SEEN OTHER WEB SITES THAT SPEAK OF THIS. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE THAT IN TWO OR THREE YEARS THAT A FACTORY PAINT JOB FROM A MAJOR…

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WE HAVE A 2003 BLACK MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE PAINT IS GOING BAD ON ALL THE TOP AREAS OF THE CAR. THE CLEAR COAT PEELING AND IT IS TURNING WHITE. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER BLACK MITSUBISHI'S LIKE THIS AND HAVE SEEN OTHER WEB SITES THAT SPEAK OF THIS. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE THAT IN TWO OR THREE YEARS THAT A FACTORY PAINT JOB FROM A MAJOR CAR COMPANY CAN GO BAD THIS SOON AND IN SO MANY CARS. I WILL NOT LET ANYONE I KNOW BUY ANOTHER MITSUBISHI UNLESS THIS PROBLEM IS RESOLVED IN A SATISFACTORY MANNER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10204237

Mileage unknown · Aug 17, 2007
Structure

2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE PAINT DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10199894

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.