RoadVitals

1997 Mitsubishi Caribbean Eclipse Spyder

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
2
Latest Feb 24, 2005
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Apr 6, 2001
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Mitsubishi Caribbean Eclipse Spyder, most frequently naming the airbags and body & structure categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags150.0%
  • Body & structure150.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
00V421003

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

Apr 6, 2001
5,164 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: 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.
The 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.
MITSUBISHI CARIBBEANView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Body & structure
Filed Feb 24, 2005

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL."THE CONVERTIBLE TOP LITERALLY LEAKS SO BAD THAT THE WHOLE INTERIOR IS MOLDY. THERE IS A "LAKE" IN THE TRUNK UNDER THE SPARE TIRE. ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, THE TOP WILL BECOME UNLOCKED AND FLY UP. THE SUPPORT BARS ARE BENT AND THE STRAPS ARE JUST HANGING. THE TOP DOES GO UP AND DOWN, BUT VERY SLOWLY AND NOT STRAIGHT. I HAVE TO ADJUST THE TOP AS IT IS GOING UP AND DOWN. MITSUBISHI HAS LOOKED AT THE CAR AND SAID THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CONVERTIBLE TOP. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT AND I AM BEGINNING TO FEEL VERY UNSAFE IN MY CAR. THE TOP HAS GOTTEN SO UNSTABLE THAT I CAN'T GO OVER 60 MPH. OR I CAN HEAR THE LOCKS LOOSENING UP AND WIND STARTS TO COME IN TO THE CAR NEAR THE LOCKS. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME IN MY BATTLE TO DRIVE A SAFE CAR. I ALSO HURT MY SHOULDER WHEN I CAUGHT THE TOP WHEN IT FLEW UP THE FIRST TIME. I HAVE ALL THE DOCTOR RECORDS AND PHYSICAL THERAPY RECORDS." *NM

NHTSA ID
10113028
Incident
May 12, 2004
Mileage
88,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 15, 2004
Crash reported

THE CONSUMER HAD AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. SHE HIT A PARKED POLICE CAR AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *JB NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *SC

NHTSA ID
10097193
Incident
Oct 9, 2004
Mileage
60,000 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mitsubishi Caribbean Eclipse Spyder by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2001110—
1999010—
1998010—
1997Viewing210—
1996010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.