Problems · NHTSA complaints

2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse problems

Owners filed 104 complaints about the 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse with NHTSA between Mar 2002 and Jun 2022. The most-cited component is wheels (37).

Complaints
104
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
11
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
11
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Wheels37
  2. Structure20
  3. Tires9
  4. Power train6
  5. Electrical system6
  6. Air bags6
  7. Engine and engine cooling6
  8. Service brakes, hydraulic4
  9. Visibility4
  10. Exterior lighting3
  11. Fuel system, other3
  12. Fuel system, gasoline2
  13. Equipment2
  14. Suspension2

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200214
20039
200422
200515
20069
20076
20088
20094
20102
20116
20123
20131
20142
20152
20160
20170
20180
20190
20200
20210
20221

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Wheels

37 reports2 crashes
“2002 ECLIPSE COUPE, OK THIS IS A MAJOR PROMBLEM, HOPE SOMEONE WILL LISTEN THE WHEELS (RIMS) CRACK ON THESE CARS "CHEAP" BOTH FRONT WHEELS AND DRIVERS SIDE BACK WHEEL. IF YOU HIT A POTHOLE YOUR GONNA PURCHASE NEW WHEELS. I AM A SINGLE MOM MY KIDS RIDE IN THIS CAR. MANY OTHERS HAVE "COMPLAINED" DO SOMETHING BEFORE YOU ARE SCRAPPING CHILDREN OFF THE EXPRESSWAY.....THESE WHEELS ON THE 2002 ECLIPSE ARE DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE TO KEEP REPLACING I CAN NOT AFFORD IT,, *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 2, 2011WheelsODI 10398457

Structure

20 reports1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. WHILE IN PARK, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WERE MULTIPLE FRACTURES ACROSS THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 29, 2015StructureODI 10744796

Tires

9 reports2 crashes
“2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE HAD A TIRE BLOW OUT. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE THEN STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THEN HIT THE MEDIAN WALL BEFORE COMING TO A REST ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *KB EXAMINATION OF THE TIRE REVEALED TWO HOLES IN THE SIDEWALL WHICH CAUSED THE BLOWOUT. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED A LACERATION TO HER KNEE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0220-91”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 25, 2008TiresCrash reportedODI 10226214

Power train

6 reports
“The contact owns a 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder. The contact stated while driving 25-30 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power inadvertently. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continued driving. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact also stated that while driving and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle instead started reversing unintendedly. The contact stated that he turned off and restarted the vehicle and continued driving. The vehicle was taken to a local Pep Boys, where it was diagnosed that the power train needed to be reprogrammed and other repairs needed to be completed. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the steering wheel was locked and the brake pedal was firm. The traction control and ABS warning lights were illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was not drivable. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 9, 2022Steering, Power train, Service brakesODI 11468436

Electrical system

6 reports2 fires
“CAUGHT FIRE OVER NIGHT WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY. WOKE UP THE FOLLOWING MORNING TO FIND THE DASH BOARD MELTED, WINDOWS SMOKED OUT, FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND DRIVER SIDE DOOR BURNT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 10, 2014Electrical systemFire reportedODI 10663500

Air bags

6 reports6 crashes1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE APPROACHED AN INTERSECTION DRIVING 15 MPH WHEN HE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN HIM. BOTH VEHICLES WERE INOPERABLE AND WERE TOWED FROM THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED THREE CRACKED RIBS AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE POLICE WERE ALSO CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,500. MITSUBISHI WAS CALLED WITH SAME INFO. UPDATED 11/03/2011 *LN *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 16, 2011Air bags, Seat beltsCrash reportedODI 10425768
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.