Problems · by component

2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse structure problems

40 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse cite structure, 24% of all 166 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
40
24% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the structure

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 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 complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 28, 2015Electrical system, Structure, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 10778019
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HATCH BACK AND SUN ROOF HAD WATER LEAKAGE. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 23, 2015Structure, Visibility/wiperODI 10701095
“I BOUGHT AN USED 2003 ECLIPSE AND AT THE TIME I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW BADLY CRACKED THE DASHBOARD WAS. TO MY SURPRISE, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND AN USED DASHBOARD IN GOOD CONDITION...EVERY SINGLE 2003 ECLIPSE I'VE FOUND AND SEEN HAS THE SAME ISSUE AND AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE ONLY SOLUTION MITSUBISHI OFFERS IS TO REPLACE IT WITH A BRAND NEW (YET SAME POOR QUALITY) PART. HOW CAN WE (ECLIPSE OWNERS) GET A FULL OR PARTIAL CREDIT FROM MITSUBISHI, EVEN IF THE TEMPORARY SOLUTION IS TO INSTALL A SIMILAR PART? *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 9, 2013StructureODI 10523966
“I HAVE A 2003 STERLING SILVER METALLIC ECLIPSE WHICH I PURCHASED NEW IN 2002. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE PAINT ON MY HOOD, ROOF AND TRUCK HAVE STARTED TO DELAMINATE AND THE PRIMER IS STARTING TO SHOW THROUGH. I ONLY HAVE 73,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE NOTICED A LOT OF OTHER 2003 ECLIPSES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, IN THE SAME COLOR AS MINE AND ALSO IN BLACK. I WENT TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED MY ECLIPSE AND WAS TOLD THAT MITSUBISHI WAS HAVING A PAINT ISSUE FOR THIS MODEL. I AM HOPING THAT MITSUBISHI WILL STAND BEHIND THEIR NAME AND MAKE THIS RIGHT. I ALSO PURCHASED A 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO IN 2002 AND THAT PAINT JOB LOOKS LIKE THE DAY I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT. I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT 2 OF THEM. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 9, 2013StructureODI 10491944
“PASSENGER SIDE DOOR BY SIDE MIRROR WATER LEAKS IN. WATER FOULS DOWN THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR AND MAKES A PUDDLE INFRONT OF PASSENGER SEAT. THERE ARE NO CRACKS LOOSE SEALS THAT COULD BE FOUND OR SEEN. IT SEEMS AS IF THE POUNDING OF WATER ON THE SIDE CAUSES WATER TO LEAK IN. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 6, 2011StructureODI 10424006

Showing 6 of 40 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 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