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Air bagsPart report

2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse Air bags Problems

Complaints
10about this part
Share
8%of 124 total for the year
Median mileage
42,500miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 10 complaints about the air bags of the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse, 8% of the 124 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 42,500 miles. 9 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“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”

NHTSA complaint #11062091, filed 2018-01, 135,000 miles

“I was in a car accident. We were hit on the front corner of the drivers side. We were going 35mph and the other driver was going about that speed. He was turning from the opposite direction and turned right into us. I'm not sure if you would describe it as head on because it was at an angle. The whole front of our car was crushed in. The battery and radiator were pushed up near the dash. I was the passenger. My seat belt didn't lock up and my air bag didn't go off. I hit the rear view mirror and my knees slammed into the dash. I also twisted a vertebrae in my back and bruised or cracked a rib. …”

NHTSA complaint #10222349, filed 2008-03, 65,000 miles

“Consumer's vehicle was rear ended by another vehicle, causing consumer's vehicle to rear end the vehicle in front. Upon impact, neither driver driver's side nor passenger's side airbags deployed. As a result the driver impacted the steering wheel.”

NHTSA complaint #10052248, filed 2004-01, 20,000 miles

“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.”

NHTSA complaint #10032189, filed 2003-08, 54 miles

“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.”

NHTSA complaint #10045161, filed 2003-10, 3,600 miles

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Air bags: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2012450%
2009819%
200868%
200798%
20061111%
2004321%
2003108%
200223%
20012211%
2000114%
199933%
19981814%
19971410%
19961711%
19953210%

Other parts of the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse

Body and structure
31 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
20 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
13 complaintsEngine cooling
12 complaintsFuel system
10 complaintsTires
9 complaintsOther or unknown
8 complaintsElectrical system
7 complaintsSteering
6 complaintsExterior lighting
5 complaintsBrakes
4 complaintsEquipment
4 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology