2003 Mitsubishi ECLIPSE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
124 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
36,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 75 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 124 complaints (11.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 15 | 12.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 7.3% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 7.3% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 6.5% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 5.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 3.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure | 14 |
| Structure:Body | 14 |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 8 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 6 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 6 |
| Tires | 6 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
Structure: 14; Structure:Body: 14; Power Train:Clutch Assembly: 8; Unknown Or Other: 8; Air Bags:Frontal: 6; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 6; Tires: 6; Electrical System: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 28 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 20 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 28; 25,000 to 49,999: 20; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 5
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (28). 49 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 22 |
| 2004 | 18 |
| 2005 | 15 |
| 2006 | 13 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 14 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2002: 3; 2003: 22; 2004: 18; 2005: 15; 2006: 13; 2007: 8; 2008: 14; 2009: 6; 2010: 5; 2011: 4; 2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2015: 7; 2016: 2; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Structure leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 15 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10014021 · 2003-04-06 (April 6, 2003)
MY 2003 ECLIPSE GT IS HARD TO DOWN SHIFT INTO 2ND AND 1ST. THE DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL FOR THESE CARS. MY CAR ALSO GRINDS GOING INTO 3RD GEAR SOMETIMES.
Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014021 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028522 · 2003-07-17 (July 17, 2003)
MY CLUTCH HAD TO BE REPLACED AT ONLY 14,500 MILES. PROBLEMS WERE EVIDENT AT AROUND 10,000 MILES AND BECAME CONSIDERABLY WORSE IN TIME. I HAVE DRIVEN A MANUAL TRANSMISSION FOR 15 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER RACED AND DID NOT RIDE THE CLUTCH. MY LAST CAR'S CLUTCH LASTED IN EXCESS OF 100,000 MILES WITHOUT FAULT. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MY DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT IT APPEARS TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT. HOWEVER, SINCE THE WARRANTY ON THE CLUTCH EXPIRES AT 12,000 MILES, I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE PART. THE PROBLEM BECAME OBVIOUS WHEN MY TRANSMISSION SPUN AS I TR…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028522 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046883 · 2003-11-13 (November 13, 2003)
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH IN HER 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE WHEN SHE WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION HITTING A CEMENT GUARDRAIL WHEN THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, FRONT OR SIDE. CAR HAD IN EXCESS OF $4,000 DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END, ENGINE, FRAME, ETC. AND HAD TO BE REBUILT. ALL MY EFFORTS TO CONTACT MITSUBISHI FOR SOMEONE TO CHECK OUT THE AIR BAG DEFAULT WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL. I EVEN FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THEM AND WAS GIVEN A FILE NUMBER AND SENT A PAMPHLET ON THE SAFETY OF AIR BAGS. AFTER THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY REPAIRED THE AIR BAG…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10046883 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051766 · 2003-12-09 (December 9, 2003)
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*MR . WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HIT A CEMENT GUARDRAIL HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT MITSUBISHI SO THEY COULD CHECK OUT THE AIR BAG DEFECT BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL, THE CONSUMER EVEN FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THEM AND WAS GIVEN A FILE# AND WAS SENT A PAMPHLET ON THE SAFETY OF AIR BAGS. AFTER THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY REPAIRED THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHICH ALLOWED THE REPAIR SHOP TO GET MITSUBISHI I…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10051766 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002594 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING . PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002594 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014191 · 2003-04-09 (April 9, 2003)
POWER STEERING HOSE LEAK..WENT TO DEALER 3 TIMES CANNOT FIX LEAK. HAVE TO REPLENISH FLUID FROM TIME TO TIME.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014191 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032189 · 2003-08-06 (August 6, 2003)
THE DAY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED DRIVER APPLIED PRESSURE TO BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE FISHTAILED ACROSS THE ROAD. VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE, AND FLIPPED OVER INTO A DITCH. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE AIR BAGS ALSO DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 54 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032189 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088460 · 2004-08-24 (August 24, 2004)
MY 2003 ECLIPSE GTS HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR ABOUT 10 DIFFERENT THINGS IN A MATTER OF 8 MONTHS. 4 SEPERATE TIMES I HAD BROUGHT IT IN FOR A JERKING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 3 TIMES THEY TOLD ME NOTHING WAS THE MATTER AND IT WAS FINE. FINALLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEY THEN INFORMED ME THAT THE TRANSMISION NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. IT WORKED FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS. ALSO 20 DAYS AFTER BUYING THE CAR MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE FUEL PUMP AND SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. 4 TIMES I HAVE ALSO BROUGHT THE CAR IN BECUASE WHEN THE SUNROO…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088460 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030541 · 2003-07-31 (July 31, 2003)
WHEN TAKING AN EXIT OFF THE FREEWAY, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030541 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10168969 · 2006-09-22 (September 22, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHERE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS REPORTED A MAJOR FUEL LEAK THAT COULD NOT BE IDENTIFIED. WHEN THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #(03V442000) ON THE VEHICLE REGARDING THE FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: FUEL PUMP, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
Owner-reported narrative. 54,645 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168969 at NHTSA ↗