2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse Body & structure Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS AN ODOR OF FUEL PRESENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT WATER HAD LEAKED FROM THE FLOOR BOARD CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BECOME SLIPPERY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. WHILE CHECKING THE BATTERY CONNECTION THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE BATTERY CABLE WAS SMOKING AND HAD MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING HOSE THAT FAILED CAUSED THE WATER LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10778019

Incident

Sep 1, 2015

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HATCH BACK AND SUN ROOF HAD WATER LEAKAGE. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

NHTSA ID

10701095

Incident

Feb 15, 2009

Mileage

109,000 mi

I HAVE A 2003 STERLING SILVER METALLIC ECLIPSE WHICH I PURCHASED NEW IN 2002. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE PAINT ON MY HOOD, ROOF AND TRUCK HAVE STARTED TO DELAMINATE AND THE PRIMER IS STARTING TO SHOW THROUGH. I ONLY HAVE 73,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE NOTICED A LOT OF OTHER 2003 ECLIPSES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, IN THE SAME COLOR AS MINE AND ALSO IN BLACK. I WENT TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED MY ECLIPSE AND WAS TOLD THAT MITSUBISHI WAS HAVING A PAINT ISSUE FOR THIS MODEL. I AM HOPING THAT MITSUBISHI WILL STAND BEHIND THEIR NAME AND MAKE THIS RIGHT. I ALSO PURCHASED A 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO IN 2002 AND THAT PAINT JOB LOOKS LIKE THE DAY I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT. I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT 2 OF THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10491944

Incident

Mar 5, 2012

I HAVE HAD THE CAR SINCE 2003 OR 04, AND KEPT THE CAR COVERED WHEN I DIDN'T DRIVE IT MUCH, BUT FOR WEEKENDS I USED THE CAR FOR ERRANDS. LAST YEAR I STARTED TO DRIVE THE CAR MORE OFTEN AND DID NOT COVER THE CAR AS MUCH, BUT CONTINUED TO WASH AND WAX THE CAR WHEN NEEDED. I STARTED TO NOTICE FADING SPOTS ON THE HOOD ON THE BLACK PAINT, BUT DID NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, BUT CONTINUED TO WASH AND WAX THE CAR AS USUAL. THIS YEAR, AROUND MARCH, I NOTICED THE COLOR STARTED TO GET MORE WHITE AND IT WAS SPREADING HALF WAY ON THE HOOD NEAR THE WINDSHIELD SIDE. NOW THE PAINT IS ALSO CHIPPING WITHIN THE WHITE SPOTS EXPOSING THE UNDERCOATING. THE FADING ON THE PAINT IS ALSO NOTICEABLE ON THE TRUNK AND SIDE PANELS ON THE TOP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10336007

Incident

Mar 10, 2009

PURCHASED 2003 SILVER ECLIPSE GS WITH 5000 MILES IN JUNE 2003. WITH IN 12 MONTHS, PAINT WAS SHOWING SIGNS OF WEAR AND FLAKING OFF EXPOSING PRIMER COAT. THIS DETERIORATION PROGRESSED QUICKLY AND AFTER 5 YEARS HOOD, ROOF AND REAR QUARTER PANELS ARE ALMOST COMPLETELY DOWN TO PRIMER. I AM FILING NOW TO HOPEFULLY RAISE THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS TO THE POINT WHERE SOMEBODY REALIZES THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT BUT A SYSTEMIC DEFECT FOR WHICH MITSUBISHI SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10334716

Incident

Jun 14, 2004

Mileage

19,000 mi

CARPET ON DRIVER SIDE FRONT AND BACK COMPLETED SOAKED WITH WATER EVERYTIME IT RAINS .CAR ALWAYS SMELLS MOLDY. HAVE HAD IT CHECKED BUT NOONE CAN FIGURE IT OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10273896

Incident

Apr 28, 2009

Mileage

49,500 mi

PURCHASED BRAND NEW 2003 ECLIPSE IN 2004. I AM EXPERIENCING PAINT DELAMINATION AND IT'S SPREADING RAPIDLY. WENT TO THE MITSUBISHI DEALER AFTER FINDING OUT MANY OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. THEY TOOK PICTURES AND SAID THEY WILL CONTACT MITSUBISHI. I WAS NOTIFIED THE NEXT DAY THAT MY CAR HAS BEEN DECLINED ANY HELP DUE TO EXPIRATION IN WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10268621

Incident

May 6, 2009

Mileage

32,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. WHEN THE CONTACT BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE PAINT WAS FADING FROM GRAY TO WHITE. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, SHE FOUND A FEW COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME DEFECT ON HER VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE'S PAINT, BUT HER VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED IN 2006. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE INSURANCE COMPANY, BUT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPAIRED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 69,000.

NHTSA ID

10259098

Incident

Dec 21, 2007

Mileage

69,000 mi

I OWN A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE, BLACK. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR, THE PAINT APPEARED PERFECT, BUT IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR VERY BAD 'SUNBLEACHED' OR OXIDIZED SPOTS HAVE APPEARED ON THE ROOF AND TRUNK AND APPEAR TO BE GETTING WORSE IN A HURRY. THE CAR HAS BEEN WASHED AND WAXED REGULARLY SINCE I PURCHASED IT. SINCE THESE SPOTS HAVE SHOWN UP, I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT OTHER ECLIPSES AROUND MY AREA, AND LITERALLY EVERY SINGLE BLACK ECLIPSE I SEE - PROBABLY UPWARDS OF 30 CARS (2000-2003) - HAS THE SAME PROBLEM, NOT TO MENTION THE THOUSANDS OF ONLINE POSTS I HAVE SEEN MENTIONING THIS SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANY WAY TO HAVE THE DEALERSHIP PAY FOR A NEW PAINTJOB WITH CURRENT BLACK PAINT (I DO NOT WANT THE SAME 2003 PAINT PUT ON, ONLY TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM OCCUR IN 4 YEARS) THANK YOU VERY MUCH! *TR

NHTSA ID

10254931

Incident

Nov 1, 2008

I OWN A BLACK 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. ON OR ABOUT JUNE 1, 2007 I NOTICED A MYSTERIOUS WHITE SPOT FORMING ON THE ROOF OF MY CAR. WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO, THE WHITE SPOT TURNED INTO SEVERAL WHITE SPOTS AND NOW CURRENTLY ON AUGUST 5, 2008 THE ENTIRE ROOF IS COVERED IN WHITE AND ONE HAS EVEN TURNED TO RUST. I CONTACTED A MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR IS NOT COVERED AFTER 36,000 MILES. MY QUESTION IS, WHAT DOES MILEAGE HAVE TO DO WITH PAINT? I THEN DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MITSUBISHI VEHICLES PRODUCED AROUND 2003 AND THAT THE ISSUE IS DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE PRIMER USED BY THE COMPANY. SO WHY DOESN'T MITSUBISHI FESS UP TO THEIR PROBLEM AND FIX THE MESS? THERE ARE THOUSANDS IF NOT MILLIONS OF DISSATISFIED CUSTOMERS WITH NEWER VEHICLES THAT LOOK HORRIBLE. IN MY CASE, I OWN A FAIRLY NEW VEHICLE THAT I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON THAT LOOKS ABSOLUTELY WORTHLESS. I AM ASHAMED TO OWN THIS VEHICLE, IT LOOKS LIKE I DON'T TAKE CARE OF MY CAR. WHEN IT ALL ACTUALITY, THIS IS NOT MY FAULT. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP WITH THIS MATTER. I WOULD LIKE MITSUBISHI TO REPAINT MY CAR AT NO COST TO ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10237080

Incident

Jun 1, 2007

Mileage

90,000 mi

I OWN A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GTS AND I HAVE NOTICED ON THE TOP OF MY ROOF THAT MY BLACK PAINT IS TURNING WHITE! IT IS VERY NOTICEABLE . I HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT I AM ONE OF HUNDREDS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO FOUND THAT COMPANY DOES NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND BLAMES IT ON THE ROAD, SALT, AND BIRDS. A CAR THAT IS THIS NEW SHOULD NOT BE HAVING PAINT PROBLEMS! I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED WITH MITSUBISHI AND WILL NOT BE A CONTINUING CUSTOMER IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED. I AM HOPING MITSUBISHI TAKES FULL RESPONSIBILITY IN FITTING THE PAINT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10234272

Incident

Feb 26, 2008

I NOTICED RECENTLY THAT A SECTION OF THE ROOF ON MY CAR WAS WHITISH IN COLOR. QUITE APPARENT AS MY CAR IS BLACK IN COLOR. I HAVE HEARD AND READ FROM MANY SOURCES THAT THIS ISSUE WAS PREVALENT IN 2003 MODELS AND OBVIOUSLY MINE IS NOT EXEMPT MUCH TO MY DISAPPOINTMENT. I HOPE THAT MITSUBISHI STEPS UP TO THE PLATE TO CORRECT THIS MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10231149

Incident

Mar 28, 2008

Mileage

60,000 mi

I OWN A 2003 BLACK MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GTS THAT HAS A HORRIBLE OXIDIZING PAINT PROBLEM. THE HOOD, TRUNK AND TOP OF MY CAR ARE NEARLY ALL GRAY AT THIS POINT. THE PROBLEM FIRST APPEARED ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO WHEN THE CAR WAS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAINT THE CAR STATING THAT IT WAS PAST WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10231116

Incident

Jun 1, 2006

Mileage

40,000 mi

I PURCHASED A BLACK 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE AND THE ENTIRE CAR LOOKS TERRIBLE BECAUSE OF PEELING PAINT AND WHITE SPOTS ALL OVER IT. I WAS TOLD BY AN AUTO BODY SPECIALIST THAT IT BECAUSE OF A CLEAR COAT FAILURE. I HAVE TAKEN REALLY GOOD CARE OF THE CAR AND IT IS GARAGED IN THE WINTER. MITSUBISHI NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND REPAINT MY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10227864

Incident

May 1, 2007

I WILL HAVE HAD MY CAR 5YEARS IN MID-JUNE. LAST YEAR IN NOVEMBER I NOTICED THAT MY BLACK CAR WAS TURNING A WHITISH GREY BUT ONLY ON THE HOOD AND TRUNK. IN THE SPRING I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT BRAND NEW, HE TOOK PICTURES AND SHOWED IT TO THE REGIONAL MANAGER,AND THEY BOTH AGREED THAT IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE PAINT ,AND THAT THE PAINT WAS A PROBLEM THAT YEAR ( 2003 ).THEY PAINTED IT BUT ONLY THE HOOD AND TRUNK. THEN IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR I NOTICED THAT THE REST OF THE CAR IS DOING THE SAME THING. SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS CONSIDERED AN OLD CAR AND OUT OF WARRANTY,BUT IF THE PAINT WAS BAD LAST YEAR DO TO A DEFECT IN THE PAINT IT'S STILL THE SAME CAR WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE PAINT AND THEY REFUSE TO HAVE ANY THING TO DO WITH IT. MY CAR ONLY HAS 37,000 MILES ON IT .CAN SOME ONE PLEASE HELP ME? I LOVE MY CAR NEVER ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT,RUNS GREAT BUT LOOKS LIKE ?!@#$%. *TR

NHTSA ID

10227646

Incident

Mar 2, 2008

BAD PAINT ON 2003 MITSUBISHI. DEALER WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. MITSUBISHI KNOWS THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BAD PAINT AND NEEDS TO FIX ALL COMPLAINTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10221867

Incident

Aug 1, 2006

I PURCHASED A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GTS BRAND NEW IN AUGUST OF 2003. SINCE THAT TIME THE PAINT ON THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE HAS FADED AND THE CLEAR COAT IS CHIPPING AWAY. THE COLOR IS NOW A MILKY WHITE AND LOOKS TERRIBLE ONLY AFTER 4.5 YEARS AND 38,000 MILES OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT HERE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10218772

Incident

Sep 1, 2007

I AM EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE CORROSION OF MY PAINT ON MY 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE; I BEGAN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS IN EARLY 2005 (JUST A LITTLE OVER A YEAR OF OWNING THE BRAND NEW VEHICLE.) WHILE MY COMPLAINT DOES NOT INVOLVE A SAFETY ISSUE, IT DOES INVOLVE FALSE REPRESENTATION OF THE PRODUCT AND EXPECTATIONS. SEVERAL WEBSITES CONTAIN HUNDREDS OF OTHER INDIVIDUALS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME SITUATION. I HAVE ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE WITH MY MITSUBISHI DEALER AND WAS TURNED AWAY SINCE I HAD EXCEEDED THE MILEAGE ACCORDING TO MY WARRANTY. I DO KNOW THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IF I KNEW THE PAINT WAS SO CHEAPLY DONE OR MANUFACTURED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS ON THE PAINT OR IF THERE ARE ANY CLASS ACTION SUITS AGAINST MITSUBISHI. WHILE SUCH ITEMS AS PAINT AND TIRES ARE CONSIDERED "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR", ONE WOULD NOT EXPECT THEIR TIRES TO BLOW OUT JUST DAYS AFTER LEAVING A DEALERSHIP JUST AS THE PAINT SHOULD LAST UNTIL I AT LEAST COMPLETE THE FINANCING PERIOD. AGAIN, THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE OVERALL VEHICLE HAVE NOT BEEN MET, EVEN WITH NORMAL UPKEEP OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW OF ANY INFORMATION THAT CAN BE OFFERED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10211844

Incident

May 1, 2006

WE HAVE A 2003 BLACK MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE PAINT IS GOING BAD ON ALL THE TOP AREAS OF THE CAR. THE CLEAR COAT PEELING AND IT IS TURNING WHITE. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER BLACK MITSUBISHI'S LIKE THIS AND HAVE SEEN OTHER WEB SITES THAT SPEAK OF THIS. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE THAT IN TWO OR THREE YEARS THAT A FACTORY PAINT JOB FROM A MAJOR CAR COMPANY CAN GO BAD THIS SOON AND IN SO MANY CARS. I WILL NOT LET ANYONE I KNOW BUY ANOTHER MITSUBISHI UNLESS THIS PROBLEM IS RESOLVED IN A SATISFACTORY MANNER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10204237

Incident

Jul 1, 2007

2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE PAINT DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10199894

Incident

Aug 10, 2007

I PURCHASED THE 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE NEW OFF THE LOT IN APRIL 2003. I HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THE CAR WITH REGULAR WASHES AND ATTEMPTS TO KEEP IT CLEAN. LAST YEAR STARTED NOTICING LIGHT GREY SPOTS DEVELOPING ON THE TOP OF THE CAR BEHIND THE SUN ROOF. NOW ,JUST A YEAR LATER, THE SPOTS INCREASED AND ARE NOW LOCATED ALL OVER THE CAR. EVERY DAY THEY APPEAR TO BE GETTING WIDE R AND LARGER IN SIZE. I HAVE HAD MANY PAINT CHIPS KNOCKED OFF THE FRONT OF THE CAR IN JUST NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND THOSE SPOTS ARE NOW ALSO STARTING TO RUST. I AM VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS AS I SPENT GOOD MONEY ON THIS CAR THINKING IT WOULD BE A REPUTABLE COMPANY. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR THIS NEW START EXPERIENCING SUCH PAINT PROBLEMS. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS. I HAVE COMPLETED RESEARCH ONLINE ABOUT THE PAINT PROBLEMS WITH MITSUBISHI, AND IT APPEARED I WA S NOT ALONE. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OWNERS OF MITSUBISHI CARS THAT HAVE COMPLAINED OF A PAINT PROBLEM, (ESPECIALLY WITH THE BLACK PAINT, IN THE YEAR MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED. I WOULD NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER MITSUBISHI AFTER THIS EXPERIENCE AND WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND ANYONE PURCHASE ONE AS MITSUBISHI IS NOT BEING COOPERATIVE IN FIXING OR ADMITTING THERE IS EVEN A PROBLEM WHEN OBVIOUSLY THERE IS. THERE WAS NO WAY WITHOUT A NEW PAINT JOB THAT I COULD EVEN SELL MY VEHICLE AND MAKE MY MONEY OFF OF IT. I AM SO EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED WITH MITSUBISHI AND THEIR PRODUCT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10195617

Incident

Jul 9, 2006

Mileage

67,000 mi

THERE WAS NO INCIDENT, CRASH OR INJURY. I PURCHASED A BLACK 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE, IN 2005, WHICH HAD 40000 MI ON NIT. THE PAINT WAS OK AT TIME OF PURCHASE. UNKNOWN TO ME, MITSUBISHI VEHICLES FROM 1999-2004 HAVE DEFECTIVE PRIMER WHICH CAUSES THE PAINT TO FLAKE OFF IN LARGE QUANTITIES. I HAD THE VEHICLE LESS THAN A YEAR WHEN THE PAINT STARTING COMING OFF. THE MANUFACTURERS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT ONLY FIXES SOME OF THE VEHICLES. MY CLAIM WAS DENIED. I BELIEVE THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED DUE TO DEFECTIVE PAINT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10195545

Incident

Jun 6, 2006

Mileage

44,000 mi

PAINT ON CAR IS FLAKING OFF. MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MISTSUBISHI MODELS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10195041

Incident

Jun 1, 2006

HAVE A 2003 ECLIPSE AND MANY MANY PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASING. AFTER REGULAR SCHEDULED TIRE BALANCE AND ROTATION, TOOK THE CAR BACK BECAUSE OF SHAKING AT 50-60 MPH, THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE RIMS WERE BENT, AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED, AND THEY DID (RIGHT AFTER BALANCE AND ROTATING? WOULD THEY BALANCE IF THE RIMS WERE BENT?) HAD MY CAR IN NUMEROUS TIMES FOR MOISTURE IN MY WINDOWS WHEN PUTTING THEM DOWN AND BACK UP, A LOT OF MOISTURE AND BAD VISIBILITY, REPLACED STRIPS WHICH HELPED MOLD SMELL, BUT CAN'T FIX THE MOISTURE. B/C OF THE BAD VISIBILITY I AM EXTRA CAREFUL, BUT MY CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. RECENTLY THE MOLDING ON THE WINDSHIELD WAS COMING LOOSE, THE DEALERSHIP FIXED IT (SENT IT TO A WINDOW PLACE) AND SINCE THEN I HAVE A FILM ON MY WINDSHIELD WHICH MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE...I HAVE CLEANED THE GLASS NUMEROUS TIMES, MY WIPERS WERE FAIRLY NEW, MITSBUSHI WOULDN'T LOOK AT IT WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR ANOTHER RIM REPLACEMENT. MY CAR STILL SHAKES, MY WINDOWS AND WINDSHIELD HAVE BAD VISIBILITY PROBLEMS, AND NOW MY SUNROOF BUTTON HAS POPPED OUT AND WILL NOT OPEN UNLESS I HOLD IT IN FIRST. *JB

NHTSA ID

10098389

Incident

Oct 22, 2004

PAINT PEELING OFF BUMPER. CLEAR COAT PEELING OFF DRIVERS SIDE ROCKER PANEL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10095722

Incident

Jul 7, 2003