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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.

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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

4 reports
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90,000 miles · Jul 13, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL INDEPENDENTLY EXTENDED INTO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVIS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL INDEPENDENTLY EXTENDED INTO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT A BOLT DETACHED FROM THE THROTTLE CONTROL UNIT AND WAS SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE. IN ADDITION, THE FAILURE ALSO DESTROYED THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH ANY REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10343035

47,000 miles · Aug 1, 2008
Vehicle Speed Control

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED WAS ABOUT 6 MOS PRIOR TO THIS RECENT INCIDENT THOUGH I COULDN'T RECALL EXACTLY WHEN. I WAS ON STOP ON AN INTERSECTION TRYING TO TURN RIGHT. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. JUST AS I SLOWLY RELEASED MY FOOT THE CAR ACCELERATED AND MOVED TOWARDS THE RIGHT…

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THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED WAS ABOUT 6 MOS PRIOR TO THIS RECENT INCIDENT THOUGH I COULDN'T RECALL EXACTLY WHEN. I WAS ON STOP ON AN INTERSECTION TRYING TO TURN RIGHT. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. JUST AS I SLOWLY RELEASED MY FOOT THE CAR ACCELERATED AND MOVED TOWARDS THE RIGHT LANE OF WHERE I WANTED TO GO HOWEVER THERE WAS STILL INCOMING TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO STEER MYSELF TOWARDS THE MIDDLE LANE AND AVOIDED THE INCOMING CAR. SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED TODAY: ON MY WAY HOME AND ENTERING MY GARAGE, I HAVE SLOWLY RELEASED MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL; THE CAR SIMPLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AT A MAXIMUM SPEED. I HIT OUR GARAGE WALL. THE WALL HAPPENED TO BE A COMMON WALL TO OUR FAMILY ROOM. THIS BORE A 3' X 4' HOLE IN OUR FAMILY ROOM; THE COUCH WHICH WAS PLACED AGAINST THE WALL MOVED RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM -WHICH SHOWS THE EXTENT OF THE SPEED PICK-UP AS WELL AS THE DAMAGE. I AM GLAD TO SHARE PHOTOS OF THIS INCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10236650

Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 2006
Vehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF 40 MPH AND LET UP ON THE GAS PEDAL BEFORE I WAS GOING TO BRAKE. THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND WOULDN'T STOP. COMING TO A RED LIGHT I STARTED TO PRESS FIRMLY ON MY BRAKES AND WHILE IT MANAGED TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN SOME IT WOULDN'T COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I SLOWED DOWN JUST ENOUG…

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF 40 MPH AND LET UP ON THE GAS PEDAL BEFORE I WAS GOING TO BRAKE. THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND WOULDN'T STOP. COMING TO A RED LIGHT I STARTED TO PRESS FIRMLY ON MY BRAKES AND WHILE IT MANAGED TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN SOME IT WOULDN'T COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I SLOWED DOWN JUST ENOUGH WAYS BACK FROM THE LIGHT THAT WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I WAS ABLE TO LET UP ON THE BRAKE WITH OUT GOING INTO TRAFFIC. IT THEN ACCELERATED VERY QUICKLY AGAIN. THE CAR SOUNDED AS IF IT SHIFTED AND STOP ACCELERATING. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN A WAYS IN FRONT OF THE LIGHT I DIDN'T HIT ANYONE WHILE THEIR LIGHT WAS GREEN. I HAD CARS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF ME THAT I WASN'T ABLE TO GET OVER. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10158843

42,000 miles · Mar 22, 2005
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

THIS COMPLAINT INVOLVES OUR 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING IN PARK IN FRONT OF A BUILDING. WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE RPMS INCREASED TO THE MAXIMUM LEVEL, THE TIRES BEGAN TO SPIN AND THE CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED INTO A BRICK SUPPORT POLE. THE BRAKES FAIL…

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THIS COMPLAINT INVOLVES OUR 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING IN PARK IN FRONT OF A BUILDING. WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE RPMS INCREASED TO THE MAXIMUM LEVEL, THE TIRES BEGAN TO SPIN AND THE CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED INTO A BRICK SUPPORT POLE. THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10114450

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.