← New search

2003 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

20 reports with mileage · 7 unknown

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

5 crash reports3 fire reports4 injury reports

What owners actually said

27 reports
60,280 miles · Jan 8, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE MOUNTS ARE DEFECTIVE, CAR IS EXHIBITING SIGNS OF POWER FAILURE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10147194

Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 2005
Tires

ONE OF MY GOODYEAR EAGLE RSA P215/50/R17 TIRES HAD A NAIL IN THE TRAID OF THE TIRE. WHEN I TOOK IT TO GOODYEAR TO MY SURPRISE THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE INSIDE SIDEWALL THAT WOULD HAVE BLOWN OUT ON THE ROAD. THERE WAS NO CRACKING ON THE OUTSIDE SO I HAD NO IDEA.

NHTSA ODI #10129310

Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2003
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK.*MR THE CONSUMER HOPES MITSUBISHI BECOMES AWARE OF THE PROBLEM OCCURRING WITH THEIR CARS. *CB *JB

NHTSA ODI #10051723

13,813 miles · Oct 28, 2003
Visibility

REAR WINDOW SHATTERED WHILE PARKED IN COVERED PARKING. UNKNOWN CAUSE AND NO INDENTATION (POINT OF IMPACT). *AK

NHTSA ODI #10043744

1,550 miles · Jun 2, 2003
Structure

MY COMPLAINT IS ABOUT THE BLEND DO FOR THE HEATING SYSTEM OF THE 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB IS ROTATED TO THE HOT POSITION, A CABLE BEHIND THE DASHBOARD AND DIRECTLY OVER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ROTATES THE BLEND DOOR LEVER TOWARD THE FIREWALL. A PIN ON THE LEVER, WHICH CONNECTS TO THE CABLE, ENGA…

Read full complaint

MY COMPLAINT IS ABOUT THE BLEND DO FOR THE HEATING SYSTEM OF THE 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB IS ROTATED TO THE HOT POSITION, A CABLE BEHIND THE DASHBOARD AND DIRECTLY OVER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ROTATES THE BLEND DOOR LEVER TOWARD THE FIREWALL. A PIN ON THE LEVER, WHICH CONNECTS TO THE CABLE, ENGAGES MY SHOE, PINNING MY SHOE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. TO FREE MY SHOE, I MUST EITHER ROTATE MY HEEL CLOCKWISE TO DISENGAGE THE PIN, OR ROTATE THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB TO THE COLD POSITION. I BELIEVE THIS CREATES AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION AND, THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED, I TEMPORARILY LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FREE MY FOOT.MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSE I FIRST REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO MITSUBISHI BY LETTER DATED MARCH 7, 2003. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, I WAS TELEPHONED BY THE DEALER WHO INVITED ME TO BRING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A DEMONSTRATION FOR THE FACTORY REP, LARRY WITTREN. THAT DEMONSTRATION OCCURRED ON APRIL 4, 2003. THE COMPANY'S RESULTING POSITION WAS AS FOLLOWS: 1.ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION FOR MY VEHICLE WOULD BE AT MY EXPENSE, OR AT THE DEALERS EXPENSE IF THE DEALER WISHES TO INCUR ANY LIABILITY THAT COULD RESULT FROM MODIFICATION;2.THAT COMFORT ISSUES ARE NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURER, EVEN THOUGH I CLEARLY STATED THAT THIS IS NOT A COMFORT ISSUE; RATHER, ONE OF SAFETY; 3.THAT THE MANUFACTURER CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCIDENTS AS THE RESULT OF WEARING A WORK BOOT TO DRIVE THE CAR, EVEN THOUGH I NEVER CLAIMED THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE RESULT OF WEARING BOOTS, WORK SHOES OR ANY OTHER BULKY FOOTWEAR. WAS MITSUBISHI SUGGESTING THAT PEOPLE WHO WEAR RIDING BOOTS ON WEEKENDS OR STEEL TOED SHOES TO WORK SHOULD NOT PURCHASE MITSUBISHI PRODUCTS?I BELIEVE THAT MITSUBISHI HAS CREATED A SAFETY HAZARD IN THE DESIGN OF THE BLEND DOOR LEVER. I FURTHER BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE CAPABLE OF REDESIGNING THE LEVER WITHOUT A PIN THAT ENGAGES THE DRIVER'S SHOE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10020867

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2003
Electrical System

NAR 02/13/2003. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT STARTING PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WOULD CRANK BUT WOULD CATCH TO START. IN ADDITION, SOMETIMES AS THE CONSUMER TRAVELED DOWN A HILL THE VEHICLE WAS JUST SHUT OFF BY ITSELF, IT WOULD TAKE AT LEAST 30 SECONDS FOR THE VEHICLE TO START AGAIN. IT TOOK THE DEALER SEVERAL TRIES TO D…

Read full complaint

NAR 02/13/2003. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT STARTING PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WOULD CRANK BUT WOULD CATCH TO START. IN ADDITION, SOMETIMES AS THE CONSUMER TRAVELED DOWN A HILL THE VEHICLE WAS JUST SHUT OFF BY ITSELF, IT WOULD TAKE AT LEAST 30 SECONDS FOR THE VEHICLE TO START AGAIN. IT TOOK THE DEALER SEVERAL TRIES TO DUPLICATE THE CONSUMER PROBLEM. THE DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FUSE BOX, FUEL PUMP RELAY, PRONGS AND WIRES WHICH CAME FROM THE FUSE BOX TO SHUT THE RELAY OFF SO THE VEHICLE WOULD RUN OUT OF GAS, THEY ALSO HAD TO ORDER A ENGINE HARNESS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10008571

Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 2002
Visibility

BOTH SIDE DOOR WINDOWS LEAK WATER. THE LEAK OCCURS EVEN DURING A RAIN STORM. THE CAR CAN JUST BE SITTING IN THE DIVEWAY AND WATER WILL LEAK DOWN THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOWS. THIS WILL CAUSE MECHANICAL FAILURES TO THE DOOR LOCKS, WINDOWS AND EVENTUALLY CAUSE MOLD / MILDEW TO FORM. I DIDN'T SPEND $ 31,000.00 TO HAVE A CAR LEAK, …

Read full complaint

BOTH SIDE DOOR WINDOWS LEAK WATER. THE LEAK OCCURS EVEN DURING A RAIN STORM. THE CAR CAN JUST BE SITTING IN THE DIVEWAY AND WATER WILL LEAK DOWN THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOWS. THIS WILL CAUSE MECHANICAL FAILURES TO THE DOOR LOCKS, WINDOWS AND EVENTUALLY CAUSE MOLD / MILDEW TO FORM. I DIDN'T SPEND $ 31,000.00 TO HAVE A CAR LEAK, MOLD OR RUST PREMATURELY. PLEASE HELP IN FIXING THIS PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #766575

Official recalls

3

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.

03V442000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Nov 4, 2003

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL RETURN LINE HOSE FITTING ON THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP MAY BE RESTRICTED, CAUSING EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE TO BUILD UP IN THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE MAY RESULT IN A LEAK IN THE FUEL RETURN HOSE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP PRESSURE. THOSE VEHICLES EXHIBITING HIGHER THAN NORMAL FUEL PUMP PRESSURE WILL RECEIVE FUEL PUMP MODIFICATIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN DECEMBER 3, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037 OR MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-800-981-0452.

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.