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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

What owners actually said

124 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING . PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10002594

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 2002
Air Bags

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 40MPH HAD A FRONT END COLLISION AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TS

NHTSA ODI #8021801

Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2002
Power TrainTiresVisibility

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW, AND WHAT A MISTAKE IT WAS. I HAVE BEGUN THE PROCESS OF DECLARING THE LEMON LAW. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE INTO THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS 8 TIMES IN 4 MONTHS. THE DRIVE SHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE BOOT SPLIT AND LEAKED GREASE. THE FOG LIGHTS FILL WITH MOISTURE AND CONDENSATION DUE TOO INAD…

Read full complaint

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW, AND WHAT A MISTAKE IT WAS. I HAVE BEGUN THE PROCESS OF DECLARING THE LEMON LAW. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE INTO THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS 8 TIMES IN 4 MONTHS. THE DRIVE SHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE BOOT SPLIT AND LEAKED GREASE. THE FOG LIGHTS FILL WITH MOISTURE AND CONDENSATION DUE TOO INADEQUATE VENTING. THE WINDOWS DON'T SEAL TOO THE BODY ON THE CONVERTIBLE CAUSING WATER LEAKS, AND THE SEALS LOCATED ON THE QUARTER GLASS RUB THE DOOR WINDOW WHICH ALLOWS THE RUBBER TO WEAR PREMATURELY AND CREATE ADDITIONAL LEAKS. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE REAR QUARTER GLASS REPLACED 5 TIMES IN 4,000 MILES. THE CAR VIBRATES WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE THE TIRES ARE BAD. I HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT TWO REPLACED BECAUSE THE TREAD WAS SEPERATING INTERNALLY ON THE TIRES. MITSUBISHI NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL THE CARS ON THE ROAD WITH DEFECTS. PLEASE HELP DT

NHTSA ODI #768910

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.