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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
44,000 miles · Jul 7, 2007
Structure

THERE WAS NO INCIDENT, CRASH OR INJURY. I PURCHASED A BLACK 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE, IN 2005, WHICH HAD 40000 MI ON NIT. THE PAINT WAS OK AT TIME OF PURCHASE. UNKNOWN TO ME, MITSUBISHI VEHICLES FROM 1999-2004 HAVE DEFECTIVE PRIMER WHICH CAUSES THE PAINT TO FLAKE OFF IN LARGE QUANTITIES. I HAD THE VEHICLE LESS THAN A YEAR WHE…

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THERE WAS NO INCIDENT, CRASH OR INJURY. I PURCHASED A BLACK 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE, IN 2005, WHICH HAD 40000 MI ON NIT. THE PAINT WAS OK AT TIME OF PURCHASE. UNKNOWN TO ME, MITSUBISHI VEHICLES FROM 1999-2004 HAVE DEFECTIVE PRIMER WHICH CAUSES THE PAINT TO FLAKE OFF IN LARGE QUANTITIES. I HAD THE VEHICLE LESS THAN A YEAR WHEN THE PAINT STARTING COMING OFF. THE MANUFACTURERS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT ONLY FIXES SOME OF THE VEHICLES. MY CLAIM WAS DENIED. I BELIEVE THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED DUE TO DEFECTIVE PAINT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10195545

Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 2007
Structure

PAINT ON CAR IS FLAKING OFF. MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MISTSUBISHI MODELS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10195041

36,500 miles · Jan 7, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FRONT RIGHT BRAKE ROTOR KEEPS WARPING. REPLACED WITH NEW ONE ONCE WHILE CAR STILL UNDER WARRANTY; SAME ONE (AREA) WARPED AGAIN WITH IN 1 YR OF 1ST TIME, HAD RESURFACED, NOW WITHIN LESS THAN THREE MONTHS IT IS WARPED AGAIN. IT IS NOT THE WAY I DRIVE, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 25 YEARS & I HAVE NEVER HAD A WARPED ROTOR ON ANY CAR I …

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FRONT RIGHT BRAKE ROTOR KEEPS WARPING. REPLACED WITH NEW ONE ONCE WHILE CAR STILL UNDER WARRANTY; SAME ONE (AREA) WARPED AGAIN WITH IN 1 YR OF 1ST TIME, HAD RESURFACED, NOW WITHIN LESS THAN THREE MONTHS IT IS WARPED AGAIN. IT IS NOT THE WAY I DRIVE, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 25 YEARS & I HAVE NEVER HAD A WARPED ROTOR ON ANY CAR I HAVE OWNED & I HAD A CAMARO FOR 6 YEARS & HAD 140,000, & NO WARPED ROTOR! WHY IS IT THE SAME ONE EVERY TIME? I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER & EVEN THEY CAN'T FIND OUT WHY THE SAME ONE GETS WARPED. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED BY A VERY EXPERIENCED BRAKE SPECIALIST THAT THE ROTOR WAS DEFECTIVE IN MANUFACTURING, WHICH THE METAL WAS CAST WITH IMPUTRITIES CAUSING THIN & THINK PLACES THAT WITH ANY HEAT WEAR UNEVENLY, CAUSING WARPAGE. MAKES SENSE. MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY NOR BUT I ONLY HAVE 41,000 ON IT, AND I ONLY GO TO AND FROM WORK WHICH IS ONLY 8 MILES FROM HOME WITH ONLY TWO STOPS SIGNS. THERE IS NOT MUCH USEAGE OF MY BRAKES, NOT ENOUGH TO CONTINUE TO REPLACE THE SAME ROTOR! THERE ARE NUMEROUS WEBSITES ABOUT MITSUBISHI CARS & PROBLEMS THAT SOUND EXACTLY LIKE MINE, SO I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE, BUT MITSUBISHI WANTS TO BLAME THE DRIVERS FOR MAKING BAD OR SUDDEN STOPS OR RIDING BREAKS, INSTEAD OF ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM. IF I HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH ANY OF THE 8 CARS I HAVE OWNED IN MY LIEFTIME, THEN YES MAYBE IT MIGHT BE MY DRIVING, BUT NEVER TILL THIS CAR HAVE I HAD A ROTOR ISSUE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10178003

42,000 miles · Oct 11, 2006
Unknown Or Other

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 M…

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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. WHAT IS WORSE IS THAT THEY ARE NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THE PROBLEM EXISTS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10170553

54,645 miles · Sep 22, 2006
Fuel System, Gasoline

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHERE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS REPORTED A MAJOR FUEL LEAK THAT COULD NOT BE IDENTIFIED. WHEN THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #(03V442000…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHERE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS REPORTED A MAJOR FUEL LEAK THAT COULD NOT BE IDENTIFIED. WHEN THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #(03V442000) ON THE VEHICLE REGARDING THE FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: FUEL PUMP, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA ODI #10168969

Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING A 2003 MITSUBISHI ESCLIPSE GS, I NOTICED RUST APPEARING ON THE ROTORS AND CALIPERS. THE DEALERSHIP SPRAYED SOMETHING ON THEM WHEN WE HAD IT IN FOR WARRANTY SERVICE. THIS RUST HAS GOTTEN INCREASINGLY WORSE. THERE ARE ONLY 40,000 MILES ON THIS CAR. I AM WORRIED THAT THIS RUST WILL LEAD TO A FAILURE IN…

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3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING A 2003 MITSUBISHI ESCLIPSE GS, I NOTICED RUST APPEARING ON THE ROTORS AND CALIPERS. THE DEALERSHIP SPRAYED SOMETHING ON THEM WHEN WE HAD IT IN FOR WARRANTY SERVICE. THIS RUST HAS GOTTEN INCREASINGLY WORSE. THERE ARE ONLY 40,000 MILES ON THIS CAR. I AM WORRIED THAT THIS RUST WILL LEAD TO A FAILURE IN THESE PARTS IN THE FUTURE AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10168412

Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2006
Unknown Or Other

2003 BLACK MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GTS - PAINT IS FADING (TURNING WHITE) ON TOP OF CAR AROUND MOONROOF AREA. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10166760

Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2006
Air BagsCrashInjury

I WAS STRUCK HEAD ON IN MY 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE BY A BMW SUV WHO WAS TRAVELING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION ON A POSTED ONE WAY STREET. I WAS PUSHED UP THE BLOCK AND SPUN 90 DEGREES ON TO A SIDE STREET. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS CRUSHED I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A CERVICAL SPRAIN. MY ECLIPSE WAS DECLARED "A TOTA…

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I WAS STRUCK HEAD ON IN MY 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE BY A BMW SUV WHO WAS TRAVELING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION ON A POSTED ONE WAY STREET. I WAS PUSHED UP THE BLOCK AND SPUN 90 DEGREES ON TO A SIDE STREET. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS CRUSHED I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A CERVICAL SPRAIN. MY ECLIPSE WAS DECLARED "A TOTAL LOSS" BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY. I AM VERY CONCERNED SINCE MY OTHER CAR THAT MY WIFE DRIVES WITH MY 2 YOUNG CHILDREN IS ALSO A MITSUBISHI. WHEN I CALLED MITSUBISHI FOR A NAME AND ADDRESS OF SOMEONE THAT I COULD CORRESPOND WITH, I WAS TRANSFERRED TO 3 DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND WAS TOLD TO SEND MY LETTER TO THEIR GENERAL CUSTOMER SERVICE PO BOX. I HAVE READ THROUGH MY OWNERS MANUAL CAREFULLY AND IT SAYS THAT THE BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THE LANGUAGE IN THE MANUAL IS VERY VAGUE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10164878

Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2006
Unknown Or Other

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. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10160947

Mileage unknown · Jun 12, 2006
Power Train

AFTER MY PURCHASE OF A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GTS, AT IRA NISSAN IN TEWKSBURY MASS. I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH IT INCLUDING A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I POSSESSED THE CAR FOR A DAY AND A HALF AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NOW EVER SINCE. IT HAS BEEN ABOUT TWELVE DAYS NOW. I H…

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AFTER MY PURCHASE OF A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GTS, AT IRA NISSAN IN TEWKSBURY MASS. I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH IT INCLUDING A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I POSSESSED THE CAR FOR A DAY AND A HALF AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NOW EVER SINCE. IT HAS BEEN ABOUT TWELVE DAYS NOW. I HAVE BEEN GOING BACK AND FOURTH BETWEEN IRA AND A MITSUBISHI DEALER WHICH THEY ARE AFFILIATED WITH. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE NOISE IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR IS WHERE THE TRANSMISSION IS. THE NOISE WHICH SOUNDS LIKE ROCKS FLYING AROUND IN THE FRONT. THE DEALER SAID THIS NOISE IS NORMAL. THE IRA GENERAL MANAGER ALSO TOLD ME THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR MY CAR TO GO UP TO THE H ON THE HOT AND COLD GAUGE. HE SAID HIS DOES IT ALL THE TIME. IRA SAID THAT THIS ISSUE WAS FIXED. I HAVE NOT SEEN NOR DRIVEN THE CAR YET SINCE I BROUGHT IT BACK SO I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS FIXED AND WHAT IS NOT FIXED. I CALLED THE MITSUBISHI MOTORS HEADQUARTERS IN TEXAS, AND GAVE THEN MY VIN NUMBER AND THEY SAID THERE ARE ABSOLUTELY NO RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION OF THIS SPECIFIC CAR, NOR SHOULD THIS NOISE BE OCCURRING. I ALSO WENT ON SAFERCAR.GOV AND THEY TOO SAID THE ONLY RECALL ON THIS CAR IS ABOUT LIGHTS. I ALSO CALLED IRA 3 DAYS AGO AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY LOST MY TITLE AND I CAN'T REGISTER MY CAR EITHER. NOW I NEED SOME INFORMATION ON MY OPTIONS AND WHERE TO GO FROM HERE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10159623

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.