2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse complaints

TWO OUT OF FOUR TIRES HAD BULGES COMING OUT OF THE SIDEWALLS AFTER LESS THAN 14,000 MILES. TOOK THEM TO GOODYEAR AND THEY BLAMED IT ON ME. THEY SAID THE PLYS DELAMINATED BECAUSE I WAS RUNNING INTO TOO MANY POTHOLES (WHICH I WASN'T). I'VE NEVER HAD A TIRE DO THIS BEFORE. I THINK THE RSA'S ARE AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN AND A SERIOUS INVESTIGATION NEEDS TO BE INITIATED ON THESE TIRES, ESPECIALLY THE LOW-PROFILE VERSION. MY TIRE SIZE IS P215/50VR17 , AND CAME STOCK ON MY 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GTS. *AK

I HAD THE CAR, ABOUT FOR 5 TO 6 MONTHS, AND ONE DAY I WAS HEADING OUT TO A FRIENDS WHEN I REALIZED THAT MY FOG LIGHT WAS BUSTED. I KNEW I NEVER HIT ANYTHING OF THAT SORT OR HAD ANYTHING HIT IT. I TOOK IT TO THE MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID A ROCK MIGHT HAVE HIT IT. I WENT ONLINE TO WWW.NEWECLIPSE.ORG, THAT IS THE CAR CLUB FOR ECLIPSE OWNERS AND YOU GO UNDER PROMBLEM REPORTS AND YOU SEE THAT MANY PEOPLES FOG LIGHTS HAVE JUST BUSTED. EVEN IF A ROCK WOULD HAVE HIT IT, THEN IT SHOULD HAVE WITH STOOD IT. AND MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS SAY THAT THE MITSUBISHI TEAM STATES THAT A ROCK MUST HAVE HIT IT. IF YOU COULD PLEASE CHECK ON THIS, THANKS. *AK

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

MY CLUTCH ON MY 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER STARTED TO SHOW SIGNS OF SLIPPING AT AROUND 11,000 MILES. I THOUGHT IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY AND DID NOT GET IT FIXED RIGHT AWAY AS MY DEALERSHIP IS ABOUT AN HOUR AWAY. IT FINALLY BECAME SO BAD THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT 19500 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP HAD TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH AND WOULD NOT COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE DRIVEN STICK SHIFTS ALL MY LIFE AND NEVER HAD ONE FAIL, EVEN AFTER 85,000 MILES. THE CAR WAS NEVER RACED OR DRIVEN ABUSIVELY. NOW, THE SECOND CLUTCH IS AT 11,000 MILES AND THE PROBLEM IS BEGINNING AGAIN. I HAVE READ ON AN INTERNET FORUM FOR ECLIPSE OWNERS, REPORTS OF MANY OTHERS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CLUTCHES ON THE 2003 ECLIPSE GTS MODELS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT AND SHOULD BE RECTIFIED. I CANNOT SPEND $1000 EVERY 6 - 12 MONTHS TO KEEP REPLACING CLUTCHES IN THIS CAR. *LA

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

I HAVE A 2003 ECIPSE THAT I HAVE HAD IN THE SHPO TWICE BECAUSE MY CAR IS LEAKING OIL. I HAVE HAD CONTINOUS RUN AROUND AT THE GARAGE WAITING FOR PARTS ETC. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THE FACT THAT MY GARAGF FLOOR CONTINUES TO HAVE WET OIL ON IT.I ALSO AM WITHOUT A VEHICLE THAT I AM PAYING FOR.MY CAR HAS BEEN RETURNED ON THREE OCCASSIONS TO GURLEY-LEEP, WHERE IT CURRENTLY IS,FOR THE SAAME PROBLEM OF LEAKING OIL.. *AK

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

SELECTING THE SECOND GEAR OF MY CAR OFTEN CAUSES UNDESIRABLE "GRINDING" AND UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES CAN THAT GEAR BY USED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE POWER ON DEMAND AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF THE GEAR DOES NOT GO IN PROPERLY. *LA

OIL LEAK FROM ENGINE AT ONLY 2K MILES, DEALER IS MAKING REPAIR. CAUSE CRACKED OIL PUMP HOUSING. *LA

MANUAL TRANSMISSION - CAR SEIZE WHEN SHIFTING INTO 5TH GEAR. DEALER STATED THAT SOMEONE THAT SERVICED THE CAR MUST HAVE DRAINED THE GEAR LUBE OIL DOWN TO 1 PINT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. THEY DISCOVERED THAT IS WAS NOT THE GEAR LUBE OIL BUT THE ROD THAT PUSHES OUT WHEN SHIFTING FROM TO GEAR WAS TO LONG AND HAD BEEN CHIPPING AWAY AT THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER 2 MONTHS OF FIGHTING WITH THE DEALER AND MITSUBISHI DIRECTLY - THEY STILL REFUSE TO PAY. THIS WAS A FACTORY DEFECT. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE. IF I HAD LET THE DEALER REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION I WOULD NEVER HAD KNOWN THE REAL CAUSE. *LA

WHILE DRIVING UNDER FOGGY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE DEFROSTER HAD BEEN RUNNING ABOUT 15 MINUTES, THEN THE DRIVER TURNED OFF THE DEFROSTER AND TURNED ON THE AIR CONDITIONER FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. THE DRIVER SUDDENLY HEARD A LOUD BANG NEAR THE REAR WINDOW, THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND SAW TWO HOLES IN THE REAR WINDOW NEAR THE DEFROSTER VENT HOSE WHICH CAUSED THE REAR WINDOW TO CRACK. *AK *JB

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 3 MPH AND MAKING A TURN ONTO A SIDE STREET, THE VEHICLE HIT A CURB WHICH CAUSED A DENT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE SITTING IN AN ENCLOSED BODY SHOP, THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED. *AK. THE CONSUMER HAD TWO EXPERTS LOOK AT THE WINDOW AND IN THEIR OPINION STATED IT WAS A DEFECT, THAT A WINDOW SHOULD NOT EXPLODED FROM HITTING A CURB AT SUCH LOW SPEED, BUT THE MITSUBISHI EXPERT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT THE CURB, IT TWISTED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE AND WAS PART OF A FENDER BENDER. *JB *JB

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

WHEN TAKING AN EXIT OFF THE FREEWAY, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING. *PH

MY CLUTCH HAD TO BE REPLACED AT ONLY 14,500 MILES. PROBLEMS WERE EVIDENT AT AROUND 10,000 MILES AND BECAME CONSIDERABLY WORSE IN TIME. I HAVE DRIVEN A MANUAL TRANSMISSION FOR 15 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER RACED AND DID NOT RIDE THE CLUTCH. MY LAST CAR'S CLUTCH LASTED IN EXCESS OF 100,000 MILES WITHOUT FAULT. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MY DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT IT APPEARS TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT. HOWEVER, SINCE THE WARRANTY ON THE CLUTCH EXPIRES AT 12,000 MILES, I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE PART. THE PROBLEM BECAME OBVIOUS WHEN MY TRANSMISSION SPUN AS I TRIED TO GO FROM A STOP UP A HILL. MY CAR BASICALLY BECAME STUCK IN TRAFFIC ON A DANGEROUS SECTION OF ROADWAY AND IT WAS LUCK THAT I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN A SIDE-IMPACT COLLISION. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON A RAILROAD TRACK OR A DRAWBRIDGE, I SEE THIS PROBLEM AS POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO MITSUBISHI MOTORS AND THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON A POSSIBLE REPLACEMENT CLUTCH. THEIR EFFORTS ARE TOO LATE FOR ME. I URGE THE NHTSA TO REQUIRE THAT MITSUBISHI MOTORS REPLACE DEFECTIVE CLUTCHES FREE OF CHARGE OR REIMBURSE THOSE (SUCH AS MYSELF) WHO HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO REPAIR WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY A FACTORY DEFECT.*AK

POWER STEERING HOSE LEAK..WENT TO DEALER 3 TIMES CANNOT FIX LEAK. HAVE TO REPLENISH FLUID FROM TIME TO TIME.*JB

MY 2003 ECLIPSE GT IS HARD TO DOWN SHIFT INTO 2ND AND 1ST. THE DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL FOR THESE CARS. MY CAR ALSO GRINDS GOING INTO 3RD GEAR SOMETIMES.

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START BECAUSE THE CONNECTOR TO THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD A BROKEN LOCK TAB AND WAS BEING PULLED BY THE HARNESS WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TILED. *JB *NLM

I HAVE A MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE 2003 GTS. I PURCHASED IT IN SEPTEMBER 2002 AND IT ONLY HAS 7,000 MILES ON IT, SO IT IS FAIRLY NEW. THERE IS A LATCH BY THE FRONT SEAT TO OPEN THE TRUNK. EVER SINCE I HAD THE CAR, THE TRUNK NEVER OPENS ON THE FIRST TRY. USUALLY I HAVE TO PULL THE LATCH TWICE. REASON BEING IS THE TRUNK IS SO HEAVY WITH THE SPOILER ON IT, IT DOESN'T WANT TO POP UP. THERE IS NO HANDLE OR ANY WAY TO OPEN THE TRUNK WHAT SO EVER. SO A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO AS MY FRIEND WAS LIFTING UP ON THE TRUNK WITH THE SPOILER, THE SPOILER LITERALLY CAME OFF!!! THERE IS NO REASON WHY ON A BRAND NEW CAR THE SPOILER SHOULD JUST COME OFF. SO I TOOK MY CAR TO THE MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND THEY SAID THAT I USED EXCESSIVE FORCE. IN ORDER TO PULL A SPOILER OFF YOU WOULD THINK THAT ONE WOULD LITERALLY HAVE TO STAND ON THE BUMPER AND YANK FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. BUT MY FRIEND SIMPLY LIFTED UP ON IT AND IT CAME OFF (CONSIDERING THERE IS NO WHERE ELSE TO LIFT UP ON THE TRUNK). AFTER MY UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT AT THE MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP I PHONED MITSUBISHI TO FILE A COMPLIANT. AFTER SPEAKING TO TWO PEOPLE, THE REPRESENTATIVE WAS NOT HELPFUL WHAT SO EVER AND PRETTY MUCH TOLD ME IT WAS MY FAULT BECAUSE I SHOULD NOT USE THE SPOILER AS A HANDLE. MY FRIEND BARELY EVEN USED ANY FORCE! SINCE THE SPOILER HAD TO BE COMPLETELY TAKEN OFF TO DRIVE IT, NOW THE TRUNK JUST POPS UP WHEN THE LATCH IS PULLED IN THE FRONT BY THE SEAT. THAT JUST SHOWS THAT THE REASON WHY IT DOESN'T POP UP WITH THE SPOILER

THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WAS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC LOCKS WHICH DID NOT FUNCTION UNLESS SUPPLIED WITH ELECTRICITY. THE DRIVERS' SIDE DOOR UNLOCKED/OPENED BY PULLING THE HANDLE. *JB

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING . PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*JB

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 40MPH HAD A FRONT END COLLISION AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TS

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW, AND WHAT A MISTAKE IT WAS. I HAVE BEGUN THE PROCESS OF DECLARING THE LEMON LAW. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE INTO THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS 8 TIMES IN 4 MONTHS. THE DRIVE SHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE BOOT SPLIT AND LEAKED GREASE. THE FOG LIGHTS FILL WITH MOISTURE AND CONDENSATION DUE TOO INADEQUATE VENTING. THE WINDOWS DON'T SEAL TOO THE BODY ON THE CONVERTIBLE CAUSING WATER LEAKS, AND THE SEALS LOCATED ON THE QUARTER GLASS RUB THE DOOR WINDOW WHICH ALLOWS THE RUBBER TO WEAR PREMATURELY AND CREATE ADDITIONAL LEAKS. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE REAR QUARTER GLASS REPLACED 5 TIMES IN 4,000 MILES. THE CAR VIBRATES WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE THE TIRES ARE BAD. I HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT TWO REPLACED BECAUSE THE TREAD WAS SEPERATING INTERNALLY ON THE TIRES. MITSUBISHI NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL THE CARS ON THE ROAD WITH DEFECTS. PLEASE HELP DT

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AROUND A CURVED ROAD AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLES STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME STIFF. CONSUMER HIT A WALL AS A RESULT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR