The 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 560,961 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 158 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the structure. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
AIR BAGS15V3380002015-06-02443,442 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,…
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. …
EQUIPMENT04V4280002004-09-01100,432 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 SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN…
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.
Complaints by component
STRUCTURE
14
STRUCTURE:BODY
14
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
8
1crashes2injuries
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
8
1crashes
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
6
5crashes4injuries
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
6
1crashes2injuries
TIRES
6
1crashes1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
5
3fires
AIR BAGS
4
4crashes1fires4injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
4
1fires
Total complaints158
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The crankshaft sensor is faulty and isn't working properly so my car has been shutting off randomly while I am driving it.”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“Sears auto center in manassas, va performe an oil change on my vehicle on 5/16/2016. The engine failed on 5/24/2016 due to the oil plug falling out of the engine and all of the oil draining out. Sears has accepted responsibility for this. However, I have also uncovered a long history of consumer…”
“The main issue seems to be a manufacturing defect in the wave/cushion spring located in the transmission. Mitsubishi has designed the wave spring as a fragile two coil piece which has been known to repeatedly break causing catastrophic failure in the transmission. This in turn poses a threat on…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 mitsubishi eclipse. While veering to the left at approximately 25 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver without warning. As a result, another vehicle crashed into the rear of the contact's vehicle. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 mitsubishi eclipse. The contact stated that the front driver side air bag failed to deploy when the contact rear ended another vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent body shop for further inspection. The contact did not suffer any injuries. A police report was…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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