6.0
fairly significant- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 13,181 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
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!
- Taylors, SC, USA
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.
- Coudersport, PA, USA
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.
- Fleetwood, NY, USA
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 "!@#$%.
- Munhall, PA, USA
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.
- Iowa City, IA, USA
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.
- N. Las Vegas, NV, USA
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.
- Eugene, OR, USA
2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse paint defect.
- Covington, GA, USA
Paint on car is flaking off. Many people have had the same problem with mistsubishi models.
- Springfield, MO, USA
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.
- Roanoke, VA, USA
Water leaks in from vent when going through a car wash, never repaired.
- Cary, NC, USA
When the consumer drove the vehicle, it was hard to see out of the rear window. The vehicle was designed with the back setting to high up. The manufacturer and the dealer were aware of the problem.
- Brandon, MS, USA
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.. 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.
- Plant City, FL, USA
- Cream Ridge, NJ, USA