2003 Mitsubishi ECLIPSE: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ↗

THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WAS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC LOCKS WHICH DID NOT FUNCTION UNLESS SUPPLIED WITH ELECTRICITY. THE DRIVERS' SIDE DOOR UNLOCKED/OPENED BY PULLING THE HANDLE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009652 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE 2003 GTS. I PURCHASED IT IN SEPTEMBER 2002 AND IT ONLY HAS 7,000 MILES ON IT, SO IT IS FAIRLY NEW. THERE IS A LATCH BY THE FRONT SEAT TO OPEN THE TRUNK. EVER SINCE I HAD THE CAR, THE TRUNK NEVER OPENS ON THE FIRST TRY. USUALLY I HAVE TO PULL THE LATCH TWICE. REASON BEING IS THE TRUNK IS SO HEAVY WITH THE SPOILER ON IT, IT DOESN'T WANT TO POP UP. THERE IS NO HANDLE OR ANY WAY TO OPEN THE TRUNK WHAT SO EVER. SO A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO AS MY FRIEND WAS LIFTING UP ON THE TRUNK WITH THE SPOILER, THE SPOILER LITERALL…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010268 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START BECAUSE THE CONNECTOR TO THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD A BROKEN LOCK TAB AND WAS BEING PULLED BY THE HARNESS WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TILED. *JB *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 4,887 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014967 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

Reported: 2003-11-04 (November 4, 2003)

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.

Reported: 2004-09-01 (September 1, 2004)

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 SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. THE NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIVA OWNERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL OR MAY 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.

Reported: 2015-06-02 (June 2, 2015)

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 the affected vehicles, the passenger side sun visor may be folded down in such a position that, if the passenger frontal air bag deploys, the passenger side sun visor may detach.

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 customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-15-005. Chrysler and Dodge owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R30.