2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse

The crankshaft sensor is faulty and isn't working properly so my car has been shutting off randomly while I am driving it.

DASHBOARD CRACKS IN MULTIPLES OF AREA'S, WHICH DOES EFFECT THE POSITION OF THE AIRBAG. THE PLASTIC IS VERY BRITTLE TO THE POINT WHEN IT CRACKS IT'S AS SHARP AS A RAZOR. I REVIEWED SEVERAL WEB SITE AND NOTED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL TYPE OF MITSUBISHI'S. I HAVE A 2003 ECLIPSE THAT HAS A CRACKED DASHBOARD SO BAD THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE DASH BOARD IS SLOPING DOWNWARD, THE CRACKING STARTED 8 YEARS AGO AND CONTINUES TO CRACK MORE AND MORE EVERYDAY, CAUSING STRUCTURE SUPPORT ISSUES AND RAZOR SHARP EDGES. I HAVE CUT MYSELF SEVERAL TIMES ON THE SHARP EDGES. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A ISSUE WITH THE TYPE OF PLASTIC THAT WAS USED TO CONSTRUCTED THESE DASHBOARDS ... I WOULD RATE THIS AS A NEED TO REVIEW ASAP ISSUE... IF MY AIR BAG EVER WENT OFF, SHARP PIECES OF PLASTIC WOULD PROBABLY BE FLYING EVERYWHERE LIKE A KNIFE...

PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED CAUSED ME TO VEER OFF TO THE RIGHT FOR SAFETY.PASSENGER VISOR FLEW OFF HIT MY ARM AND FLEW OUT WINDOW. UNABLE TO SEE WITH AIRBAG IN MY FACE I ENDED UP HALF ON AND HALF OFF A CULVERT WITH CEMENT PIPE.CAR STOPPED AND THEN MY DRIVER AIRBAG SHOT FIRE AND CHEMICALS INTO MY FACE.HORRIBLE STILL AFTER A WHOLE YEAR NOONE CARES NOONE HELPS NO THERAPY FOLLOW UP NONE ONLY ER WHEN I CAN NO LONGER TOLERATE THE EXTREME PAIN.2 TITANIUM RODS N 38 SCREWS HOLD IT TOGETHER. SOME SCREWS ARE COMING OFF AND 3 BONES ARE STILL SHATTERED. SOME ARE EVEN MISSING. PLEASE HELP

TAKATA AIRBAG: MY INCIDENT HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED. I AM ADDING THE POLICE REPORT. I AM STILL REQUIRING SURGERY AND UNABLE TO USE MY LEFT ARM 10 MONTHS LATER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. WHILE ROLLING DOWN THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE WINDOW SWITCH AREA. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT FAULTY WIRING IN THE WINDOW CAUSED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

TAKATA RECALL: MY VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 15V338000.ON OCTOBER 29, 2016, I WAS DRIVING TOWARDS MY HOME. AFTER BEING IN THE STOPPED POSITION FOR THE DURATION OF THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL AT THE INTERSECTION OF FM 518 AND FM 1128 IN PEARLAND, TEXAS, THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I PROCEEDED DOWN 1128 TOWARD MY HOME. AFTER PROCEEDING ABOUT1 BLOCK, MY PASSENGER AIRBAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO PASSENGER IN MY VEHICLE AND NOTHING ON THE PASSENGER SEAT, EITHER.THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD. I HAD THE WINDOWS OPEN AND THE TOP DOWN. THE AIRBAG WAS BLOWING IN FRONT OF MY FACE, BLOCKING MY VISION. THE PASSENGER VISOR FLEW OFF, HITTING MY LEFT ARM, AS I WAS TRYING TO KEEP THE AIRBAG OUT OF MY FACE TO GET SAFELY OFF THE ROAD.I PULLED OVER TO THE RIGHT, INTO A PARKING LOT. MY VEHICLE STOPPED ON THE EDGE OF A DITCH AT THE SIDE OF THE PARKING LOT, DUE TO MY VISION BEING BLOCKED. MY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG WENT OFF WHEN I HIT THE CULVERT OF THE DITCH. FIRE CAME OUT OF MY STEERING WHEEL AND I SMELLED CHEMICALS. THE FIRE PROMPTLY WENT OUT. MY LEFT ARM WAS ON THE ARMREST OF THE DOOR WITH BOTH FOREARM BONES VISIBLY BROKEN. THE ARM WAS SWOLLEN AND DEFORMED. I ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE 26 DAYS. I WAS TAKEN TO THE NEAREST TRAUMA UNIT.THE RADIA AND ULNA IN MY FOREARM HAVE BEEN PUT BACK TOGETHER WITH RODS AND SCREWS. MY VEHICLE HAS MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END, RADIATOR, TRANSMISSION, STEERING, AXLE, ETC. 9 MONTHS LATER MY ARMIS NOT HEALED AND I AM STILL WITHOUT A VEHICLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, THE VISOR ON THE VEHICLE DETACHED. THE VEHICLE'S TOP WAS DOWN AT THE TIME AND CAUSED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG TO BLOW IN THE WIND, WHICH HINDERED THE CONTACT'S VIEW OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER BUT, DUE TO THE DISTRACTION OF THE AIR BAG BLOWING, THE CONTACT STRUCK A CULVERT, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, IT RELEASED A SMALL SPARK AND THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A AAA TRANSMISSION APPROVED SHOP WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED SEVERAL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT BROKE SEVERAL BONES IN HER LEFT HAND THROUGH THE FOREARM. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. UPDATED 10/26/17*LJ *JS

SEARS AUTO CENTER IN MANASSAS, VA PERFORME AN OIL CHANGE ON MY VEHICLE ON 5/16/2016. THE ENGINE FAILED ON 5/24/2016 DUE TO THE OIL PLUG FALLING OUT OF THE ENGINE AND ALL OF THE OIL DRAINING OUT. SEARS HAS ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. HOWEVER, I HAVE ALSO UNCOVERED A LONG HISTORY OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS REGARDING SEARS AUTO CENTERS DEFRAUDING CONSUMERS OUT OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR UNNECESSARY REPAIRS, CHARGES FOR REPAIRS NOT DONE, AND FAULTY SERVICE OVERALL. SEARS WS SUED BY NJ ON 46 COUNTS OF AUTO CONSUMER FRAUD, AND I HAVE UNCOVERED HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS REGISTERED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERALS' OFFICES IN MANY STATES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR ASSURANCE TRIPLETRED TIRES, SIZE P215/55R16. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO DRIVE OVER A CURB. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE TIRE AND FOUND THAT THE TIRE TREAD WAS SEPARATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE TIRE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

ON NOVEMBER 28, 2015 MY PASSENGER FRONT TIRE EXPLOSIVELY FAILED COMING OUT OF A LEFT TURN AT ABOUT 25 MPH CAUSING MY CAR TO DROP AND SWERVE, CRASHING INTO A TALL STREET CURB AND STORM SEWER DRAIN CAUSING $2000 DAMAGE TO MY CAR. THE OUTER SIDEWALL SEPARATED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY FROM THE TREAD. THIS PREMIUM TIRE WAS ONLY SEVEN MONTHS OLD WITH MINIMAL WEAR. I CHECK MY TIRE PRESSURE AND FLUIDS EVERY TIME I BUY GAS, OVERHAULED THE SUSPENSION THAT SUMMER AND DIDN'T BELIEVE IT WAS MY FAULT. I TOOK THE TIRE STILL ON THE DAMAGED WHEEL TO A TIRE FAILURE EXPERT WHO RULED OUT PRE-EXISTING DAMAGE, UNUSUAL WEAR OR SIGNS OF DRIVING WITH LOW OR HIGH TIRE PRESSURE; HE STATED THERE WAS A ZIPPER FAILURE RESULTING FROM A BAD TIRE. THIS WAS THE SECOND GOODYEAR ASSURANCE TRIPLETRED TO FAIL ON MY CAR. I CONTACTED GOODYEAR AND FILED A CLAIM WITH THEIR PROPERTY CLAIMS TEAM. I HAD REPLACED THE WHEEL AND TIRE AND GOT TWO CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATES. THEY REQUIRED THE TIRE TO BE TAKEN OFF THE WHEEL AND SHIPPED TO THEM FOR INSPECTION. WITHOUT EXPLANATION, IT SAT DELAYED AT THE GOODYEAR TIRE AND SERVICE CENTER FOR WEEKS. THE CLAIM, #492513, WAS QUICKLY DENIED; I RECEIVED A LETTER WHICH I FOLLOWED UP WITH A PHONE CALL TO CLARIFY. GOODRICH CLAIM'S TEAM STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THE TIRE BLEW OUT SO THEY REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF IT BEING MY FAULT BUT THEY ALSO DIDN'T FIND AN OBVIOUS DEFECT THAT WOULD CAUSE THE BLOWOUT SO THEY CONVENIENTLY DENIED TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR TIRE OR THE DAMAGE FROM THE CRASH THAT RESULTED FROM IT'S FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER OF A CRITICAL COMPONENT LIKE A TIRE CAN'T JUST REFUSE TO BE RESPONSIBLE WHEN IT FAILS AND THEY DON'T TO KNOW WHY. I WAS A LIFETIME LOYAL GOODYEAR CUSTOMER UNTIL THIS. I HAVE THE TIRE AND WHEEL AND PHOTOS AND WON'T GIVE UP UNTIL THEY PAY FOR THE DAMAGES.

THE MAIN ISSUE SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE WAVE/CUSHION SPRING LOCATED IN THE TRANSMISSION. MITSUBISHI HAS DESIGNED THE WAVE SPRING AS A FRAGILE TWO COIL PIECE WHICH HAS BEEN KNOWN TO REPEATEDLY BREAK CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IN THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IN TURN POSES A THREAT ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. WHEN THIS WAVE SPRING BREAKS, ACTUAL PIECES OF THE WAVE SPRING MAKE IT THROUGH MITSUBISHI'S ALSO FAULTY TRANSMISSION FILTER AND LODGE THEMSELVES IN THE PUMP GEAR, CAUSING THE GEAR TO ACTUALLY BREAK. AFTER THE PUMP GEAR HAS BEEN BROKEN INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION, ALL FORWARD AND REVERSE GEARS IMMEDIATELY STOP FUNCTION AND IN MOST INSTANCES THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. THIS COULD RESULT IN POTENTIAL HARM OR EVEN DEATH OF THE DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGER AS THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL MOVING POWER WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WITH OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. MITSUBISHI HAS RECENTLY CREATED AN UPDATED VERSION OF THE WAVE SPRING WITHOUT ISSUING A RECALL, WHICH NOW IS A ONE PIECE INSTEAD OF THE COIL SETUP AND HAS A LESS CHANCE OF BREAKING. TO MANY MITSUBISHI/DODGE OWNERS THIS UPDATE WAS DISCOVERED AFTER THEY HAVE HAD THEIR VEHICLE IN A TRANSMISSION SHOP WITH A HEFTY BILL TO PAY EVEN THOUGH IT WAS MITSUBISHI'S FAULT FOR ENGINEERING A FAULTY PART IN THEIR TRANSMISSION. ALL ONE PERSON WOULD NEED TO FIND OUT ABOUT THIS ISSUE IS SEARCH THE INTERNET WITH THE TRANSMISSION CODE (F4A51) AND THIS ISSUE IS WELL DOCUMENTED, EVEN RESEARCHED BY TRANSMISSION DIGEST (A SPECIALTY MAGAZINE). NOT ONLY IS THIS A LARGE INCONVENIENCE TO MOST, IT IS ALSO A HAZARD TO ONES LIFE. MITSUBISHI SHOULD RECALL ALL VEHICLES WHICH CONTAIN THE F4A51 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO PERFORM THE WAVE SPRING AND FILTER UPDATE OR REIMBURSE THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY HAD IT DONE AT THEIR COST. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS IF YOU OWN A VEHICLE WITH THE F4A51

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. WHILE VEERING TO THE LEFT AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT BODY SHOP FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUFFER ANY INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,845.

RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL FROM MITSUBISHI ON THE PASSENGER SUN VISOR REQUIRING A TETHER STRAP. I CALLED THEIR TOLL FREE NUMBER TO LOCATE A DEALER TO INSTALL THE TETHER STRAP AS DIRECTED BY THE NOTICE. MITSUBISHI DOES NOT HAVE A DEALER IN TUCSON AND INFORMED ME WE NEEDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A PHOENIX DEALER, OVER A 100 MILES AWAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE COST OF GAS AND THE TRAVEL TIME (OFF WORK OR MISSING SCHOOL) IS HIGHER THAN THE PARTS AND LABOR FOR .5 OF AN HOUR LABOR. THEY HAVE NOT MADE ARRANGEMENTS WITH A LOCAL TUCSON CAR REPAIR FACILITY TO PERFORM THIS RECALL, NOR DID THEY OFFER TO SEND ME THE PARTS FOR SELF INSTALLATION. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY POOR RESPONSE TO A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE. CAN YOU ASSIST AS I KNOW THERE ARE MORE OF THE SAME VEHICLE IN TUCSON.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER. WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

MY VEHICLE HAS A BAD PAINT JOB, NEEDS TO BE REPAINTED. THE HEATER COIL IS LEAKING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED HAD ESTIMATE OF $1030.44 WITH NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE DASH WILL COME OUT IN ONE PIECE AND CAN BE PUT BACK INTO THE CAR WITHOUT BREAKING INTO SEVERAL PIECES. I FEEL THAT MITSUBISH PUT BAD PAINT JOBS ON THE CARS AND THEY SHOULD BE THE ONES TO REPAINT THE CAR, AND REPLACE THE HEATER COIL SO THE I WILL HAVE WORKING DEFROSTERS. MA 10/29/2015 UPDATED 12/06/2017*CN

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.

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.

I BOUGHT AN USED 2003 ECLIPSE AND AT THE TIME I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW BADLY CRACKED THE DASHBOARD WAS. TO MY SURPRISE, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND AN USED DASHBOARD IN GOOD CONDITION...EVERY SINGLE 2003 ECLIPSE I'VE FOUND AND SEEN HAS THE SAME ISSUE AND AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE ONLY SOLUTION MITSUBISHI OFFERS IS TO REPLACE IT WITH A BRAND NEW (YET SAME POOR QUALITY) PART. HOW CAN WE (ECLIPSE OWNERS) GET A FULL OR PARTIAL CREDIT FROM MITSUBISHI, EVEN IF THE TEMPORARY SOLUTION IS TO INSTALL A SIMILAR PART? *TR