Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Jan 11, 2018
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 124 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
10
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
8
What this page shows
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming airbag
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
AirbagsVisibility
Filed Jan 11, 2018
Crash reportedFire reported1 injury reported
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 FACE.HORRIBLE STILL AFTER A WHOLE YEAR NOONE CARES NOONE HELPS NO THERAPY FOLLOW UP NONE ONLY ER WHEN I CAN NO LONGER TOLERATE THE EXTREME PAIN.2 TITANIUM RODS N 38 SCREWS HOLD IT TOGETHER. SOME SCREWS ARE COMING OFF AND 3 BONES ARE STILL SHATTERED. SOME ARE EVEN MISSING. PLEASE HELP
NHTSA ID
11062091
Incident
Oct 29, 2016
Mileage
135,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 22, 2015
Crash reported
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 FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,845.
NHTSA ID
10767489
Incident
Sep 3, 2015
Mileage
180,845 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 26, 2008
Crash reported2 injuries reported
I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT. WE WERE HIT ON THE FRONT CORNER OF THE DRIVERS SIDE. WE WERE GOING 35MPH AND THE OTHER DRIVER WAS GOING ABOUT THAT SPEED. HE WAS TURNING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND TURNED RIGHT INTO US. I'M NOT SURE IF YOU WOULD DESCRIBE IT AS HEAD ON BECAUSE IT WAS AT AN ANGLE. THE WHOLE FRONT OF OUR CAR WAS CRUSHED IN. THE BATTERY AND RADIATOR WERE PUSHED UP NEAR THE DASH. I WAS THE PASSENGER. MY SEAT BELT DIDN'T LOCK UP AND MY AIR BAG DIDN'T GO OFF. I HIT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND MY KNEES SLAMMED INTO THE DASH. I ALSO TWISTED A VERTEBRAE IN MY BACK AND BRUISED OR CRACKED A RIB. IT'S BEEN OVER 6 MONTHS AND I STILL HAVE TROUBLE WALKING BECAUSE I HAVE TENDINITIS IN MY LEFT KNEE AND I HAVE FLUID ON MY KNEE FROM THE IMPACT. MY FIANCE WAS DRIVING. HIS KNEES HIT THE DASH AND ONE OF THEM STILL BOTHERS HIM. HE HAS INJURIES TO THE TENDONS IN HIS SHOULDER AND HE HAS A 2.8 MM CUT IN HIS THORACIC SPINAL CHORD. HIS AIR BAG DID NOT GO OFF EITHER. BOTH OF US HAD HORRIBLE BRUISING FROM THE FORCE OF THE CRASH. I BELIEVE OUR AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE GONE OFF. THE GUY WHO HIT US HAD VERY MINOR DAMAGE DONE TO HIS VEHICLE AND HIS AIR BAGS WENT OFF. *TR
NHTSA ID
10222349
Incident
Aug 31, 2007
Mileage
65,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 8, 2006
Crash reported1 injury reported
I WAS STRUCK HEAD ON IN MY 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE BY A BMW SUV WHO WAS TRAVELING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION ON A POSTED ONE WAY STREET. I WAS PUSHED UP THE BLOCK AND SPUN 90 DEGREES ON TO A SIDE STREET. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS CRUSHED I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A CERVICAL SPRAIN. MY ECLIPSE WAS DECLARED "A TOTAL LOSS" BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY. I AM VERY CONCERNED SINCE MY OTHER CAR THAT MY WIFE DRIVES WITH MY 2 YOUNG CHILDREN IS ALSO A MITSUBISHI. WHEN I CALLED MITSUBISHI FOR A NAME AND ADDRESS OF SOMEONE THAT I COULD CORRESPOND WITH, I WAS TRANSFERRED TO 3 DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND WAS TOLD TO SEND MY LETTER TO THEIR GENERAL CUSTOMER SERVICE PO BOX. I HAVE READ THROUGH MY OWNERS MANUAL CAREFULLY AND IT SAYS THAT THE BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THE LANGUAGE IN THE MANUAL IS VERY VAGUE. *JB
NHTSA ID
10164878
Incident
Jul 19, 2006
Airbags
Filed Jan 2, 2004
Crash reported
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO REAR END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER DRIVER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT THE DRIVER IMPACTED THE STEERING WHEEL.*AK
NHTSA ID
10052248
Incident
Dec 31, 2003
Mileage
20,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 9, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported
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 INVOLVED TO CHECK THE SYSTEM. IN THEIR INSPECTION REPORT THEY FOUND A CONNECTOR UNPLUGGED, THE SENSOR CUT AND THE ENGINE HARNESS AND WIRING HARNESS WAS HANGING DOWN IN THE L/F. IN THIS REPORT IT WAS ALSO STATED THAT THE MOST LIKELY REASON THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WAS BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NOT IN A HEAD ON COLLISION IT WAS AND END ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER HAS PROVIDED FILES AND PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE. *CB *JB
NHTSA ID
10051766
Incident
May 30, 2003
Airbags
Filed Nov 13, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported
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 LIGHT WENT ON WHICH ALLOWED THE COLLISION REPAIR SHOP TO GET MITSUBISHI INVOLVED TO CHECK THE SYSTEM. IN THEIR INSPECTION REPORT THEY FOUND A CONNECTOR UNPLUGGED AT SRS ECU AND ALSO 11783 HARNESS AT OUTSIDE TEMP. SENSOR CUT, NEEDS ENGINE HARNESS AND A PART OF WIRING HARNESS THAT IS HANGING DOWN IN THE L/F, ADVISE WHERE IT IS SUPPOSE TO GO. IN THIS REPORT IT WAS ALSO STATED THAT THE MOST LIKELY REASON THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WAS THE CAR WAS NOT IN A HEAD ON COLLISION IT WAS A FRONT END ACCIDENT. THIS IS TOTALLY INCORRECT. FORTUNATELY, HER INJURIES WERE NOT LIFE THREATENING AS SHE SUFFERED A SEVERE BODY WIPE LASHE. AFTER DOCTOR'S VISITS MRI, PAIN MEDICATION AND MASSAGE THERAPY, SHE IS STILL IN PAIN. MEDICAL BILLS ARE IN EXCESS OF $10,000. AND I AM STILL SEEKING A TREATMENT TO HELP HER PAIN. I DON'T WANT THE CAR - I WANT MITSUBISHI TO TAKE THE CAR BACK. ALSO, COMPENSATE ME FOR THEIR LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY AND INVOLVEMENT WHEN CLEARLY THIS CARS SAFETY FAILURE HAS PROVEN TO HAVE PUT MY DAUGHTER LIFE IN DANGER. I AM VERY CERTAIN THAT IF ANYONE ELSE WAS IN THE CAR - MAJOR INJURIES WOULD NOT HAVE SPARED EVERYONE. THIS IS MITSUBISHI AND THE MANUFACTURERS ERROR ONE TO THIS POINT THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO IGNORE AS I HAVE NOT GOTTEN ANY INDICATION THEY ARE WILLING TO COOPERATE. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE ITS' REPAIRS. I HAVE A FILE AND PICTURES THAT UNQUESTIONABLE SHOW THIS VEHICLE WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. *LA
NHTSA ID
10046883
Incident
May 31, 2003
Airbags
Filed Oct 31, 2003
Crash reported
LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 60-70 MPH IN THE RAIN, HIT A GUARDRAIL SEVERAL TIMES AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. FRONT OF VEHICLE WAS SO DAMAGED THAT CAR COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. *LA
NHTSA ID
10045161
Incident
Oct 27, 2003
Mileage
3,600 mi
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Aug 6, 2003
Crash reported2 injuries reported
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
NHTSA ID
10032189
Incident
Jul 31, 2003
Mileage
54 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 29, 2002
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 40MPH HAD A FRONT END COLLISION AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TS
NHTSA ID
8021801
Incident
Oct 17, 2002
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own