← New search

1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Eclipse Spyder years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 14 of 20 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

20 reports
47,000 miles · Feb 17, 2005
Structure

ROOF LEAKED & WOULD NOT FULLY RETRACT DUE TO DEFORMATION OF STRUCTURAL ROOF MEMBERS (ROOF PILLARS). REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF 3 MAJOR ROOF MEMBERS PLUS INSTALLATION OF STRAPS (AS DEFINED IN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN). THIS WAS A STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF THE ROOF DESIGN KNOWN TO MITSUBISHI, BUT NO RECALL OR CONSUMER ALERT WAS COMMUNI…

Read full complaint

ROOF LEAKED & WOULD NOT FULLY RETRACT DUE TO DEFORMATION OF STRUCTURAL ROOF MEMBERS (ROOF PILLARS). REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF 3 MAJOR ROOF MEMBERS PLUS INSTALLATION OF STRAPS (AS DEFINED IN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN). THIS WAS A STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF THE ROOF DESIGN KNOWN TO MITSUBISHI, BUT NO RECALL OR CONSUMER ALERT WAS COMMUNICATED.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10110684

5,900 miles · Jan 26, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

I PURCHASED MY 97 ECLIPSE SYPDER CONVERTIBLE IN JUNE 04. AFTER 3 MONTHS THE CHECK ENGINE CAME ON. DIAGONOSED AS SMALL EVAP LEAK CODE 0442. TOOK TO DEALER. THE FUEL CUT OFF VALVE IS CRACKED AND THE VAPOR HOSE IS SEPARATED (HAS A LEAK) PARTS ARE ON ORDER AND TOTAL COST $475.00. HOW CAN A VALVE CRACK AND A VAPOR HOSE HAVE A LE…

Read full complaint

I PURCHASED MY 97 ECLIPSE SYPDER CONVERTIBLE IN JUNE 04. AFTER 3 MONTHS THE CHECK ENGINE CAME ON. DIAGONOSED AS SMALL EVAP LEAK CODE 0442. TOOK TO DEALER. THE FUEL CUT OFF VALVE IS CRACKED AND THE VAPOR HOSE IS SEPARATED (HAS A LEAK) PARTS ARE ON ORDER AND TOTAL COST $475.00. HOW CAN A VALVE CRACK AND A VAPOR HOSE HAVE A LEAK? ARE THESE PARTS DEFECTIVE? PLEASE NOTE THAT I WAS TOLD THAT IF I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, THE CAR WOULD EXPLODE BECAUSE OF THESE 2 PROBLEMS. I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE AT DESERT CHRYSLER JEEP, HERE IN LAS VEGAS, NV, 702-457-0293. WHEN I CALLED THEM ABOUT THIS, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REFERRED ME TO COURTESY MITSUBISHI. I HAVE PROVIDED THAT INFO ON THE DEALER INFORMATION PAGE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10107958

58,000 miles · Jan 17, 2005
Structure

CONVERTIBLE LEAKING BY DRIVER AND PASSENGER AREA WHICH DRIPS ON POWER WINDOW /DOOR LOCK/WINDOW LOCK SWITCH. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10106450

103,277 miles · Aug 27, 2004
Tires

FRONT LEFT TIRE CONTINUOUSLY DEFLATING, LEADING TO RAPID DEFLATION BECAUSE OF A SEVEN INCH CUT ALONG THE SEAM OF THE TIRE. FORTUNATELY IT HAPPENED AT A VERY LOW SPEED AND I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. I HAD JUST LEFT THE HIGHWAY AND WAS DRIVING 70 MPH. REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10088718

102,000 miles · Jul 29, 2004
Visibility

97 SPYDER CONVERTIBLE - I AM THE OWNER SINCE 08/03. REAR WINDOW WAS LEAKING A BIT AND LAST WEEK LITERALLY FELL OUT. HAD TO REPLACE TOP, WINDOW COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. CORNERS OF DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES ARE LEAKING SERIOUSLY DESPITE TOP REPLACEMENT. SEALS MAY HAVE TO BE REPLACED. COST SO FAR - $2001 PLUS RENTAL CAR. PASSE…

Read full complaint

97 SPYDER CONVERTIBLE - I AM THE OWNER SINCE 08/03. REAR WINDOW WAS LEAKING A BIT AND LAST WEEK LITERALLY FELL OUT. HAD TO REPLACE TOP, WINDOW COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. CORNERS OF DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES ARE LEAKING SERIOUSLY DESPITE TOP REPLACEMENT. SEALS MAY HAVE TO BE REPLACED. COST SO FAR - $2001 PLUS RENTAL CAR. PASSENGER SEAT SLIDES AND IS DIFFICULT TO LOCK.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10082902

Mileage unknown · Jun 14, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SUCK! I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY ENGINE SHUT OFF! LUCKLY, I WAS GOING DOWN HILL AND WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF TO THE LEFT, AFTER ALMOST GETTING HIT A COUPLE OF TIMES. MY MECHANIC (BROTHER) TOOK A LOOK AT IT AND SAID IT WAS THE CRANK SHAFT, SO I GOOGLED IT AND GUESS WHAT???? IM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THI…

Read full complaint

MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SUCK! I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY ENGINE SHUT OFF! LUCKLY, I WAS GOING DOWN HILL AND WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF TO THE LEFT, AFTER ALMOST GETTING HIT A COUPLE OF TIMES. MY MECHANIC (BROTHER) TOOK A LOOK AT IT AND SAID IT WAS THE CRANK SHAFT, SO I GOOGLED IT AND GUESS WHAT???? IM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM... TAKE A LOOK HTTP://WWW.ROADRACEENGINEERING.COM/WALKINGCRANKSHAFT.HTM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10075365

6 miles · Apr 9, 2004
Structure

1997 MITSIBISHI CONVERTIBLE. BRACKETS ON BOTH SIDES OF CONVERTIBLE TOP HAVE BENT PREVENTING TOP FROM OPENING COMPLETELY. IT HAPPENS ON ALL CONVETIBLES OF THIS TYPE AND HAS ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED BY MANUFACTURER, HOWEVER, THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10065841

232,110 miles · Sep 24, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE THRUST WASHER IS WELDED TO THE CRANKSHAFT IN MY CAR. FOR WHATEVER REASON, THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE THRUST WASHERS THAT CAUSE THERE TO BE AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF PLAY IN THE CRANKSHAFT. THIS CAUSES WHAT HAD BEEN TERMED THE "CRANKSHAFT WALK". AMONG OTHER SYMPTOMS, COMMON AND WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR WAS THAT THE 5 SPEED MA…

Read full complaint

THE THRUST WASHER IS WELDED TO THE CRANKSHAFT IN MY CAR. FOR WHATEVER REASON, THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE THRUST WASHERS THAT CAUSE THERE TO BE AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF PLAY IN THE CRANKSHAFT. THIS CAUSES WHAT HAD BEEN TERMED THE "CRANKSHAFT WALK". AMONG OTHER SYMPTOMS, COMMON AND WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR WAS THAT THE 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION STARTED TO LOCK UP ON ME WHERE I COULD NOT EVEN GET THE CAR IN GEAR. THE MOVEMENT IN THE CRANKSHAFT CAUSED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR TO GO OUT, AND WHEN IT DID, I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH AND THE CAR SHUT OFF ON ME CAUSING ME TO LOSE MY POWER BRAKES AND STEERING. I DID NOT GET INTO AN ACCIDENT, BUT I COULD HAVE. I HAD THE THRUST WASHER REPLACED AND NOW HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM NOT ALONE. THE FOLLOWING IS A WEBSITE THAT CONTAINS POST AFTER POST OF THE SAME PROBLEM. PH *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**767675

NHTSA ODI #10007353

Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 2002
Wheels

THE LEFT FRONT RIGHT FRONT TIRES BLEWOUT ON HIGHWAY DUE TO THE RIMS CUTTING INTO THE TIRES, CAUSING TREAD SEPARATION. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #8017796

Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 2000
Power Train

THE MANUAL GEAR SHIFTER LOCKED UP IN THE POSITION OF THIRD GEAR, SHIFTER HAS BEEN A CHRONIC PROBLEM SINCE OWNERSHIP, DEALER CLAIMS FAILURE RESULTED IN THE NEED FOR A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REBUILD AS THE BOTTOM SECTION BROKE OFF AND FELL INTO THE GEAR WORKS. RECALL (97V-069 AND 97V-069001) ARE SIMILAR, DEALER DID NOT DISCLOSE REC…

Read full complaint

THE MANUAL GEAR SHIFTER LOCKED UP IN THE POSITION OF THIRD GEAR, SHIFTER HAS BEEN A CHRONIC PROBLEM SINCE OWNERSHIP, DEALER CLAIMS FAILURE RESULTED IN THE NEED FOR A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REBUILD AS THE BOTTOM SECTION BROKE OFF AND FELL INTO THE GEAR WORKS. RECALL (97V-069 AND 97V-069001) ARE SIMILAR, DEALER DID NOT DISCLOSE RECALL RELATED REPAIRS. *MJS

NHTSA ODI #784409

Official recalls

1

00V421001 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

Dec 18, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, DIRT AND WATER CAN INTRUDE. ALSO, MMC HAS ADDED THE POTENTIAL OF LEAKING MOISTURE, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE BALL STUD TO CORRODE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. THIS CAMPAIGN SUPERCEDES MMC'S PREVIOUS SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN, SEE 99V-066.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT FOR WEAR. BALL JOINTS THAT EXHIBIT WEAR BEYOND THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY DESIGNED LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS. BALL JOINTS THAT ARE WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE CLEANED AND A SPECIAL SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED TO PREVENT INTRUSION OF MOISTURE.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.