2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse: problems, recalls and reliability
5 recalls and 124 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is structure (24% of complaints); the 2002 and 2004 and 2005 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jun 2015
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 124 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The crankshaft sensor is faulty and isn't working properly so my car has been shutting off randomly while I am driving it.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Nov 2024
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 mitsubishi eclipse. While rolling down the passenger side window, the contact noticed smoke and flames coming from the window switch area. The contact extinguished the fire and called the fire department. A fire report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that faulty wiring in the window caused the fire. The vehicle was repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 114,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · Aug 2017
“Passenger airbag deployed caused me to veer off to the right for safety.passenger visor flew off hit my arm and flew out window. Unable to see with airbag in my face I ended up half on and half off a culvert with cement pipe.car stopped and then my driver airbag shot fire and chemicals into my face.horrible still after a whole year noone cares noone helps no therapy follow up none only er when I can no longer tolerate the extreme pain.2 titanium rods n 38 screws hold it together. Some screws are coming off and 3 bones are still shattered. Some are even missing. Please help”Owner report · Visibility/Wiper · Oct 2016
Show 7 more owner reports
“Sears auto center in manassas, va performe an oil change on my vehicle on 5/16/2016. The engine failed on 5/24/2016 due to the oil plug falling out of the engine and all of the oil draining out. Sears has accepted responsibility for this. However, I have also uncovered a long history of consumer complaints regarding sears auto centers defrauding consumers out of thousands of dollars for unnecessary repairs, charges for repairs not done, and faulty service overall. Sears ws sued by nj on 46 counts of auto consumer fraud, and I have uncovered hundreds of complaints registered with the attorney generals' offices in many states.”Owner report · Engine · May 2016
“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.”Owner report · Steering · Nov 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 mitsubishi eclipse. The contact stated that the front driver side air bag failed to deploy when the contact rear ended another vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent body shop for further inspection. The contact did not suffer any injuries. A police report was filed. The approximate failure mileage was 180,845.”Owner report · Air Bags · Sep 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 mitsubishi eclipse. The contact stated that while driving, there was an odor of fuel present. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact also indicated that water had leaked from the floor board causing the brake pedal to become slippery. In addition, the vehicle would not start. While checking the battery connection the contact discovered that the battery cable was smoking and had melted. The vehicle was taken an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the air conditioning hose that failed caused the water leak. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000.”Owner report · Structure · Sep 2015
“My vehicle has a bad paint job, needs to be repainted. The heater coil is leaking and needs to be replaced had estimate of $1030.44 with not guarantee that the dash will come out in one piece and can be put back into the car without breaking into several pieces. I feel that mitsubish put bad paint jobs on the cars and they should be the ones to repaint the car, and replace the heater coil so the I will have working defrosters. Ma 10/29/2015 updated 12/06/2017*cn”Owner report · Electrical System · Jul 2015
“Fuel mileage is bad and when filling up if you can it keeps clicking and smelling like fuel inside car. No lighting in car at all. Had to replace suspension as the bolts were worn. Paint chipping all over car. Cooling system keeps failing and somehow I have water keeps coming in on floor boards and the floor is soaked and stinks.”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Jan 2014
“Driving on residential street (approx. 20 mph). Car shifted slightly to right as I was rounding a curve. Came to stop sign and rear right wheel fell off. The hub cracked and broke off at bearing.. It was a very clean cut as though there was a defect in the hub. Car towed to repair shop. $300 repair bill. Repairman said he has never seen this type of damage in the 40 years he has been repairing cars. Could have been very serious had I been driving at a higher speed as on an open highway. *tr”Owner report · Wheels · May 2013
When filing, owners marked a crash in 15 of these complaints and injuries in 10 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 5 campaigns
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.
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.
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.
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.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
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.
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.
CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy: AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.
How other years compare
Check your exact Eclipse by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse reliable?
NHTSA has 124 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse. The most complained-about area is structure (24% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 38,973 miles or less.
Does the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse have open recalls?
5 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning equipment:other:labels. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.