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2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse reliability record

NHTSA consumer complaints and recall campaigns for the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse from the dataset labeled 2026. The source file does not provide an exact snapshot date. Use the reported issues to guide further checks; these counts do not establish failure rates or repair costs.

NHTSA source snapshot · 2026Consumer reports are not verified defects Official source
NHTSA complaints
158
Dataset year: 2026; snapshot day not provided
Top problem area
STRUCTURE
14 complaints
Recalls on record
1
see below
Reported harm
18 reported crashes · 15 injuries · 8 fires

How this record compares

raw NHTSA counts, not defect rates

Counts are not adjusted for vehicles sold, time in service or reporting frequency. A larger count does not establish a higher chance of failure, and these comparisons do not set the maintenance budget in our calculator.

Complaint rank

#3,075

of 4,194 vehicle records

Vs Mitsubishi median

-17

median 175 across 37 Mitsubishi records

Vs 2001-2005

-94

median 252 complaints in 794 records

Top component share

18%

Structure: 28 complaints

What owners report fails — 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse

  • STRUCTURE 14
  • STRUCTURE:BODY 14
  • POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY 8
  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER 8
  • AIR BAGS:FRONTAL 6

1 recall on record for the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse

  • NHTSA 15V338000 · 2015 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
Look up these campaign numbers at NHTSA.gov →

Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse

Build a separate budget with your purchase price, insurance quote, mileage and maintenance estimate. Complaint counts do not enter that calculation. Unknown local taxes and fees stay listed as costs to confirm.

Open TCO calculator

These are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Dataset year: 2026; exact snapshot day not supplied. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse reliable?

NHTSA has 158 consumer complaints on record for the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse and 1 recall. The most-reported problem area is structure (14 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse?

Owners most often report problems with: structure (14), structure:body (14), power train:clutch assembly (8), unknown or other (8). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.

How much does it cost to own a 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse?

This complaint dataset does not measure repair prices or predict a maintenance budget for the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse. Use your purchase price, insurance quotes, fuel use and a maintenance estimate in the separate five-year cost calculator. It does not convert complaint counts into repair costs, and any unknown taxes remain excluded and clearly listed.

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