2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder Problems

WAS DRIVING AND AS I WAS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. *TR

RIMS ON 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE WEAK, VERY CAREFULLY DROVE, HAD TO REPLACE ONE RIM AND OTHERS ARE ALL BENT. *TR

VEHICLE STATED CLEARLY ON WINDOW STICKER THAT VEHICLE INCLUDED A STAINLESS STEEL EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IS NOW RUSTING. *TR

BODY PAINT ON HOOD AND TRUNK ARE DETERIORATING TO THE POINT THAT THERE ARE HUGE WHITE PATCHES SHOWING THROUGH THE BLACK PAINT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WASHED AND WAXED AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH FOR THE PAST 6 YEARS. THE PAINT WAS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE WHEN IT WAS APPLIED TO THE VEHICLE IN THE FACTORY. I CONTACTED MITSUBISHI AND THEY DECLINED TO TAKE ACTION. *TR

ON 2/21/10 EARLY SUNDAY MORNING I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROX. 55MI/HR WHEN MY MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE JUST STOPPED. IT WOULD NOT GO FORWARDS OR BACKWARDS. THERE WAS NO NOISE OR SOUND OF ANY KIND TO INDICATE SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND SAT THERE FOR 3 1/2 HRS FOR A TOW TRUCK. CAR WAS TAKEN TO SOUTH PARK MITSUBISHI IN BETHEL PARK. IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR HAD ONLY 57183 MILES AND I WANTED THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. THEY WOULD NOT DO THAT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO AAMCO. I READ ON LINE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION USED IN MY CAR AND ALSO CERTAIN CHRYSLER MODELS WITH A DEFECTIVE "WAVE SPRING" THAT BREAKS SUDDENLY AND CAUSED CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IN THE TRANSMISSION. I ASKED AAMCO TO SAVE ALL BROKEN PARTS. THE WAVE SPRING BROKE, WENT THROUGH THE PUMP, AND BROKE THE GEARS JUST AS DESCRIBED IN THE ARTICLE "MITSUBISHI F4A51 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAZARD PROBLEM". THIS PROBLEM WAS WELL KNOWN BY MITSUBISHI BECAUSE THE WAVE SPRING WAS REDESIGNED BUT TOOK NO ACTION TO NOTIFY OWNERS OF THE HAZARD THAT EXISTED. BY SWAPPING OUT A REBUILT TRANSMISSION, THE MITSUBISHI DEALER DOES NOT MAKE THE CUSTOMER AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND JUST ASSUMES THE TRANSMISSION WENT BAD AND NEEDED REPLACED THEREFORE NOT MAKING THE ACTUAL PROBLEM WELL KNOWN. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM AND HAD THE PART REPLACED WITH THE NEW DESIGNED WAVE SPRING. THIS ACTION WOULD HAVE SAVED ME A LOT OF MONEY AND NOT PUT MYSELF AND OTHERS IN DANGER OF HARM OR DEATH. MITSUBISHI KNEW OF THE PROBLEM AND DID NOTHING, THEY NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ERROR AND MAKE OTHER OWNERS AWARE SO THAT THE PROBLEM CAN BE RESOLVED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. THEY CAN NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR CLAIM THAT THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A JUST WEAR AND TEAR CASE. IT IS A DEFECT AND I WANT OTHER OWNERS OF CARS WITH THIS DEFECTIVE PART NOTIFIED AND MY EXPENSES REIMBURSED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. HE WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS CONTAMINATED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 106,000.

ON THE MORNING OF MARCH 3, 2011 I WAS INVOLVED IN A WRECK, SLAMMING INTO A CHEVROLET COBALT WHICH WAS LATER CITED FOR FAILURE TO YIELD. I WAS DRIVING A 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GT CONVERTIBLE AT THE POSTED SPEED OF 45 MPH. I SLID APPROXIMATELY 8 FEET BEFORE HITTING THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OF THE COBALT. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH, OR EVEN AFTERWARD FOR THAT MATTER. THE FRAME IN THE FRONT IS BENT SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN ITS PREVIOUS ARRANGEMENT, AND IS BEING FOUND AS A TOTAL LOSS. I PLAN ON PURSUING LEGAL ACTION BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY MAKING OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR

I WAS LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY AND SOMETHING POPPED AND HIT ME IN THE RIGHT EYE. AFTER STOPPING CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET,I HEARD MORE POPPING SOUNDS AND A PIECE OF THE DASH HIT THE WINDSHIELD. AFTER LOOKING AT THE DASH I FOUND 4 CRACKS IN THE DASH MATERIAL, 2 OF THE VENT GRATES HAD POPPED OFF. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT IF I WAS IN A MORE CONGESTED AREA AT THE TIME. I HAVE HAD TO PUT TAPE ONTO THE DASH TO KEEP FROM MORE PIECES FROM HITTING ME OR MY OCCUPANTS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR OPENED INDEPENDENTLY AND STRUCK THE CONTACT ON THE BRIDGE OF HER NOSE, BREAKING HER GLASSES. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND REPOSITIONED THE SUN VISOR BACK ON THE CLIPS. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISORS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V338000 (AIR BAGS) DID NOT INCLUDE THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

I. THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE ARE: 1. I WASHED AND WAXED MY CAR ON A REGULAR BASIS. 2. I DROVE MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 70 MILES PER HOUR. *TR II. FAILURE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES: 1. THE PASSENGER SIDE MOLDING ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD OFFICIALLY CALLED THE A PILLAR SEPARATED FORM THE BOLTS WHICH HELD IT TO THE FRAME OF THE CAR AND FLEW OFF STRIKING AND DENTING THE PASSENGER DOOR. 2. THE BOLDS THAT HELD THIS MOLDING TO THE FRAME ARE STILL ATTACHED TO THE CAR SHOWING THAT THERE WAS A BREAKDOWN OF THE ADHESIVE MATERIAL THAT ORIGINALLY HELD THIS PART TO THE BOLTS. III. WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE? NOTHING 1. AFTER GOING TO THE DEALER, THEY CONTACTED THE FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE, NOTHING WAS DONE. 2. AFTER SPEAKING TO A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE FROM MITSUBISHI MOTORS OF NORTH AMERICA, NOTHING WAS DONE. 3. AFTER WRITING TO THE PRESIDENT OF MITSUBISHI MOTORS OF NORTH AMERICA ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2007, I HEARD NOTHING. 4. ON OCTOBER 8, 2007, I SENT A SECOND LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF MITSUBISHI MOTORS OF NORTH AMERICA AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. I COINCIDENTALLY RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE FROM MITSUBISHI MOTORS OF NORTH AMERICA THE SAME DAY WHO SAID THAT MY SITUATION HAD BEEN REVIEWED AND THE DECISION WAS THE SAME. TO DO NOTHING. 5. I HAVE WRITTEN TO THE PRESIDENT AGAIN ON OCTOBER 10, 2007. AS OF TODAY I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM ANYONE. 6. TO THIS DAY NO ONE, INCLUDING THE FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE, HAS INSPECTED MY VEHICLE TO SEE WHAT CAUSED THIS FAILURE.

THE HEADLIGHT PLUG BURNED THE CONNECTION. THIS RESULTED IN A SUBSTANTIAL LOSS OF LIGHT OUTPUT/ NO HEADLIGHTS. THE PLASTIC PLUG IS ALSO MELTED, CAUSING A CONCERN FOR FIRE AND APPEARING THAT A SMALL FIRE MAY HAVE HAPPENED. *TR

ON MY 2001 ECLIPSE SPYDER, HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO GO OUT, BUT MOVING WIRE CONNECTION ON BACK OF HEADLAMPS WOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM MOMENTARILY. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY, AND ONE HEADLAMP STOPPED FUNCTIONING ALTOGETHER, AND NOW BOTH WENT OUT ON ME WHILE DRIVING ALMOST GETTING INTO A ACCIDENT. WHEN I CHECKED THE PROBLEM THE HEADLIGHT BOXES THAT CONNECT TO THE WIRES WERE MELTED AND EVENTUALLY BURNED OFF AND BROKE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT TO START AND EXHIBITED AN OVERPOWERING GASOLINE ODOR. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE STARTED, IT WOULD SPUTTER AND STALL SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER. AFTER PARKING HER VEHICLE, SHE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE HARNESS FOR THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE EXISTING RECALL APPLIED TO 2.4 ENGINES NOT 3.0. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RECALL NUMBER 00V299001 DOES NOT STIPULATE THE ENGINE SIZE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,334. UPDATED 5/26/09 *CN THE CONSUMER MENTIONED RECALL# 99V333001, BUT WAS TOLD HIS/HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE MANUFACTURED DATE. UPDATED 05/28/09.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO AN INTERNAL SPRING FRACTURING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V011001 (POWER TRAIN). THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO SERVICE CAMPAIGN AND RECALL TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

WHILE DRIVING FROM THE HIGHWAY ON AN OFF RAMP AT 50 MPH, ENGINE (RPM) STARTED BOGGING DOWN, THEN BOTH FRONT TIRES LOCKED UP TO A SCREECHING HALT. I ALMOST SLIDE OFF THE RAMP AND ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BY A SEMI TRUCK BEHIND ME. FRONT TIRES WERE LOCKED UP, WOULD NOT MOVE OUT OF THE ROAD AND WOULD NOT COME OUT OF GEAR. HAD IT TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP AND WAS QUOTED $3,000 JUST TO PULL THE TRANSMISSION FOR DIAGNOSTICS. WAS TOLD TRANSMISSION FAILED AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE WORTH THE MONEY TO FIX BECAUSE FRONT STRUT TOWERS BOTH WERE RUSTED. HAD VEHICLE TOWED HOME AND I WILL TRY TO PERFORM THE REPAIR MYSELF. *TR

I HAVE REPLACED ONE FRONT WHEEL AT MY COST DUE TO THE EDGE BENDING ENOUGHT THAT IT WOULD NOT HOLD AIR. I HAVE ALSO HAD 2 MORE RIMS REPAIRED, AGAIN AT MY COST, FOR SIMILAR REASON. THE FRONT SUSPENSION ON THE SPYDER DOES NOT TOLERATE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR FOR AVERAGE ROADS. MITSUBISHI HAS REFUSED TO ADMIT THAT THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE OR THE WHEEL COULD BE AT FAULT FOR REPEATED FAILURE.

WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER 6/2001 I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK 2 TIMES DUE TO THE DEFECT OF THE HOSE HOOKED TO THE RADIATOR, THEY REPAIRED IT UNDER WARRANY, AND NOW IT HAS OCCURRED AGAIN WHICH ALL MITSUBISHI DEALERS TELL ME BECAUSE IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND NOT ON THE RECALL LIST THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I JUST GOT DONE PUTTING BRAND NEW SWAY BAR LINKS ON THE CAR, AND PAID 350.00 TO DO THIS IN WHICH THEY TOLD ME SHOULD NEVER OCCURRED ON THIS NEW OF A CAR. I FEEL SINCE I REPORTED THE PROBLEMS WITH THE NOISE FROM THE FIRST WEEK I GOT THE CAR ALL THE WAY UNTIL RECENT WHEN I FIXED IT, THEY OVERLOOKED IT AND IGNORED THE PROBLEM WHICH COULD HAVE COST ME AND MY SON OUR LIVES. I FEEL MITSUBISHI SHOULD COVER THESE THINGS SINCE THERE IS PROOF I TOOK IT IN OVER 13 TIMES FOR THE SAME COMPLAINT NOISE UNDER THE CAR (SWAY BAR LINKS) AND RADIATOR FLUID LEAKING ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND BURNING. PLEASE NOTE THIS HAS BEEN OCCURING SINCE 7/2001 THE MONTH AND YEAR I HAVE MARKED BELOW ARE FOR THE DEFECTIVE HOSES ON MY RADIATOR CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND BURN AND THIS WAS VERIFIED ON THIS DATE BELOW BY A PROFESSIONAL SHOP. THIS HAS NOT CAUGHT FIRE YET BUT SMOKE COMES FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR ALL THE TIME AFTER IT HAS BEEN RUNNING.*AK

FLAT TIRE, MANHATTAN NY 49TH STREET. SLIGHT RIM DAMAGED, RIM BANGED OUT.*JB

WENT OVER A RAILROAD CROSSING IN RED BANK NJ. RIM AND TIRE HAD TO BE REPLACED.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A TUNE UP AND THE FAILURE CODES FOR P0301, P0401, AND THE EGR APPEARED. THE CODES WERE CLEARED, BUT THE P0301 FAILURE CODE REAPPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN IN FOR SMOG INSPECTION AND FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED FOR EGR FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN REPAIRED THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO A DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 315,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER. AFTER PARKING HER VEHICLE, SHE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART IT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE HARNESS FOR THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE EXISTING RECALL APPLIED TO 2.4 ENGINES NOT 3.0. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RECALL NUMBER 00V299001 DOES NOT STIPULATE THE ENGINE SIZE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,334. UPDATED 5/26/09 *CN THE CONSUMER MENTIONED RECALL# 99V333001, BUT WAS TOLD HIS/HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE MANUFACTURED DATE. UPDATED 05/28/09.*JB

WAS DRIVING AND AS I WAS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. *TR

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THE FUEL FILLER NECK RUSTS SEVERELY AROUND THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE CAUSING LARGE AMOUNTS OF FUEL TO LEAK ON THE GROUND AND GASOLINE VAPORS TO ESCAPE. THE FILLER NECK ASSEMBLY IS CONSTRUCTED OUT OF METAL AND INCLUDES A LARGE TUBE/PIPE FOR THE FUEL TO ENTER THE GAS TANK, AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER SMALLER METAL PIPES. THE FILLER NECK ASSEMBLY EXTENDS FROM THE FILLER DOOR, WHICH IS SITUATED IN THE REAR PASSENGER QUARTER PANEL, DOWN AND ACROSS TO THE FUEL TANK WHICH IS SITUATED IN THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THERE IS A PARTICULAR POINT WHERE THE PIPES IN THE ASSEMBLY MAKE AN APPROXIMATELY 45 DEGREE BEND, MOVING FROM A DOWNWARD ANGLE TO AN ANGLE THAT IS MORE PARALLEL WITH THE GROUND. AT THIS BEND OR ELBOW, THE MANUFACTURER PLACED A THICK METAL SHIELD, PRESUMABLY TO PROTECT A WEAK POINT. THE SHIELD BOLTS TO THE BODY OF THE CAR IN FOUR PLACES AND CUPS THE FUEL PIPES IN A SEMI-CIRCLE AROUND THE BEND LEAVING AN APPROXIMATELY ONE-HALF INCH GAP BETWEEN THE PIPES AND THE SHIELD. THIS SHIELD AND PIPE ASSEMBLY IS SITUATED DIRECTLY BEHIND AND SLIGHTLY INBOARD OF THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE, HOWEVER, IT REMAINS EXPOSED. BECAUSE OF THE GAP BETWEEN THE PIPES AND THE SHIELD, AND BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE SHIELD IS ANGLED UPWARDS, AND BECAUSE THERE IS NO COVER OR OTHER PROTECTIVE DEVICE TO SEAL THIS GAP, THE SHIELD COLLECTS DIRT, DEBRIS, GREASE, AND MOISTURE. PRESUMABLY, THE REAR TIRE THROWS THIS FOREIGN MATERIAL AROUND WHICH THEN COLLECTS IN THE SHIELD, BUILDS UP, AND CONTACTS THE PIPES, CAUSING THEM TO RUST. EVENTUALLY THE PIPES RUST COMPLETELY THROUGH CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK ON THE GROUND WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS REFUELED. THE HOLES IN THE PIPES ALSO ALLOW GASOLINE VAPORS TO ESCAPE AND IMPAIRS THE EVAP SYSTEM. DESPITE THE BUILDUP AND CONTINUAL CONTACT OF FOREIGN MATERIAL IN THE SHIELD, THE SHIELD ITSELF DID NOT RUST AT ALL CREATING A PERFECT COLLECTOR TO GATHER FOREIGN MATERIAL AND CAUSE THE RUST TO FORM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT TO START AND EXHIBITED AN OVERPOWERING GASOLINE ODOR. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE STARTED, IT WOULD SPUTTER AND STALL SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

WAS DRIVING AND AS I WAS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. *TR