RoadVitals

1997 Mitsubishi Caribbean Eclipse Spyder Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
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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.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1997 Mitsubishi Caribbean Eclipse Spyder, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • 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.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Nov 15, 2004

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Feb 24, 2005

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .