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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.

About this comparison →
24Owner complaints

Model-year median: 13.5

2Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
11
19993
200081
200124
200227
20036
20042
2005
Compare all Eclipse Spyder years →

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

What owners reported most

Wheels
8Structure
4Air Bags
3Fuel System, Other
2Power Train
2
All reported categories
Tires
2Visibility
2Electrical System
1Engine And Engine Cooling
1Seat Belts
1Service Brakes
1Steering
1Suspension
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: 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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingCrashFireInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER CONVERTIBLE. THE VEHICLE EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND THE DRIVER WAS KILLED AS A RESULT. THE CONTACT WAS NOT GIVEN A DIAGNOSIS AS TO WHAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPLODE. A POLICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. THE MITSUBISHI MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER CONVERTIBLE. THE VEHICLE EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND THE DRIVER WAS KILLED AS A RESULT. THE CONTACT WAS NOT GIVEN A DIAGNOSIS AS TO WHAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPLODE. A POLICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. THE MITSUBISHI MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 1/28/10 *CN THE CONSUMER NOR THE DECEDENT HER HUSBAND OWNED THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HUSBAND DIED TRYING TO HELP THE OTHER OCCUPANT WHO DID OWN THE VEHICLE THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROADWAY ON THE LEFT INTO THE MEDIAN. THE VEHICLE THEN RE-ENTERED THE ROADWAY AND RAN OFF THE ROADWAY ON THE LEFT A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE MEDIAN BARRIER CABLE FACE AND A BRIDGE PIER. THE VEHICLE THEN CAME TO REST IN THE MEDIAN FACING NORTH AFTER THE COLLISION. UPDATED 02/03/10

NHTSA ODI #10299083

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.