2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder. The contact stated while driving 25-30 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power inadvertently. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continued driving. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact also stated that while driving and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle instead started reversing unintendedly. The contact stated that he turned off and restarted the vehicle and continued driving. The vehicle was taken to a local Pep Boys, where it was diagnosed that the power train needed to be reprogrammed and other repairs needed to be completed. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the steering wheel was locked and the brake pedal was firm. The traction control and ABS warning lights were illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was not drivable. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.

NHTSA ID

11468436

Incident

May 9, 2022

Mileage

138,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE APPROACHED AN INTERSECTION DRIVING 15 MPH WHEN HE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN HIM. BOTH VEHICLES WERE INOPERABLE AND WERE TOWED FROM THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED THREE CRACKED RIBS AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE POLICE WERE ALSO CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,500. MITSUBISHI WAS CALLED WITH SAME INFO. UPDATED 11/03/2011 *LN *TR

NHTSA ID

10425768

Incident

Sep 14, 2011

Mileage

73,500 mi

UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, TIRE BEGAN LOSING AIR. TOOK TO THE TIRE DEALER AND NO TIRE PROBLEM WAS FOUND. TWO WEEKS LATER TIRE WOULD HOLD NO AIR, RETURNED TO THE TIRE DEALER AND THEY FOUND THAT THE WHEEL WAS CRACKED AND WOULD NOT ALLOW THE TIRE TO HOLD AIR. I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW WHEEL AND A NEW TIRE SINCE RIDING ON LOW / NO AIR DAMAGED THE TIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10393118

Incident

Mar 5, 2011

Mileage

69,050 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE DRIVER OBSERVED THAT THE DASHBOARD COVER SUSTAINED EXCESSIVE CRACKS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT; HOWEVER, THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED DUE TO THE UNAVAILABILITY AND UNCERTAINTY OF THE PART. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

NHTSA ID

10302350

Incident

Jan 10, 2007

Mileage

38,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER CONVERTIBLE. THE VEHICLE EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND THE DRIVER WAS KILLED AS A RESULT. THE CONTACT WAS NOT GIVEN A DIAGNOSIS AS TO WHAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPLODE. A POLICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. THE MITSUBISHI MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 1/28/10 *CN THE CONSUMER NOR THE DECEDENT HER HUSBAND OWNED THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HUSBAND DIED TRYING TO HELP THE OTHER OCCUPANT WHO DID OWN THE VEHICLE THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROADWAY ON THE LEFT INTO THE MEDIAN. THE VEHICLE THEN RE-ENTERED THE ROADWAY AND RAN OFF THE ROADWAY ON THE LEFT A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE MEDIAN BARRIER CABLE FACE AND A BRIDGE PIER. THE VEHICLE THEN CAME TO REST IN THE MEDIAN FACING NORTH AFTER THE COLLISION. UPDATED 02/03/10

NHTSA ID

10299083

Incident

Jan 22, 2008

INCIDENTS: THE CONVERTIBLE TOP LEAKS AND THE SEATBELTS GET COMPLETELY SOAKED WITH WATER EVERY TIME IT RAINS ESPECIALLY IN DOWNPOURS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10220434

Incident

Mar 7, 2008

MITSUBISHI PAINT PROBLEM! 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE, BLACK. THE PAINT HAS FAIDED WHITE INTO HUGE PATCHES ON THE HOOD AND TRUNK. A SHAME MITSUBISHI HAS SUCH A PAINT PROBLEM FROM THE EARLIER 2000'S AND WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ID

10190308

Incident

Jan 7, 2007

Mileage

69,000 mi

I BOUGHT THE CAR IN APR. 2002 AND SINCE THEN HAVE ONLY PUT 40K MILES ON IT. THERE WAS A SQUEAKY NOISE FROM THE SUSPENSION WHEN I BOUGHT IT BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT IS NOTHING. NOW, THE CAR SHAKES AT SPEEDS OF 60 MPH AND MORE AND IF BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT THE SAME TIME, IT SHAKES ALMOST AS IF IT IS GOING TO FALL APART. DIAGNOSIS HAS REVEALED THAT THE REAR CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ARE RESULTING IN THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE ASKED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE REAR CONTROL ARM. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE FOR POSSIBLE MANUFACTURING FAULTS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10160083

Incident

Jun 10, 2006

Mileage

35,000 mi

CRACKING DASHBORD ON 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPIDER .NO INCIDENT YET,COULD HAPPEN DRIVING WITH THE TOP DOWN. *NM

NHTSA ID

10135908

Incident

Sep 6, 2005

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY CAR FELT WOBBLY. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO SAID THERE WAS A MISFIRE WHICH COULD MEAN I NEEDED NEW SPARK PLUGS BUT SHOULDN'T UNTIL 60,000; I ONLY HAVE 44,000 MILES ON MY CAR. HE REPLACED ALL SIX SPARK PLUGS BUT THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM SO HE REPLACED THE WIRES, CAP AND ROTOR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON SO HE DID A COMPRESSION TEST AND SAID MY 6TH PISTON WAS NOT HOLDING COMPRESSION AND THIS WAS A BIGGER PROBLEM SO I SHOULD TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I TOOK IT TO MILLER MITSUBISHI AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A MISFIRE AND MY 6TH PISTON WAS NOT HOLDING COMPRESSION. MY WARRANTY EXPIRED. THEY SAID THERE ARE DENTS ON THE 6TH PISTON FROM SOMETHING BEING DROPPED INTO THE ENGINE THEREFORE THAT IS WHY IT WON'T HOLD COMPRESSION AND I NEED A NEW ENGINE BLOCK. THE ONLY WORK I EVER HAD DONE PRIOR TO THIS WAS OIL CHANGES EVERY 3,000 MILES. THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE AT 44,000 MILES. MY CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ID

10124851

Incident

May 18, 2005

Mileage

44,000 mi

I OWN A 2002 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER GT. I WAS IN A RELATIVELY MINOR CAR ACCIDENT. ABOUT 2 MONTHS OFTER THE ACCIDENT AND REPAIRS HAD BEEN MADE, ONE OF MY TIRES COULD NOT HOLD TIRE PRESSURE. I HAD THE TIRES REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE. THE SAME TIRE CONTINUED TO GO FLAT. I INSPECTED THE FACTORY 17" ALLOY RIM AND I FOUND A CRACK IN THE RIM. I INSPECTED THE OTHER RIMS AS WELL AND NOTICED SIMILAR SMALLER CRACKS FORMING. I DO NOT NOW IF THE CRACKS ARE DUE TO THE ACCIDENT OR DUE TO FAULTY WORKMANSHIP. A WELL MADE RIM WOULD NOT HAVE CRACKED DUE TO A RELATIVLEY MINOR IMPACT. ACCIDENT REPORT ON FILE HAMILTON TWP POLICE. ACCIDENT NOT CAUSED DUE TO FAILURE OF THE RIM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10105647

Incident

Dec 10, 2004

MY CAR STARTED SHAKING AT SPEEDS OF 15 TO 20 MPH AND PULLING HARD TO THE RIGHT. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP THEY INFORMED ME THAT I MUST HAVE "HIT SOMETHING AT A FAST SPEED BECAUSE MY RIM WAS SEVERLY BENT. THEN THEY PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS WRONG. THE CAR WAS ALMOST AT 48,000 MILES. I PAID OUT OF POCKET, SIMPLY TAKING THEIR WORD FOR IT. THEN I KEPT LOSING AIR OUT OF ANOTHER TIRE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE. AT THIS TIME I FIGURED IT WAS THE TIRE THAT I PURCHASED A FEW MONTHS EARLIER. I HAD THE TECH. TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND HE SHOWED ME THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL CRACKS IN THE RIM WHICH WERE ALLOWING THE AIR IN THE TIRE TO LEAK. ONCE AGAIN I BOUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD TO SPEND ANOTHER $230 TO GET A NEW RIM. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CARS IN MY LIFE AND NEVER ONCE HAD TO REPLACE ONE RIM LET ALONE 2 AND IN A PERIOD OF 2 MONTHS. I THINK SOMEONE NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS. THIS IS NOT ONLY EXPENSIVE BUT EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I THINK THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THESE RIMS AND REFUND THE CUSTOMERS THAT HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET.*AK

NHTSA ID

10102423

Incident

Jul 15, 2004

SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2001, I HAVE REPLAED 7 RIMS. THE FIRST TIME I HAD A PROBLEM WITH ONE OF MY RIMS, I THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED ME THAT THE RIM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE COST OF REPLACING THE RIM WAS A LITTLE OVER $200.00. WHEN THIS HAPPENED 2 MORE TIMES, I HAD DIFFERENT FEELINGS ABOUT IT. PRIOR TO THIS, I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A RIM IN MY LIFE. ONE TIME, WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE MANUFACTURER, THE SERVICE SHOP TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A GIRL WHO JUST CAME INTO THE SHOP WHO BLEW OUT 2 RIMS ON HER VEHICLE. IT IS APPARENT THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S EFECT. THIS IS NOT ONLY EXPENSIVE, BUT IT IS ALSO DANGEROUS. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO MITSUBISHI SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS WITH VERY LITTLE SUCCESS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10088184

Incident

Oct 11, 2001

WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER REAR RIM WAS BENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE RIM WAS CRACKED ,AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10088071

Incident

Mar 20, 2004

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER RIM WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10087992

ALUMINUM WHEEL CRACKED IN THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE THIS PROBLEM HAD BEEN UNDER INVESTIGATION BY NHTSA AND THE INVESTIGATION WAS CONCLUDED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10065305

Incident

Mar 22, 2004

Mileage

15,000 mi

I DRIVE AN 02 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE-SPYDER GT. HERE IS MY COMPLAINT: CLUTCH IS GONE AND THE CAR IS NOT EVEN 2.5 YEARS OLD. I'VE DRIVEN A MANUAL FOR OVER 10 YEARS. DROVE A VW, HONDA, MB, ETC. NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. I DON'T RACE AND DON'T BURN THE CLUTCH. AT ABOUT 25K MY CLUTCH STARTED TO GO OUT. NOW THE CAR WON'T MOVE AT ALL. I KNOW A LOT OF OWNERS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE V6 HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. AND SPENDING $1500 ON A CLUTCH THAT WILL WEAR OUT IN TWO YEARS IS NOT AN OPTION. MY HOPE IS THAT MITSUBISHI WOULD RECALL THIS DEFECTIVE CLUTCH AND REIMBURSE THOSE WHO HAD TO PAY OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKET FOR A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT THAT SHOULD NEVER EXIST ON A BRAND NEW CAR. PLEASE STOP THIS PROBLEM AS I KNOW ONLY MORE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE TO PAY A LOT OF MONEY ON A STILL DEFECTIVE CLUTCH. MAKE THEM STOP PLEASE! *JB

NHTSA ID

10062366

Incident

Feb 24, 2004

Mileage

25,000 mi

REAR WINDOW SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY.*AK

NHTSA ID

10062180

Incident

Mar 13, 2004

IT APPEARS PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MAY NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. *LA

NHTSA ID

10054793

Incident

Jan 18, 2004

Mileage

29,600 mi

VEHICLE RAN OVER A WOODEN BLOCK RESULTING IN PASSENGER FRONT TIRE RIPPING AND CRACKING RIM.*MR

NHTSA ID

10046592

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT ACCIDENT, AND THE SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*JB

NHTSA ID

10009960

Incident

Mar 10, 2002

Mileage

4,000 mi

MY "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON, THERE WAS A "MISS" IN THE ENGINE AND WHEN TESTED BY THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT I HAD A "BAD" SPARK PLUG SO DID A REPLACEMENT. I PICKED IT UP DROVE ABOUT 5 MILES AND THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I IMMEDIATELY RETURNED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY DETERMINED THE SAME PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE SPARK PLUG AGAIN. ALSO INDICATING THAT THE COMPUTER ROM HAD TO BE UPDATED. WHEN THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON YET AGAIN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL APRIL WHEN THE "UPDATE" IS AVAILABLE. IN THE MEAN TIME, THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT IS ON, THERE IS A TERRIBLE MISS & MY GAS MILEAGE IS CRUMMY. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT FURTHER DAMAGE TO MY ENGINE AND AM GETTING NOWHERE WITH EITHER THE DEALERSHIP OR MITSUBISHI CORPORATION.

NHTSA ID

10005629

Incident

Jan 17, 2003

REAR WINDOW BROKE AND FELL OUT WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY.*AK JB

NHTSA ID

8017617

Incident

Aug 26, 2002

THE BOOT COVER FOR THE CONVERTIBLE TOP BLEW OFF TWO TIMES ONTO THE HIGHWAY BEHIND ME ON A RECENT TRIP TO HOUSTON, TX. AFTER PASSING A U-HAUL AND NOTICING THAT THE BOOT COVER WAS ABOUT TO BLOW OFF AGAIN, I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY, REMOVED THE BOOT COVER AND PLACED IT IN THE TRUNK. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT IF THE COVER HAD BLOWN OFF IN THE PATH OF A VEHICLE FOLLOWING ME. I DREAD TO THINK WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IF THE COVER HAD BLOWN OFF IN THE PATH OF THE U-HAUL I WAS PASSING.*AK

NHTSA ID

762365

Incident

May 10, 2002