1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1999 Mitsubishi 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
- Transmission545.5%
- Engine327.3%
- Other / unspecified19.1%
- Suspension19.1%
- Visibility19.1%
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
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION STICKING BETWEEN 40-60 MILES PER HOUR AT 3000 RPMS AND HAS A PROBLEM SHIFTING DOWN CAUSING THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT TO COME ON. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS ON THE SAME 2 ROADS IN THE SAME EXACT SPOT. I HAD THE PULSE GENERATORS IN THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND ONE WEEK LATER IT WAS DOING IT AGAIN. I AM TRYING TO DETERMINE IF IT IS AIR INTAKE RELATED SINCE IT HAPPENS ONLY AT THOSE 2 SPOTS ON THE ROAD. TRANSMISSION WAS DIAGNOSED OK (ON COMPUTER UNHOOKED TO THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE CAR) I AM TAKING IT BACK IN TODAY TO HAVE THE CODE READ AGAIN, HOWEVER IT RESETS ITSELF IF IT DOES NOT STICK FOR WHILE WHEN DRIVING. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT STARTING AROUND AUGUST OF 2008 AND THE PROBLEM HAD BECOME MORE PERSISTENT UNTIL LAST WEEK 3/25/09 WHEN I HAD THE PULSE GENERATOR REPLACED. IT DID THE SAME THING 4/1/09 ONE WEEK LATER IN THE SAME 2 SPOTS ON THE ROAD. I THINK THE PROBLEM IS ELECTRICAL AND AIR TAKE RELATED BUT THE CODES GIVEN AT THE TIME IT IS DIAGNOSED IS NOT SPECIFIC ENOUGH. I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WITH A MITSUBISHI REP THAT CAN HELP DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE WITH OUT HAVING TO KEEP PAYING FOR IT SINCE I AM PRETTY SURE THAT THIS IS NOT A ONE TIME ISSUE. I WANT MY CAR FIXED BEFORE MORE DAMAGE IS DONE. *TR
I PURCHASED A 1999 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER CONVERTIBLE 6-15-06. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR 3 MONTHS THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS OUT OF TOWN SO TOOK TO NEAREST CAR REPAIR STATION. THEY RESET LIGHT & RCVD CODE P1750. WHEN I RTND HOME I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE & TO RESET THE CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT. AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS I WAS REFERRED TO AN AUTHORIZED TRANSMISSION SHOP WHERE THEY REBUILT THE TRANNY. I DROVE 200 MILES AND THE TRANNY BURNED UP. I WAS STRANDED AT NIGHT ON HWY 5...THE CAR WAS TOWED TO NEAREST AUTHORIZED TRANSMISSION STATION IN BAKERSFIELD, CA. LONG STORY SHORT THE TRANNY HAS BEEN REBUILT 8 TIMES SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE, I HAVE SPENT OVER $20,000 IN RENTAL CARS, CABS, HOTELS. ETC. I ONCE AGAIN WAS GIVEN DEC 2007. THE TRANNY BEGAN TO SLIP WITHIN 3 MONTHS. I TRIED TO CONTACT THE ORIGINAL TRANNY SHOP AND THE PLACE WAS GONE, NO NOTICE WAS GIVEN & NOW I NEED TO PUT CAR IN SHOP. THE CAR ORIGINATED OUT OF STATE & HAD 3 OWNERS, EACH OWNER BEING FROM ANOTHER STATE. MITSUBISHI BOUGHT THE CAR AT AN AUCTION & IT ACCRUED OVER 12,000 MILES WHILE CAR WAS IN THEIR POSSESSION. I HAVE BEEN SO STRESSED THAT I HAVE COME OUT OF REMISSION WITH 2 TERMINAL ILLNESSES. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WENT OUT TO START MY 1999 ECLIPSE SPYDER AND THE DRIVE BELT CAME OFF. TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALER WAS INFORMED THAT THE HARMONIC BALANCER HAD BROKEN OFF. *JB
MAIN BEARING FAILURE @ 65,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REPLACE, OR REPAIR. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. I AM ON MY 2ND MOTOR WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS ON 1999 ECLIPSE GS SPYDER HAVE LEAD TO THE BENDING OF RIMS ON 2 OUR OF 4 WHEELS. EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AND UNABLE TO PASS PA STATE INSPECTION. WHEELS WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN "LEGAL" REGISTRATION IN PA STATE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
LOWER BALL JOINTS. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONVERTIBLE TOP LINKS BENT, REAR WINDOW STITCHING FAILURE. TOP WILL NOT GO DOWN DUE TO PREVIOUS. JUST HAPPENED OVERNIGHT. ONE DAY IT WASN'T THERE, THE NEXT THE LINKS WERE BENT. DEALER STATES THIS IS JUST NORMAL WEAR & TEAR AND THE LINKS BENT ARE THE MOST COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TOP. *AK
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .