RoadVitals

1996 Mitsubishi 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.
5
Latest May 29, 2009
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 Jul 26, 2007
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.
1
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.
3
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder, most frequently naming the interior & seats, airbags and other / unspecified categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 31 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

  • Interior & seats240.0%
  • Airbags120.0%
  • Other / unspecified120.0%
  • Suspension120.0%

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
07E055000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Jul 26, 2007
222 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN AIRTEX FUEL PUMP MODULE ASSEMBLIES, P/N E7081H, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE WALL OF THE FLARED FITTING OF THE FUEL PUMP IS NOT THICK ENOUGH TO PREVENT THE MATING THREADED FITTINGS FROM BOTTOMING OUT BEFORE AN ADEQUATE SEAL IS ACHIEVED. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF FUEL AT THE CONNECTION OF THE VEHICLE FUEL LINE AND THE FUEL PUMP MODULE ASSEMBLY.
The risk: IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FUEL LEAK COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
The remedy: AIRTEX WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AIRTEX AUTOMOTIVE AT 800-880-3056.
AIRTEX PRODUCTSManufacturer number FP072007-1View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

RQ00015ClosedRecall Query

LOWER CONTRTOL ARM BALL JOINT

Opened Aug 2, 2000
Closed Apr 20, 2001

There is no summary currently available

SUSPENSIONLed to recall 00V421001

Recent owner complaints

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

Interior & seats
Filed May 29, 2009

PASSENGER SEAT ONLY LOCKS IN ONE POSITION. IF YOU THINK THE SEAT IS LOCKED AND IT'S NOT, THE SEAT DOES MOVE/SLIDE BACKWARD AND FORWARD AS YOU ARE DRIVING. YOU MUST HEAR THE "LOCKED IN PLACE NOISE" OR IT IS NOT LOCKED!!!! THIS IS IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE A PASSENGER RIDING IN THIS SEAT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10270261
Incident
May 26, 2004
Suspension
Filed Apr 14, 2004
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED RIGHT BALL JOINT BROKE. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. *AK

NHTSA ID
10067166
Incident
Apr 14, 2004
Mileage
100,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed May 22, 2002

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM SCHOOL ON A MAJOR HIG WAY WHEN I HEARD AN AWEFUL NOISE COMING FROM UNDER MY CAR, IT SOUNDED AS IF I WAS DRAGGING SOMETHING. I GOT OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT AND LOOKEDF UNDER MY CAR BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THERE SO I CONTINUED HOME. WHEN I WAS BACK ON THE HIGHWAY THE NOISE STARTED UP AGAIN BUT THIS TIME MY STEERING STARTED TO GO. I IMMEDIATLY BROUGHT IT TO THE SHOP WHERE THEY PUT IT ON A LIFT. THE MECHANICS STARTED TO CHECK SHAKE EACH TIRE, WHEN HE GOT TO THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE THE TIRE WAS VERY LOOSE. ACCORDING TO THE THE THREADING ON THE BULTS THAT HOLD THE RIM ON WERE STRIPPED AND THE DAMAGE WOULD RUN ME ABOUT 200 PER TIRE. ONE TOP OF THE NEW BULTS I NEEDED NEW RIMS. THEY SAID MY RIMS WERE TO BENT UP. I HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR 3 YEARS AND HAVE HAD MY RIMS BANGED BACK INTO SHAPE SEVERAL TIMES ALREADY. THE SHOP SAYS THEY ARE VERY WEAK RIMS AND I NEED NEW ONES, BUT THAT COSTS OVER A THOUSAND. THERE WAS ANOTHER INCIDENT WITH MY RIMS AS WELL. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO I WAS LOSING STEERING POWER SO I GOT MY CAR CHECKED OUT, I NEEDED TO HAVE MY RIMS CUT AND SHAVED BECAUSE THERE WAS TO MUCH WEAR ON THEM.

NHTSA ID
762182
Incident
Mar 15, 2002
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 11, 2001
Fire reported

I HAD PARKED THIS AUTO AND WENT INSIDE TO SLEEP- WAS AWAKEN BY HORN GOING OFF IN AUTO- WENT OUT TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON AND WHEN I OPEN THE DOOR ALL I SAW WAS A BLAST OF SMOKE THAT HIT ME IN THE FACE. FIRE CHIEF SAID IT WAS A ELECTRICAL FIRE THAT STARTED BEHIND THE DASH WHERE THE INSTRUMENTS ARE. THE INSURANCE TOTAL THIS CAR OUT EVERYTHING WAS MELTED IN THE AUTO- I BOUGHT THIS AUTO 15 DAYS AGO USED

NHTSA ID
748315
Incident
Jul 8, 2001
Airbags
Filed Feb 19, 2000
Crash reported2 injuries reported

THE ACCIDENT WAS A NEAR HEAD ON COLLISION WITH OTHER VEHICLE (CHEVROLET BLAZER) TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40-50 MPH. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED ALTHOUGH ENTIRE FRONT OF CAR WAS DESTROYED. CAR WAS CONSIDERED TOTALLED BY INSURANCE COMPANY. MITSUBISHI CONTACTED AND DENIED THERE WAS A PROBLEM. CLAIMED AIR BAG SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED IN THIS SITUATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
718967
Incident
Nov 19, 1999

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TSB-22-54-003

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

This Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers to explain the difference between normal dew condensation, which is a natural phenomenon, and water penetration caused by improper sealing or a defective/broken part.

TT253

EQUIPMENT

This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.

TSB-19-00-008

EQUIPMENT

This is a Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers. This bulletin supersedes TSB-18-00-003, issued April, 2018, to add updated information for Carrying Capacity Reduced Label.

TT237

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.

TT218

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; EXTERIOR LIGHTING; POWER TRAIN; VISIBILITY; WHEELS

This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.

TSB-15-54-004

EQUIPMENT

This TSB contains troubleshooting steps for diagnosis of various customer complaints relating to the audio system speakers in Mitsubishi vehicles equipped with original equipment audio components.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2012000—
2011000—
2010000—
2009710—
2008161046.8
2007224054.5
2005220—
2004640—
2003273054.4
2002242155.9
2001818259.9
2000312—
1999112038.6
1998162039.5
1997202038.8
1996Viewing511—
1995210—

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.