Problems · NHTSA complaints
2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse problems
Owners filed 166 complaints about the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse with NHTSA between Jul 2002 and Feb 2025. The most-cited component is structure (40).
Complaints
166
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
22
Reported by owners
Fires
7
Reported by owners
Injuries
15
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Structure40
- Power train25
- Air bags15
- Tires15
- Engine and engine cooling14
- Visibility14
- Fuel system, gasoline10
- Electrical system9
- Wheels7
- Equipment7
- Steering6
- Exterior lighting5
- Vehicle speed control5
- Service brakes, hydraulic5
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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
6
27
22
21
16
13
17
8
6
6
1
4
0
8
4
4
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 27 |
| 2004 | 22 |
| 2005 | 21 |
| 2006 | 16 |
| 2007 | 13 |
| 2008 | 17 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 1 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Structure
40 reports1 crash1 fire
“TAKATA AIRBAG: MY INCIDENT HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED. I AM ADDING THE POLICE REPORT. I AM STILL REQUIRING SURGERY AND UNABLE TO USE MY LEFT ARM 10 MONTHS LATER.”
Power train
25 reports3 crashes1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD IDLE LOW, CAUSING IT TO STALL INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE MANIFOLD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WS 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,450.”
Air bags
15 reports13 crashes3 fires1 related recall
“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”
Tires
15 reports2 crashes1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR ASSURANCE TRIPLETRED TIRES, SIZE P215/55R16. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO DRIVE OVER A CURB. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE TIRE AND FOUND THAT THE TIRE TREAD WAS SEPARATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE TIRE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.”
Engine and engine cooling
14 reports1 fire
“THIS VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED STALLING WHETHER IDLING, ACCELORATING, OR COASTING. IT WOULD THEN HAVE TROUBLE STARTING AND RUN FINE AGAIN. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE MITSUBSHI DEALERSHIP ON WESTERN BLVD IN JACKSONVILLE, NC, THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE IT BUT FOUND IN THEIR DATA BASE THAT THERE IS A TINY PART IN THE CRANK SHAFT THAT COULD CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. AFTER WAITING A WEEK FOR PARTS THEY REALIZED THEY HAD THE WRONG TOOL. ANOTHER WEEK WAITING FOR THE TOOL AND THE NEW PART DDID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. ANOTHER WEEK OF KEEPING MY CAR THEY REPLACED THE FUEL INJECTION REGULATOR WITH A USED PART, THIS DID NOT FIX IT. ANOTHER WEEK WITH A NEW FUEL INJECTOR. NOW IT DOES NOT STALL BUT I CANT GET GAS IN THE GAS TANK, THE CAR SMELLS LIKE GAS, THERE IS STILL OCCASIONAL STALLING, AND THE NEW TIMING BELT THEY PUT ON SCREECHES WITH THE FIRST START OF THE DAY EVERYDAY. THE GAS TANK PROBLEM IS FOUND TO BE THAT THE VALVE IS STUCK IN THE FULL AND CLOSED POSITION AND WHOLE NEW GAS TANKIS RECOMMENDED. ANOTHER TWO WEEKS AND STILL WAITING ON THE GAS TANK. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE AUGUST 22ND AND IT IS NOW OCTOBER FIRST AND MY CAR IS STILL UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WAITING FOR PARTS. HOW IS…”
Visibility
14 reports
“IN RESEARCHING WHAT MIGHT BE WRONG WITH MY MITSUBISHI GALANT HEATER, I FIND IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM DESCRIBED TO THE TEE. NOT HAVING HEAT IN MY CAR AND LIVING IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST COULD PROVE TO BE DANGEROUS FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS AS VISIBILITY AND FREEZING WILL OCCUR AS I HAVE TO RUN THE COLD AIR ON MY WINDSHIELD TO SEE. *TR”
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.