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2001 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

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

47 reports with mileage · 34 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.

  • Wheels. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports

What owners actually said

81 reports
95,262 miles · Sep 8, 2007
StructureVisibility

MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE RIGHT MOLDING ON THE FRONT WINDOW FLEW OFF THE CAR.(IT IS CALLED THE A PILLAR.) IT SHOT BACK, BANGING AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE CAR DENTED THE DOOR. WHEN WE GOT TO OUR DESTINATION I LOOKED AND THE BOLTS WERE STILL IN THE FRAME, BUT THE MOLDING WAS GONE. THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO THE …

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MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE RIGHT MOLDING ON THE FRONT WINDOW FLEW OFF THE CAR.(IT IS CALLED THE A PILLAR.) IT SHOT BACK, BANGING AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE CAR DENTED THE DOOR. WHEN WE GOT TO OUR DESTINATION I LOOKED AND THE BOLTS WERE STILL IN THE FRAME, BUT THE MOLDING WAS GONE. THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO THE DEALER (COCONUT CREEK MITSUBISHI IN COCONUT CREEK, FLORIDA) TO ASK IF THIS WAS NORMAL. THEY OF COURSE SAID NO. I ASKED WHAT THEY WOULD DO TO GET IT REPLACED. THEIR FIRST RESPONSE WAS TO SELL ME A NEW ONE AT A COST OF $163.70 PLUS TAX, BUT THEY WOULD INSTALL IT FOR FREE BECAUSE THEY ADMITTED THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. A WEEK LATER I SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER MICHAEL SEE AT COCONUT CREEK MITSUBISHI AND FIND OUT WHAT THE FACTORY REP TOLD HIM. MICHAEL TOLD ME THAT JOHN HACKWORTH THE FACTORY REP SAID I'M NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING. THE FACTORY REP NEVER LOOKED AT THE CAR OR INSPECTED THE BOLTS TO SEE WHY THE MOLDING FLEW OFF. HE HEARD THE AGE OF THE CAR AND THE MILEAGE AND THAT WAS THE BASIS FOR HIS FINAL DECISION. THE STORY THAT MICHAEL SEE AND THE ASSISTANT MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP STANLY ANDERS KEEP TELLING ME IS THAT THE CAR IS SIX YEARS OLD AND HAS 95,000 MILES ON IT AND THINGS BREAK. FIRST MR. ANDERS SAID THAT IT WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE FACT THAT THE FACTORY REP NEVER CALLED TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AND INSPECT THE BOLTS TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED, IN MY OPINION IS UNACCEPTABLE. THE FACT THAT MITSUBISHI MOTORS OF NORTH AMERICA HAS NO INFLUENCE OVER THE DECISIONS OF A FACTORY REP IS ABSURD. IN ADDITION, THE DASHBOARD IS SLOWLY FALLING APART. THE DASHBOARD HAD APPROXIMATELY SEVEN CRACKS IN IT WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR. THE DEALER SAID THAT THIS IS NORMAL ON CONVERTIBLES AND THAT THEY WILL NOT REPLACE IT. YOUR CAR, YOUR PROBLEM WE DID MORE THEN ENOUGH FOR A USED CAR. TODAY THERE ARE ABOUT ELEVEN OR TWELVE CRACKS AND I SUPPOSE THAT ONE DAY IT WILL JUST FALL APART COMPLETELY, BUT ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THAT'S NORMAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10202258

147,000 miles · Jul 26, 2007
Wheels

WENT OFF ROAD, BACK LEFT WHEEL CRACKED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10197547

57,004 miles · Jun 10, 2007
Air BagsInjury

I WAS LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY AND SOMETHING POPPED AND HIT ME IN THE RIGHT EYE. AFTER STOPPING CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET,I HEARD MORE POPPING SOUNDS AND A PIECE OF THE DASH HIT THE WINDSHIELD. AFTER LOOKING AT THE DASH I FOUND 4 CRACKS IN THE DASH MATERIAL, 2 OF THE VENT GRATES HAD POPPED OFF. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED ME TO HAVE…

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I WAS LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY AND SOMETHING POPPED AND HIT ME IN THE RIGHT EYE. AFTER STOPPING CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET,I HEARD MORE POPPING SOUNDS AND A PIECE OF THE DASH HIT THE WINDSHIELD. AFTER LOOKING AT THE DASH I FOUND 4 CRACKS IN THE DASH MATERIAL, 2 OF THE VENT GRATES HAD POPPED OFF. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT IF I WAS IN A MORE CONGESTED AREA AT THE TIME. I HAVE HAD TO PUT TAPE ONTO THE DASH TO KEEP FROM MORE PIECES FROM HITTING ME OR MY OCCUPANTS.

NHTSA ODI #10192845

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 2007
Wheels

ALL CHROME WHEELS HAVE BENT DUE TO INFERIOR MANUFACTURING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10188168

100,000 miles · Mar 13, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING THE 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE SUPPORT BOLT CAME OUT. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE AND MADE NOISE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MITSUBISHI DEALER, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING…

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TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING THE 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE SUPPORT BOLT CAME OUT. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE AND MADE NOISE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MITSUBISHI DEALER, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING A TUNE UP. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW CRANK SHAFT SENSOR, THAT THE ONE IN THE VEHICLE WAS WORN OUT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE CONTACT HAS NOT HAD THE SENSOR REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10184984

Mileage unknown · Feb 14, 2007
Wheels

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 100,000. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF VEHICLE HIT THE SMALLEST OF POT HOLES, AT ANY SPEED THE RIM WILL BEND, BOTH ON THE INSIDE AND OUT SIDE. THE CONTACT HAD 2 OF THE RIMS REPLACED AND TWO OF THE TIRES AS WELL. ON FIVE OCCASIONS THE RIMS WERE …

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TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 100,000. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF VEHICLE HIT THE SMALLEST OF POT HOLES, AT ANY SPEED THE RIM WILL BEND, BOTH ON THE INSIDE AND OUT SIDE. THE CONTACT HAD 2 OF THE RIMS REPLACED AND TWO OF THE TIRES AS WELL. ON FIVE OCCASIONS THE RIMS WERE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAS REPAIR ORDERS, AND WILL HAVE PICTURES OF THE LATEST FAILURE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10182696

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2006
Structure

BOUGHT MY CAR USED WITH CRACKS IN THE DASH. SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR, THREE MORE CRACKS HAVE SHOWN. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10171838

23,000 miles · Oct 17, 2006
Structure

MY DASH ON MY 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPIDER GT IS CRACKING. I HAVE TALKED TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO SAY THIS IS ALL HAPPENING TO THEM ALSO. THIS IS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED!! *NM

NHTSA ODI #10171033

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2006
Structure

EVERY TIME THERE IS A HEAVY RAIN MY CAR LEAKS ONTO THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR BOARD. THIS IS NOT A LITTLE WATER ITS MORE LIKE PUTTING YOUR FEET INTO A LAKE. I BELIEVE THE WATER IS COMING THOUGH THE OUTSIDE VENT BY THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SINCE THE WATER IS RUNNING DOWN THE INSIDE WALL. IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE COMING IN THOUGH THE …

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EVERY TIME THERE IS A HEAVY RAIN MY CAR LEAKS ONTO THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR BOARD. THIS IS NOT A LITTLE WATER ITS MORE LIKE PUTTING YOUR FEET INTO A LAKE. I BELIEVE THE WATER IS COMING THOUGH THE OUTSIDE VENT BY THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SINCE THE WATER IS RUNNING DOWN THE INSIDE WALL. IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE COMING IN THOUGH THE ROOF. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10169651

Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 2006
Wheels

I PURCHASED A 2001 MITSIBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER. ALL FOUR OF THE WHEELS HAVE BEEN BENT FROM NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVING. I HAVE HAD TWO TIRES BLOW OUT DUE TO THEIR LOOSING AIR AND HEATING UP. IT APPEARS THAT THE ALUMINUM WHEELS ARE TOO SOFT AND BEND TOO EASILY. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10151574

Official recalls

8

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.

01V069000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Mar 8, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A BULGE IN THE FUEL TANK CAUSED BY THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS RESULTED IN THINNING OF THE MATERIAL DURING A WELDING OPERATION, INCREASING THE RISK OF FUEL LEAKAGE.

Consequence & remedy

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

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 26, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037.

01V011001 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines

Jan 16, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. A HOSE WAS MIS-MANUFACTURED AND COULD WEAKEN OVER TIME, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FLUID LEAKAGE FROM THE COOLER HOSES CAN CAUSE TRANSAXLE DRIVEABILITY PROBLEMS AND SMOKE IF THE OIL CONTACTS THE FRONT EXHAUST PIPE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HOSE ASSEMBLY FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER. OWNER NOTIFICATION MAILING WILL BE PHASED OVER A FIVE-MONTH PERIOD STARTING MARCH 26, THROUGH JULY 23, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037.

01V005001 · Seats

Jan 8, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A NUMBER OF INCORRECT DRIVER SIDE SEAT MOUNTING BOLTS WERE INSTALLED INTO VEHICLES.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE REAR ANCHOR BOLTS SECURING THE DRIVER'S SEAT MAY NOT PROPERLY SECURE THE SEAT AND COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF DRIVER INJURY IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEAT MOUNTING BOLTS AND THEN REPLACE THE BOLTS IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 15, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037.

00V299001 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Oct 2, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HARNESS FOR THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR COULD COME IN CONTACT WITH A NEW PROTECTIVE SHIELD CAUSING A GROUNDED CIRCUIT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: PROLONGED WIRING HARNESS CONTACT WITH THE HEAT SHIELD WILL CAUSE THE WIRING INSULATION TO WEAR AND EVENTUALLY TO GROUND OUT. THIS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO DIE-OUT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL RE-ROUTE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR HARNESS.

00V225001 · Steering:gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)

Aug 10, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A NUT IN THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY WAS NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED, RESULTING IN SYMPTOMS RANGING FROM STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION TO STIFF STEERING, AND IN THE WORST CASE, NO ABILITY TO TURN LEFT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES AND REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY IF A LOOSE NUT CONNECTION IS FOUND.

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

2

EA02007 · Aluminum Alloy Wheel Denting

Opened May 31, 2002 · Closed May 1, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Wheels

SEE ATTACHED REPORT.

PE01044 · Alloy Wheel Denting And Fracturing

Opened Dec 18, 2001 · Closed May 31, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Wheels

No summary supplied.