2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
158
Owner Complaints
5
Recalls
11
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE
The 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE has received a total of 158 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 5 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING. 11 technical service bulletins have been issued by Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Structure (14 complaints), Structurebody (14 complaints), and Power Trainclutch Assembly (8 complaints).
Recalls for the 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE
NHTSA has recorded 5 recalls for the 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE, potentially affecting up to 710,650 vehicles.
Recall 15V338000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
| 443,442 vehicles affected
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...
Consequence: If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
Remedy: 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...
View full details →Recall 06E060000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
| 87,745 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH
Remedy: AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.
View full details →Recall 06E026000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
| 61,944 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Consequence: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
View full details →Recall 03V442000 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
| 17,087 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL RETURN LINE HOSE FITTING ON THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP MAY BE RESTRICTED, CAUSING EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE TO BUILD UP IN THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE MAY RESULT IN A LEAK IN THE FUEL RETURN HOSE.
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP PRESSURE. THOSE VEHICLES EXHIBITING HIGHER THAN NORMAL FUEL PUMP PRESSURE WILL RECEIVE FUEL PUMP MODIFICATIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN DECEMBER 3, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037 OR MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-800-981-0452.
View full details →Recall 04V428000 — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
| 100,432 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH REMOVABLE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS AFFIXED TO THE DASH AND TO THE SUNVISOR DO NOT MEET THE SIZE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Remedy: MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL CURRENT 2000-2004 NATIVA OWNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE
158 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
The crankshaft sensor is faulty and isn't working properly so my car has been shutting off randomly while I am driving it.
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 DASH BOARD IS SLOPING DOWNWARD, THE CRACKING STARTED 8 YEARS AGO AND CONTINUES TO CRACK MORE AND MORE EVERYDAY, CAUSING STRUCTURE SUPPORT ISSUES AND RAZOR SHARP EDGES. I HAVE CUT MYSELF SEVERAL TIMES ON THE SHARP EDGES. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A ISSUE WITH THE TYPE OF PLASTIC THAT WAS USED TO CONSTRUCTED THESE DASHBOARDS ... I WOULD RATE THIS AS A NEED TO REVIEW ASAP ISSUE... IF MY AIR BAG EVER WENT OFF, SHARP PIECES OF PLASTIC WOULD PROBABLY BE FLYING EVERYWHERE LIKE A KNIFE...
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
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
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 WINDOW CAUSED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
Safety Rating for the 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. has issued 11 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
0342A004 — LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
AFTER PULLING THE HATCH RELEASE LEVER AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, AIR PRESSURE FROM CLOSING THE DOOR MAY CAUSE THE LIFTGATE TO HALF-LATCH. THE LIFTGATE CAN THEN ONLY BE OPENED BY PULLING THE RELEASE LEVER AGAIN OR USING THE KEY IN THE LIFTGATE LOCK. *TT
0323004 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
COLOR VARIATION OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID (AFT) USED IN CERTAIN MITSUBISHI VEHICLES. *TT
0242A019 — VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
SUNROOF JUDDER / LACK OF GREASE. *TT
0242A017 — STRUCTURE:BODY
WATER LEAK AT DELTA SASH / SIDE MIRROR. *TT
09012002 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
COLD ENGINE MISFIRE. *EH
85 — VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
BULLETIN REVIEW REGARDING TSB-02-42A-008REV - REVISES ORIGINAL BULLETIN INSTRUCTIONS CONCERN WINDOW / DELTA SASH ADJUSTMENT. *TT
84 — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
SC-02-001 - REGARDING INCORRECT VEHICLE EMISSION CONTROL INFORMATION (VECI) LABEL SERVICE CAMPAIGN.
84 — STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
BULLETIN REVIEW TSB-02-42A-008 REGARDING DOOR WINDOW ALIGNMENT. *TT
83 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS
VEHICLE TECHNICAL INFORMATION REGARDING FOG LAMPS. *TT
83 — EQUIPMENT
MEDIC INFORMATION REGARDING SYSTEM 9 & S-006. *TT
Showing 10 of 11 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE
- 1998 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE — 174 complaints
- 1999 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE — 150 complaints
- 2000 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE — 380 complaints
- 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE — 287 complaints
- 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE — 84 complaints
- 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE (current)
- 2004 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE — 20 complaints
- 2005 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE — 8 complaints
- 2006 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE — 118 complaints
- 2007 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE — 122 complaints
- 2008 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE — 82 complaints
Other MITSUBISHI Models
- MITSUBISHI GALANT — 2,429 total complaints
- MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER — 1,776 total complaints
- MITSUBISHI LANCER — 1,136 total complaints
- MITSUBISHI MONTERO — 989 total complaints
- MITSUBISHI MIRAGE — 940 total complaints
- MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT — 708 total complaints
- MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE — 657 total complaints
- MITSUBISHI 3000GT — 535 total complaints