2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse problems
Owners have filed 84 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse. Wheels is the most reported problem area, at 36% of complaints. After that come body & structure (19%) and tires (7%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 84 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Wheels 36% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 6 and 4
- Injuries and deaths
- 8 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 51,000 miles 46 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 8 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 9 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 9 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 6 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 6 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 1 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 3 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 2 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Among the 46 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 50,000 miles. For wheels specifically, the median reported mileage is about 32,000 miles (19 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 6 complaints mention a crash; 4 complaints mention a fire; 8 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2002 ranks 9th most-complained-about out of 18 model years of the Mitsubishi Eclipse with enough data (59 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
2002 mitshabishi eclipse rear bumper started to burn and I had just parked at work I was found slumped over behind the wheel apparently from the fumes of the burning plastic. I hope my reporting this removes plastic in areas that may be ignited.
Dt: consumer states that she was going about 40-45 MPH when she hit another vehicle with her front end and the airbags did not deploy. The vehicle is totaled, the loan company told her to contact us and the insurance company will look into why the airbags did not deploy. The case number with mitsubishi is 373237. The accident occurred on june 5, 2005. There was a police report taken independent police department #05-55284. The consumer has a bruise across her chest, wrist sprain and neck injuries.
Rims bent at speed of 50 MPH causing loss of control. **dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut over to artemis**770826
Hit a small pot hole in may of 2003, rim dented immediately. I was traveling about 48 MPH when I hit it. Hit a small indenture in the road in may of 2004 and it bent another rim. Traveling at about 32 MPH. Rims are too soft!!! Had both rims replaced-- out of my own pocket.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 mitsubishi eclipse. The contact stated that the column switch lever became detached while attempting to turn the vehicle. The lever was replaced. The manufacturer stated that his VIN was excluded from recall # 99v305001 (visibility:windshield wiper/washer:switch/wiring). The purchase date was unknown. The current mileage is 83,000 and failure mileage was 72,000.