Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Sun Visor May Detach During Air Bag Deployment
- Summary
- 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.
MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN/FMVSS 208/AIR BAG LABEL
- Summary
- 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.
MITSUBISHI/FUEL RETURN LINE HOSE
- Summary
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (124)
124 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The structure is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 124 |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 31 | 25% |
| Power train | 20 | 16.1% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 12 | 9.7% |
| Air bags | 10 | 8.1% |
| Visibility | 10 | 8.1% |
| Tires | 9 | 7.3% |
| Fuel system | 8 | 6.5% |
| Unknown or other | 8 | 6.5% |
| Electrical system | 7 | 5.6% |
| Steering | 6 | 4.8% |
How 2003 compares with other Eclipse years
Best and worst Eclipse years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 120 | 2 |
| 2000 | 308 | 7 |
| 2001 | 209 | 7 |
| 2002 | 73 | 2 |
| 2003 | 124 | 3 |
| 2004 | 14 | 4 |
| 2005 | 6 | 3 |
| 2006 | 99 | 4 |
| 2007 | 107 | 4 |
| 2008 | 71 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 24 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,800
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 370 g/mi
- EPA class
- Subcompact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 24 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 / 29 / 24 | $2,800 | 370 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 28 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 25 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 26 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 / 25 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 26 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 26 / 21 | $3,900 | 423 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 25 / 21 | $3,900 | 423 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2003 Eclipse for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse FAQ
How many recalls does the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 15V338000 (air bag), 04V428000 (equipment), 03V442000 (fuel pump). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse problems?
Owners filed 124 complaints with NHTSA. Structure (31), Power train (20), Engine and engine cooling (12) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse get?
EPA rates the 2.4 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 21 city, 29 highway and 24 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2003 Eclipse compare with other years?
Among the 1999–2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse model years at least five years old, the 2005 drew the fewest complaints (6) and the 2000 the most (308). The 2003 drew 124. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.