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2002 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: 11 of 24 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.

  • Wheels. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

Wheels complaints

8 reports
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69,050 miles · Mar 28, 2011
Wheels

UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, TIRE BEGAN LOSING AIR. TOOK TO THE TIRE DEALER AND NO TIRE PROBLEM WAS FOUND. TWO WEEKS LATER TIRE WOULD HOLD NO AIR, RETURNED TO THE TIRE DEALER AND THEY FOUND THAT THE WHEEL WAS CRACKED AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE TIRE TO HOLD AIR. I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW WHEEL AND A NEW TIRE SINCE RIDING ON LOW…

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UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, TIRE BEGAN LOSING AIR. TOOK TO THE TIRE DEALER AND NO TIRE PROBLEM WAS FOUND. TWO WEEKS LATER TIRE WOULD HOLD NO AIR, RETURNED TO THE TIRE DEALER AND THEY FOUND THAT THE WHEEL WAS CRACKED AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE TIRE TO HOLD AIR. I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW WHEEL AND A NEW TIRE SINCE RIDING ON LOW / NO AIR DAMAGED THE TIRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10393118

Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2005
WheelsCrash

I OWN A 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER GT. I WAS IN A RELATIVELY MINOR CAR ACCIDENT. ABOUT 2 MONTHS OFTER THE ACCIDENT AND REPAIRS HAD BEEN MADE, ONE OF MY TIRES COULD NOT HOLD TIRE PRESSURE. I HAD THE TIRES REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE. THE SAME TIRE CONTINUED TO GO FLAT. I INSPECTED THE FACTORY 17" ALLOY RIM AND I FOUND A CRACK IN …

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I OWN A 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER GT. I WAS IN A RELATIVELY MINOR CAR ACCIDENT. ABOUT 2 MONTHS OFTER THE ACCIDENT AND REPAIRS HAD BEEN MADE, ONE OF MY TIRES COULD NOT HOLD TIRE PRESSURE. I HAD THE TIRES REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE. THE SAME TIRE CONTINUED TO GO FLAT. I INSPECTED THE FACTORY 17" ALLOY RIM AND I FOUND A CRACK IN THE RIM. I INSPECTED THE OTHER RIMS AS WELL AND NOTICED SIMILAR SMALLER CRACKS FORMING. I DO NOT NOW IF THE CRACKS ARE DUE TO THE ACCIDENT OR DUE TO FAULTY WORKMANSHIP. A WELL MADE RIM WOULD NOT HAVE CRACKED DUE TO A RELATIVLEY MINOR IMPACT. ACCIDENT REPORT ON FILE HAMILTON TWP POLICE. ACCIDENT NOT CAUSED DUE TO FAILURE OF THE RIM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10105647

Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 2004
TiresWheels

MY CAR STARTED SHAKING AT SPEEDS OF 15 TO 20 MPH AND PULLING HARD TO THE RIGHT. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP THEY INFORMED ME THAT I MUST HAVE "HIT SOMETHING AT A FAST SPEED BECAUSE MY RIM WAS SEVERLY BENT. THEN THEY PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS WRONG. THE CAR WAS ALMOST AT 48,000 MILES. …

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MY CAR STARTED SHAKING AT SPEEDS OF 15 TO 20 MPH AND PULLING HARD TO THE RIGHT. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP THEY INFORMED ME THAT I MUST HAVE "HIT SOMETHING AT A FAST SPEED BECAUSE MY RIM WAS SEVERLY BENT. THEN THEY PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS WRONG. THE CAR WAS ALMOST AT 48,000 MILES. I PAID OUT OF POCKET, SIMPLY TAKING THEIR WORD FOR IT. THEN I KEPT LOSING AIR OUT OF ANOTHER TIRE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE. AT THIS TIME I FIGURED IT WAS THE TIRE THAT I PURCHASED A FEW MONTHS EARLIER. I HAD THE TECH. TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND HE SHOWED ME THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL CRACKS IN THE RIM WHICH WERE ALLOWING THE AIR IN THE TIRE TO LEAK. ONCE AGAIN I BOUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD TO SPEND ANOTHER $230 TO GET A NEW RIM. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CARS IN MY LIFE AND NEVER ONCE HAD TO REPLACE ONE RIM LET ALONE 2 AND IN A PERIOD OF 2 MONTHS. I THINK SOMEONE NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS. THIS IS NOT ONLY EXPENSIVE BUT EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I THINK THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THESE RIMS AND REFUND THE CUSTOMERS THAT HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10102423

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2004
Wheels

SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2001, I HAVE REPLAED 7 RIMS. THE FIRST TIME I HAD A PROBLEM WITH ONE OF MY RIMS, I THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED ME THAT THE RIM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE COST OF REPLACING THE RIM WAS A LITTLE OVER $200.00. WHEN THIS HAPPENED 2 MORE TIMES, I HAD DIFF…

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SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2001, I HAVE REPLAED 7 RIMS. THE FIRST TIME I HAD A PROBLEM WITH ONE OF MY RIMS, I THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED ME THAT THE RIM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE COST OF REPLACING THE RIM WAS A LITTLE OVER $200.00. WHEN THIS HAPPENED 2 MORE TIMES, I HAD DIFFERENT FEELINGS ABOUT IT. PRIOR TO THIS, I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A RIM IN MY LIFE. ONE TIME, WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE MANUFACTURER, THE SERVICE SHOP TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A GIRL WHO JUST CAME INTO THE SHOP WHO BLEW OUT 2 RIMS ON HER VEHICLE. IT IS APPARENT THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S EFECT. THIS IS NOT ONLY EXPENSIVE, BUT IT IS ALSO DANGEROUS. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO MITSUBISHI SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS WITH VERY LITTLE SUCCESS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10088184

Mileage unknown · Aug 17, 2004
Wheels

WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER REAR RIM WAS BENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE RIM WAS CRACKED ,AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.…

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WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER REAR RIM WAS BENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE RIM WAS CRACKED ,AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10088071

Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2004
Wheels

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER RIM WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10087992

15,000 miles · Mar 31, 2004
Wheels

ALUMINUM WHEEL CRACKED IN THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE THIS PROBLEM HAD BEEN UNDER INVESTIGATION BY NHTSA AND THE INVESTIGATION WAS CONCLUDED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10065305

Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2003
TiresWheels

VEHICLE RAN OVER A WOODEN BLOCK RESULTING IN PASSENGER FRONT TIRE RIPPING AND CRACKING RIM.*MR

NHTSA ODI #10046592

Official recalls

2

15V338000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Jun 2, 2015

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2000-2005 Eclipse vehicles manufactured April 5, 1999, to December 17, 2004, 2001-2005 Eclipse Spyder vehicles manufactured January 19, 2000, to March 18, 2005, 2001-2005 Chrysler Sebring vehicles manufactured April 17, 2000, to February 21, 2005, and 2001-2005 Dodge Stratus vehicles manufactured April 17, 2000, to February 22, 2005. In the affected vehicles, the passenger side sun visor may be folded down in such a position that, if the passenger frontal air bag deploys, the passenger side sun visor may detach.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.

Remedy: MMNA will notify their owners, and Chrysler will notify the Chrysler and Dodge owners. Dealers will install a tether strap to retain the passenger sun visor, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-15-005. Chrysler and Dodge owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R30.

04V428000 · Equipment:other:labels

Sep 1, 2004

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH REMOVABLE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS AFFIXED TO THE DASH AND TO THE SUNVISOR DO NOT MEET THE SIZE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Remedy: MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL CURRENT 2000-2004 NATIVA OWNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. THE NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIVA OWNERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL OR MAY 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.

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

1

EA02007 · Aluminum Alloy Wheel Denting

Opened May 31, 2002 · Closed May 1, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Wheels

SEE ATTACHED REPORT.