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1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 7 of 16 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.

  • Structure. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Equipment. Review the 2 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

16 reports
58,000 miles · Feb 19, 2019
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

FLEX PLATE BROKE

NHTSA ODI #11181205

1 miles · May 6, 2018
Unknown Or Other

THE SPYDER GS HAS ALWAYS LEAKED FROM THE SOFT TOP SEALS SPECIALLY FROM THE TOP RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE. IT IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE IN THE 2ND GENERATION SPYDER GS WHICH IM SUPRISED IT HAS NEVER BEEN A RECALL FOR THE WEATHER STRIPPING. DEALERSHIP CHARGES 300 FOR THE WEATHERSTRIPPING AND THEY STILL LEAK AFTER A COUPLE YEARS. I DONT HA…

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THE SPYDER GS HAS ALWAYS LEAKED FROM THE SOFT TOP SEALS SPECIALLY FROM THE TOP RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE. IT IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE IN THE 2ND GENERATION SPYDER GS WHICH IM SUPRISED IT HAS NEVER BEEN A RECALL FOR THE WEATHER STRIPPING. DEALERSHIP CHARGES 300 FOR THE WEATHERSTRIPPING AND THEY STILL LEAK AFTER A COUPLE YEARS. I DONT HAVE PICTURES BUT AFTER RAIN, THE WHOLD CAR IS WET AND AS I DRIVE AND TAKE MY FIRST TURN, THE VEHICLE STARTS TO LEAK FROM THE CORNER AND GETS CENTER CONSOLE AND RADIO WET. ALL OVER THE ECLIPSE FORUMS YOU WILL SEE THE ISSUE WITHOUT A RECALL. MITSUBISHI HAS NOT YET GIVEN ADVICE ON HOW GO FIX THIS. CAR CANT BE DRIVEN IN THE RAIN WITHOUT HAVING TO LEAK.

NHTSA ODI #11092079

Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2010
EquipmentLatches/locks/linkagesStructure

BOTH MY HANDLES BROKE OFF, THE DRIVERS SIDE ARM REST,( WHERE THE BUTTONS FOR THE WINDOWS ARE), FELL OFF AND INTO THE CAVITY BELOW. THE CONVERTIBLE TOP LEAKS BADLY ALONG THE POINT WHERE THE TOP MEETS THE CAR WINDSHIELD,WINDOWS,AND BACK WINDOW. VERY UPSET THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM YET NO ONE WANTS TO ADDRESS TH…

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BOTH MY HANDLES BROKE OFF, THE DRIVERS SIDE ARM REST,( WHERE THE BUTTONS FOR THE WINDOWS ARE), FELL OFF AND INTO THE CAVITY BELOW. THE CONVERTIBLE TOP LEAKS BADLY ALONG THE POINT WHERE THE TOP MEETS THE CAR WINDSHIELD,WINDOWS,AND BACK WINDOW. VERY UPSET THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM YET NO ONE WANTS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE...MITSUBISHI SHOULD PAY FOR REPAIRS... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10343464

45,000 miles · Oct 24, 2008
Structure

CONVERTIBLE ROOF DOES NOT FOLD DOWN DUE TO BENT FRAME MEMBERS ON EACH SIDE - CALLED "BENT TOP STACK CONTROL LINKS". THIS PREVENTS THE TOP FRONT BOW FROM CLOSING TIGHTLY AND ALLOWS WATER TO ENTER THE CAB CAUSING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE FROM MOLD AND MILDEW - HEALTH HAZARDS. THE HEAD LINER PULLS 1-1/2" FROM THE FRONT BOW AND SAGS SIG…

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CONVERTIBLE ROOF DOES NOT FOLD DOWN DUE TO BENT FRAME MEMBERS ON EACH SIDE - CALLED "BENT TOP STACK CONTROL LINKS". THIS PREVENTS THE TOP FRONT BOW FROM CLOSING TIGHTLY AND ALLOWS WATER TO ENTER THE CAB CAUSING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE FROM MOLD AND MILDEW - HEALTH HAZARDS. THE HEAD LINER PULLS 1-1/2" FROM THE FRONT BOW AND SAGS SIGNIFICANTLY DUE TO THE SLACK DISTORTING THE VIEW FORWARD AND LIMITS THE VIEW IN THE MIRROR - A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE. THE REPAIR SHOULD BE A FACTORY ISSUE AND NOT COST ME MORE THAN $500 FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR. IF THIS BAR BREAKS IT WILL FURTHER DAMAGE THE RAG TOP AND QUADRUPLE THE REPAIR COST. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH MANY MITZU ECCLIPSE SPYDERS SINCE THEY WERE INTRODUCED. RECALL - RECALL - RECALL. THANKS *TR

NHTSA ODI #10246649

Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 2007
Latches/locks/linkages

I PURCHASED MY CAR NEW IN FEBRUARY 1998. AFTER 9 YEARS I ONLY HAVE 43,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I LIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SO THERE IS NO EXTREME TEMPERATURE CHANGES WHICH MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THE DOOR HANDLE TO BE COMPROMISED, NOR ABUSE AS I SEE OTHERS ARE BEING TOLD BY SERVICE SHOPS. I DID NOT EXPECT TO OPEN MY DRIVERS SIDE CAR …

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I PURCHASED MY CAR NEW IN FEBRUARY 1998. AFTER 9 YEARS I ONLY HAVE 43,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I LIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SO THERE IS NO EXTREME TEMPERATURE CHANGES WHICH MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THE DOOR HANDLE TO BE COMPROMISED, NOR ABUSE AS I SEE OTHERS ARE BEING TOLD BY SERVICE SHOPS. I DID NOT EXPECT TO OPEN MY DRIVERS SIDE CAR DOOR LAST WEEK AND HAVE IT COME OFF IN MY HAND. THE REASON I BOUGHT THIS CAR WAS THAT A FRIEND HAD JUST BOUGHT ONE FOR HIMSELF THE MONTH BEFORE I DID. I WAS VISITING HIM YESTERDAY AND ASKED HIM TO GUESS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR AND HE BEAT ME TO IT. HIS DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE HAD COME OFF IN HIS HAND 2 WEEKS AGO. I WAS FIRST CHECKING FOR A POSSIBLE RECALL BEFORE BRINGING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. RIGHT NOW, I HAVE TO CLIMB THROUGH FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE TO POP OPEN MY DOOR OR LEAVE THE WINDOW DOWN WHEN RUNNING ERRANDS. I THINK THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS SEEMS TO WARRANT SOME SORT OF A RESPONSE TO THIS FROM MITSUBISHI. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10184218

110,000 miles · Mar 9, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

IN THE SUMMER OF 2003 MY CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER STARTED LEAKING SO IREPLACED IT. THEN IN MAY OF 2004 MY CLUTCH FAILED SO I HAD IT REPLACED WITH A STOCK CLUTCH. TWO MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE DEVELOPED SIGNS OF "CRANKWALK", WHICH HAPPENS TO ALOT OF 95-99 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSES. I HAD IT FORMALLY DIAGNOSED WITH CRANKWALK AND NOW I CAN N…

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IN THE SUMMER OF 2003 MY CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER STARTED LEAKING SO IREPLACED IT. THEN IN MAY OF 2004 MY CLUTCH FAILED SO I HAD IT REPLACED WITH A STOCK CLUTCH. TWO MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE DEVELOPED SIGNS OF "CRANKWALK", WHICH HAPPENS TO ALOT OF 95-99 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSES. I HAD IT FORMALLY DIAGNOSED WITH CRANKWALK AND NOW I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE MY CAR. I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE MY MOTOR WITH A NEW ONE THAT WILL COST $3000 AND IT MIGHT END AT THE SAME FATE. I HAVE DONE ALOT OF RESEARCH AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS WHO HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN BUT, MITSUBISHI WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL FOR THEIR PRODUCT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10112788

26,000 miles · Jul 29, 2004
Structure

THE CONVERTIBLE TOP MOTORS HAVE GONE OUT AGAIN. I HAVE HAD THE MOTORS SERVICED SEVERAL TIME OVER 4 TIMES IN TWO YEARS. APPARNETLY THE GEAR PINS BREAK WITHIN THE MOTORS AND CAUSE THEM TO FAIL. I CANNOT OPEN NOR CLOSE MY CONVERTIBLE TOP.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10082929

65,200 miles · Apr 16, 2004
Structure

CONVERTIBLE TOP DOES NOT GO DOWN ALL THE WAY. DESIGN FLAW CAUSES THE TOP STACK CONTROL LINKS TO BEND UPON OPENING AND CLOSING THE TOP. THE REPLACEMENT PARTS ALONG WITH LABOR IS RIDICULOUSLY HIGH OVER $650. MITSUBISHI WHO IS FULLY AWARE OF THIS DESIGN FLAW, REFUSES TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10066325

Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2004
Suspension

RECALL WORK THAT WOULD NOT BE COMPLETED, UNLESS ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSTICS WERE PURCHASED AND PAID FOR. SUBSEQUENTLY, I CONTINUE TO DRIVE AROUND WITH THE DEFECTIVE CONTROL-ARM BALL JOINTS ON MY 1998 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER. I HAVE NO OTHER DEALERSHIPS WITHIN 25 MILES OF MY TOWN, AND I BELIEVE CONCORD MITSUBISHI USES THIS FACT T…

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RECALL WORK THAT WOULD NOT BE COMPLETED, UNLESS ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSTICS WERE PURCHASED AND PAID FOR. SUBSEQUENTLY, I CONTINUE TO DRIVE AROUND WITH THE DEFECTIVE CONTROL-ARM BALL JOINTS ON MY 1998 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER. I HAVE NO OTHER DEALERSHIPS WITHIN 25 MILES OF MY TOWN, AND I BELIEVE CONCORD MITSUBISHI USES THIS FACT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10064518

Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 2004
Structure

MY 1998 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER IS DEFECTIVE. THE CONVERTIBLE ROOF DOES NOT FOLD INTO THE DOWN POSITION UNLESS I GUIDE IT BY HAND. THERE ARE TWO METAL BRACKETS ON EACH SIDE OF THE ROOF THAT ARE BENDING AND CAUSING THE TOP TO HANG UP WHEN YOU PUT THE TOP DOWN. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY SAID IT WAS THE BOW THAT WAS CA…

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MY 1998 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER IS DEFECTIVE. THE CONVERTIBLE ROOF DOES NOT FOLD INTO THE DOWN POSITION UNLESS I GUIDE IT BY HAND. THERE ARE TWO METAL BRACKETS ON EACH SIDE OF THE ROOF THAT ARE BENDING AND CAUSING THE TOP TO HANG UP WHEN YOU PUT THE TOP DOWN. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY SAID IT WAS THE BOW THAT WAS CAUSING THE ROOF TO LOOK LIKE IT WAS COLLAPSING IN,AND CAUSING THE RAIN TO LEAK IN, THEY PUT IN A NEW BOW, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS STILL PRESENT. NOW THEY WANT ANOTHER $315.00 PLUS THE COST OF LABOR TO FIX THE BRACKETS. IT SEEMS LIKE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED AT NO COST. I AM AFRAID THE METAL BRACKET IS GOING TO SNAP AND HIT ME OR A INNOCENT BYSTANDER IN THE HEAD. WHILE I HAD THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP, A GENTLEMAN TOLD ME HIS BROTHER HAS A 1997 MITSIBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER AND HIS DID THE SAME THING ONLY IT DID SNAP. THE RAGTOP COULD BE DAMAGED BY THE BROKEN METAL. SOMEONE NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS!! THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN!*AK

NHTSA ODI #10060252

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.