IllustrationFLEX PLATE BROKE
1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →16Owner complaints
Model-year median: 13.5
1Recall campaignsView recall details →
0InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 16 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Structure: 7 reports
- Latches/locks/linkages: 3 reports
- Equipment: 2 reports
- Power Train: 2 reports
- Unknown Or Other: 2 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Eclipse Spyder years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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
Unknown Or Other complaints
2 reportsTHE 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…
Read full complaint
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.
Recall campaigns
100V421001 · 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 ↗
Defect investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.