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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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16Owner complaints

Model-year median: 13.5

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
2
19955
199620
199716
199811
19993
200081
2001
Compare all Eclipse Spyder years →

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

What owners reported most

Structure
7Latches/locks/linkages
3Equipment
2Power Train
2Unknown Or Other
2
All reported categories
Engine And Engine Cooling
1Steering
1Suspension
1Visibility
1

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

Equipment complaints

2 reports
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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

Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2003
EquipmentPower Train

I RECENTLY SENT A LETTER TO THE MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORPORATION REGARDING MY 1998 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER (PLEASE RE-READ ATTACHED). I WAS CONTACTED BY THE CORPORATE OFFICE REGARDING MY ERRATIC SHIFT PROBLEM IN MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND WAS EVENTUALLY TOLD THAT I WOULDNT BE PROVIDED ANY SORT OF ASSISTANCE ON MY VEHICLE. I FI…

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I RECENTLY SENT A LETTER TO THE MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORPORATION REGARDING MY 1998 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER (PLEASE RE-READ ATTACHED). I WAS CONTACTED BY THE CORPORATE OFFICE REGARDING MY ERRATIC SHIFT PROBLEM IN MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND WAS EVENTUALLY TOLD THAT I WOULDNT BE PROVIDED ANY SORT OF ASSISTANCE ON MY VEHICLE. I FIND IT APPALLING THAT THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES TO MY CAR WHEN I WAS WELL WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD FOR MY CAR (BEFORE 50,000 MILES). I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE MITSUBISHI SERVICE CENTER, AND GOT THE RESPONSE: TECHNICIAN CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME. IF PROBLEMS PERSIST, PLEASE BEING THE VEHICLE BACK. I TOOK THE CAR TO DIFFERENT MITSUBISHI SERVICE CENTERS SEVERAL TIMES AFTER THAT, AND GOT THE SAME RESPONSE ( I HAVE DOCUMENTATION ON THIS). NOW, BECAUSE YOUR SERVICE TECHNICIANS COULDNT IDENTIFY MY CARS PROBLEM WHEN I WAS IN THE WARRANTY PERIOD, I AM BEING HELD LIABLE. AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS OF RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS WEB SITES DOCUMENTING PROBLEMS WITH MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE VEHICLES, RANGING FROM THE YEARS 1990-PRESENT. I HAVE FOUND A GREAT DEAL OF MITSUBISHI ECLIPSES WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT REGULAR WEAR AND TEAR OR DRIVER RELATED ISSUES, IT IS AN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINEERING OF THE TRANSMISSION IN THE VEHICLE (SEVERAL MECHANICS WILL SWEAR TO THIS STATEMENT, SINCE THEY HAVE WORKED ON SEVERAL CARS WITH THIS PROBLEM). BELOW ARE SOME QUOTES FROM THE WEBSITES PROVING THAT THIS PROBLEM IS CONSISTENT WITH MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE VEHICLES: TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AT 50,000. CAR WOULD POP OUT OF 4TH GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING TO GET ON HIGHWAY. " <HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/REVIEW_32883.HTML> 1991 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE MILEAGE: 73000. THE CAR IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IT IS HAVING ERRATIC SHIFTING PROBLEMS ALTHOUGH THEY ONLY OCCUR WHEN THE CAR IS NOT AT THE MECHANICS. " <HTTP://WWW.2CARPROS.COM/MAKES/MITSUBISHI/ECLIPSE.HTM>*AK

NHTSA ODI #10025890

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.