Problems · by component

2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse power train problems

25 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse cite power train, 15% of all 166 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
25
15% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 18, 2017Power train, Air bags, StructureCrash reportedFire reportedODI 11024118
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 13, 2012Power trainODI 10447784
“I DO HAVE A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE AND AT 27,000 I HAD A CLUTCH REPLACED AND A PRICE TAG OF $1,250.00 FOR THE DEALERSHIP THE I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM I THOUGHT I WOULD GET A LONG TIME OUT OF THAT REPAIR THAT COST SO MUCH. I WAS ONLY UP SET THAT THE SAME PROBLEM AROSE AGAIN SO CALLED FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I CALLED INDEPENDENT SHOP THE DIAGNOSTIC THE COMPLETE PROBLEM THE DEALERSHIP STATED WAS NOT WRONG, I WAS TOLD BY AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE THAT THE LEAKING WAS CAUSED BY THE SLED AND THAT I NEEDED THE LINES NEED TO BE REPLACED AND POSSIBLE A NEW CLUTCH AGAIN. BECAUSE OF THE LEAKAGE PROBLEM. I FIND THAT THE DEALERSHIP FAILED AND THE MANUFACTURE FAILED TO MAKE THE PUBLIC AWARE OF THESE PROBLEMS. I SEEMS THE DEALERSHIP WANTED $1,6759.95 FOR THE REPAIR OF A CLUTCH NOT ADDRESSING THE LEAK PROBLEMS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 5, 2008Power train, EquipmentODI 10223460
“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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 12, 2006Power trainODI 10159623
“AT APPROXIMATELY 36,500 MILES OR SO NOTICED THE CAR NOT WANTING TO "GRIP" ON TAKE OFF. SEEMED TO WANT TO REV HIGHER RANDOMLY.. OVER A PERIOD OF 2 DAYS WENT FROM NO BIG DEAL TO NOT BEING ABLE TO DRIVE. I HAVE HAD PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS (2 OTHER PERSONAL VEHICLES ). I CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND WARRANTY PROVIDER TO FIND OUT THIS IS NORMAL AND CONSIDERED WEAR AND TEAR. HAVE BEEN PRICED UPWARDS OF 1000 USD IF NOT MORE TO REPLACE THIS CLUTCH. AND I JUST GOT THIS CAR. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 24, 2006Power trainODI 10155931
“I BOUGHT MY CAR IN OCTOBER OF 2003 AND IMMEDIATELY I NOTICED A GRINDING COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. I TOOK IT INTO LANCASTER MITSUBISHI IN PENNSYLVANIA AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A COMMON TRANS NOISE. A COUPLE OF WEEKS PASSED BY AND THE NOISE KEPT GETTING LOUDER AND NOW MY CLUTCH IS SLIPPING. I HAVE NEVER BEAT OR RACED MY CAR. IT IS ONE OF THE BEST CARS I HAVE EVER OWNED AND THE ONE OF THE MOST RELIABLE. I DON'T HAVE MUCH CHOICE TO KEEP DRIVING IT THE WAY IT IS AND IT IS GETTING WORSE. PRETTY SOON I WILL BE OUT OF A CAR. *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 1, 2005Power trainODI 10144119

Showing 6 of 25 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 12, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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

Other 2003 Eclipse problem areas