RoadVitals

2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse Fuel system Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Fuel system 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 Sep 28, 2015
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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. 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 fuel system

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureElectricalFuel system
Filed Sep 28, 2015

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
Fuel systemExterior lightingSuspension
Filed Jul 24, 2015

FUEL MILEAGE IS BAD AND WHEN FILLING UP IF YOU CAN IT KEEPS CLICKING AND SMELLING LIKE FUEL INSIDE CAR. NO LIGHTING IN CAR AT ALL. HAD TO REPLACE SUSPENSION AS THE BOLTS WERE WORN. PAINT CHIPPING ALL OVER CAR. COOLING SYSTEM KEEPS FAILING AND SOMEHOW I HAVE WATER KEEPS COMING IN ON FLOOR BOARDS AND THE FLOOR IS SOAKED AND STINKS.

NHTSA ID
10736178
Incident
Jan 15, 2014
Mileage
132,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Oct 2, 2011

THIS VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED STALLING WHETHER IDLING, ACCELORATING, OR COASTING. IT WOULD THEN HAVE TROUBLE STARTING AND RUN FINE AGAIN. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE MITSUBSHI DEALERSHIP ON WESTERN BLVD IN JACKSONVILLE, NC, THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE IT BUT FOUND IN THEIR DATA BASE THAT THERE IS A TINY PART IN THE CRANK SHAFT THAT COULD CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. AFTER WAITING A WEEK FOR PARTS THEY REALIZED THEY HAD THE WRONG TOOL. ANOTHER WEEK WAITING FOR THE TOOL AND THE NEW PART DDID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. ANOTHER WEEK OF KEEPING MY CAR THEY REPLACED THE FUEL INJECTION REGULATOR WITH A USED PART, THIS DID NOT FIX IT. ANOTHER WEEK WITH A NEW FUEL INJECTOR. NOW IT DOES NOT STALL BUT I CANT GET GAS IN THE GAS TANK, THE CAR SMELLS LIKE GAS, THERE IS STILL OCCASIONAL STALLING, AND THE NEW TIMING BELT THEY PUT ON SCREECHES WITH THE FIRST START OF THE DAY EVERYDAY. THE GAS TANK PROBLEM IS FOUND TO BE THAT THE VALVE IS STUCK IN THE FULL AND CLOSED POSITION AND WHOLE NEW GAS TANKIS RECOMMENDED. ANOTHER TWO WEEKS AND STILL WAITING ON THE GAS TANK. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE AUGUST 22ND AND IT IS NOW OCTOBER FIRST AND MY CAR IS STILL UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WAITING FOR PARTS. HOW IS IT THAT MITSUBISHI CAN ALLOW THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO TAKE THIS LONG, COST THIS MUCH, AND TO RETURN A VEHICLE TO THE CUSTOMER IN WORSE SHAPE THAN IT WAS GIVEN? I PAID FOR ALL OF THESE NEW PARTS AND LABOR, AND STILL HAVE A VEHICLE THAT I CANT USE. ALSO, AS A SIDE NOTE, IT IS BLACK WHICH MEANS THE CHEAP FACTORY CLEAR COAT IS COMING OFF, THE AC LEAKS ON THE DRIVERSIDE FLOOR, THE TRUNK DOES NOT OPEN WHEN YOU PULL THE LEVER...THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT SHOULD NOT BE EXPIRED ON AN 03 VEHICLE AND ARE SO COMMON WITH THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

NHTSA ID
10428608
Incident
Aug 19, 2011
Mileage
68,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Oct 2, 2011

THIS VEHICLE SUDDENLY STARTED STALLING WHETHER IDLING, ACCELERATING, OR COASTING. IT WOULD THEN HAVE TROUBLE STARTING AND RUN FINE AGAIN. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE MITSUBSHI DEALERSHIP ON WESTERN BLVD IN JACKSONVILLE, NC, THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE IT BUT FOUND IN THEIR DATA BASE THAT THERE IS A TINY PART IN THE CRANK SHAFT THAT COULD CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. AFTER WAITING A WEEK FOR PARTS THEY REALIZED THEY HAD THE WRONG TOOL. ANOTHER WEEK WAITING FOR THE TOOL AND THE NEW PART DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. ANOTHER WEEK OF KEEPING MY CAR THEY REPLACED THE FUEL INJECTION REGULATOR WITH A USED PART, THIS DID NOT FIX IT. ANOTHER WEEK WITH A NEW FUEL INJECTOR. NOW IT DOES NOT STALL BUT I CANT GET GAS IN THE GAS TANK, THE CAR SMELLS LIKE GAS, THERE IS STILL OCCASIONAL STALLING, AND THE NEW TIMING BELT THEY PUT ON SCREECHES WITH THE FIRST START OF THE DAY EVERYDAY. THE GAS TANK PROBLEM IS FOUND TO BE THAT THE VALVE IS STUCK IN THE FULL AND CLOSED POSITION AND WHOLE NEW GAS TANKIS RECOMMENDED. ANOTHER TWO WEEKS AND STILL WAITING ON THE GAS TANK. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE AUGUST 22ND AND IT IS NOW OCTOBER FIRST AND MY CAR IS STILL UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WAITING FOR PARTS. HOW IS IT THAT MITSUBISHI CAN ALLOW THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO TAKE THIS LONG, COST THIS MUCH, AND TO RETURN A VEHICLE TO THE CUSTOMER IN WORSE SHAPE THAN IT WAS GIVEN? I PAID FOR ALL OF THESE NEW PARTS AND LABOR, AND STILL HAVE A VEHICLE THAT I CANT USE. ALSO, AS A SIDE NOTE, IT IS BLACK WHICH MEANS THE CHEAP FACTORY CLEAR COAT IS COMING OFF, THE AC LEAKS ON THE DRIVERSIDE FLOOR, THE TRUNK DOES NOT OPEN WHEN YOU PULL THE LEVER...THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT SHOULD NOT BE EXPIRED ON AN 03 VEHICLE AND ARE SO COMMON WITH THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10428223
Incident
Aug 19, 2011
Mileage
68,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 17, 2011

THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY TWO MECHANICS FROM DIFFERENT SHOPS; BOTH OF WHICH SUSPECT THE PROBLEM WITH MY FUEL SYSTEM MAY BE RELATED TO THE FUEL SYSTEM RECALL FOR THE 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. *TT I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER TO GET MORE INFORMATION. I WAS INFORMED THAT MY VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN SERVICED FOR THE RECALL. HOWEVER, I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AS THE RECALLED VEHICLE AND IS HAVING PROBLEMS IN THE SAME CATEGORY. I AM CONCERNED MY VEHICLE MAY HAVE PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE FUEL SYSTEM RECALL. IF SO, I WOULD LIKE THIS ISSUE TO BE PROPERLY ADDRESSED.

NHTSA ID
10425893
Incident
Jun 15, 2011
Fuel system
Filed Sep 16, 2010

I HAVE A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE, THE FUEL FILLER PIPE BEGAN LEAKING, WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MITSUBISHI DEALER THEY SAID IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. I HAD IT FIXED FOR $453, I LATER FOUND OUT MANY MITSUBISHI'S HAVE DEFECTIVE FUEL FILLER NECKS AND HAVE BEEN RECALLED.THE RECALLS WERE FOR THE SAME PART I HAD REPLACED ON MY CAR BUT MITSUBISHI TOLD ME THAT MY MODEL HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED EVEN THOUGH FUEL WILL LEAK OUT OF TANK BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10355978
Incident
Sep 2, 2010
Mileage
132,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 27, 2008

SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON; TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP. DISCOVERD THAT FILLER NECK HAS RUSTED OUT REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. THIS WAS REPORTED TO ME BY THE DEALERSHIP TO BE COMMON WITH THIS MODEL. THE VEHICLE IS A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GS. THE FILLER NECK HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. THE FILLER NECK IS LOCATED DIRECTLY BEHIND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THIS CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD. "PIPES" SHOULD NOT BE RUSTING AFTER 5 YEARS OF USE. THERE IS NO COVER OVER THE FILLER NECK TO PROTECT IT FROM ROAD CONDITIONS AND WEATHER. ALSO APPEARS THERE WAS NO PROTECTIVE COATING ON THE METAL. A CCV TEST SHOWED A STRONG ODOR FROM THE FILLER NECK. ALL OTHER TESTS ON THE CAR PASSED. MORE TESTS TO BE RUN ONCE FILLER NECK REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
10232553
Incident
Jun 25, 2008
Mileage
72,500 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jan 28, 2008

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED-DEALER SCANNED CODE PO455 - GROSS EVAP. LEAK. TECH. REMOVED AND RE-INSTALLED GAS CAP, CLEARED CODE, RAN EVAP. TEST, DROVE CAR TO SET READINESS TEST. COST $120.00 BECAUSE PEI FAILED AND THEY HAD TO REMOVE AND RE-INSTALL GAS CAP. NO OTHER PARTS OR FIXES OFFERED. ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN 3 MONTHS AFTER INSPECTION AND SO CALLED FIX. CONCERNED SINCE THIS HAD BEEN HAPPENING FOR APPROX. 2 YRS. ON AND OFF. WHEN FIRST HAPPENED DEALERSHIP SAID NOT TO WORRY MOST LIKELY WILL CORRECT ITSELF. WENT LOOKING AND FOUND CAMPAIGN 03V442000 - SAME PROBLEM. CALLED DEALER WAS TOLD MY V.I.N. # NOT INCLUDED IN CAMPAIGN, BUT STILL HAVE PROBLEM. TRIED TO CHANGE FORM TO MITUBISHI-KEEPS COMING UP MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN???? *TR

NHTSA ID
10216303
Incident
Apr 25, 2007
Mileage
20,057 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 22, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHERE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS REPORTED A MAJOR FUEL LEAK THAT COULD NOT BE IDENTIFIED. WHEN THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #(03V442000) ON THE VEHICLE REGARDING THE FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: FUEL PUMP, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA ID
10168969
Incident
Sep 21, 2006
Mileage
54,645 mi
Fuel systemTransmissionVisibility
Filed Aug 24, 2004

MY 2003 ECLIPSE GTS HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR ABOUT 10 DIFFERENT THINGS IN A MATTER OF 8 MONTHS. 4 SEPERATE TIMES I HAD BROUGHT IT IN FOR A JERKING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 3 TIMES THEY TOLD ME NOTHING WAS THE MATTER AND IT WAS FINE. FINALLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEY THEN INFORMED ME THAT THE TRANSMISION NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. IT WORKED FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS. ALSO 20 DAYS AFTER BUYING THE CAR MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE FUEL PUMP AND SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. 4 TIMES I HAVE ALSO BROUGHT THE CAR IN BECUASE WHEN THE SUNROOF OPENS IT JERKS REALLY BAD. EVERY TIME I WENT THERE ALL THEY DID WAS GREASE IT AND IT STILL DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY. AT 17,000 THE POWER MIRROR ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND THAT WAS REPLACED. TODAY 8/23/04 AT 20,000 I JUST DROPPED IT OFF FOR THE SUNROOF (AGAIN) AND INFORMED THEM MY WHEEL SHOOK WHILE BRAKING AND WAS JUST NOTIFIED THAT MY ROTORS WERE BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE COST TO ME WAS $200.00 FOR A CAR WITH 20,000 MILES AND 1 YEAR OLD. MITSUBISHI STATES THEY HAVE THE BEST BACKED CARS BUT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT THEY DO NOT BACK THIER CARS UP WHEN IT MATTERS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10088460
Incident
Aug 23, 2004
Mileage
2,000 mi

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.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .