2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Structure:body (12) · Structure (12) · Power Train:manual Transmission (6)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mitsubishi Eclipse model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
75 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2015-06-02 · campaign 15V338000 · 443,442 vehicles
Defect: 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 po
Risk: If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (92)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-07-21 · DEALER LETTER · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a dealer letter sent to dealers informing that mitsubishi technical training has launched the 3rd quarterly technician quiz for 2023.
Structure 2023-04-24 · TSB-23-00-004 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this technical service bulletin provides instructions and material safety data sheets for removal of rap-film adhesive residue.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-04-24 · TSB-23-00-001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this technical service bulletin reviews the regulations that require a label showing the reduction in load carrying capacity be affixed to vehicles when the total net weight of accessories is more than 1.5 percent of the vehicle's gross vehicle weight rating (gvwr) or 100 lbs.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-04-21 · DEALER LETTER · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a dealer letter sent to dealers informing that mitsubishi technical training has launched the 2nd quarterly technician quiz for 2023.
Unknown Or Other 2022-04-07 · TSB-22-54-003 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this technical service bulletin was sent to dealers to explain the difference between normal dew condensation, which is a natural phenomenon, and water penetration caused by improper sealing or a defective/broken part.
Equipment 2019-11-26 · TT253 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a service newsletter (tech talk) that was sent out to dealers.
Showing the 6 most recent of 92 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-02-24 · Unknown Or Other“the crankshaft sensor is faulty and isn't working properly so my car has been shutting off randomly while i am driving it.…”
2019-07-25 · Unknown Or Other“dashboard cracks in multiples of area's, which does effect the position of the airbag. the plastic is very brittle to the point when it cracks it's as sharp as a razor. i reviewed several web site and noted this is a common problem with several type of mitsubishi's. i have a 2003 eclipse that has a cracked dashboard so bad the passenger side of the…”
2018-01-11 · Visibility/Wiper · 135,000 mi · 💥 crash · 🔥 fire“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 noo…”
2017-08-24 · Electrical System · 114,000 mi · 🔥 fire“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…”
2016-10-25 · Engine · 140,000 mi“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 co…”
2016-03-06 · Unknown Or Other · 💥 crash“the main issue seems to be a manufacturing defect in the wave/cushion spring located in the transmission. mitsubishi has designed the wave spring as a fragile two coil piece which has been known to repeatedly break causing catastrophic failure in the transmission. this in turn poses a threat on the driver and passengers. when this wave spring break…”
2015-11-20 · Steering · 170,000 mi · 💥 crash“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.…”
2015-09-28 · Structure:body · 150,000 mi“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 co…”
2015-09-22 · Air Bags · 180,845 mi · 💥 crash“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.…”
2015-08-26 · Visibility/Wiper · 165,281 mi“received a safety recall from mitsubishi on the passenger sun visor requiring a tether strap. i called their toll free number to locate a dealer to install the tether strap as directed by the notice. mitsubishi does not have a dealer in tucson and informed me we needed to take the vehicle to a phoenix dealer, over a 100 miles away for the repair. t…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.