RoadVitals

2003 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.
27
Latest Sep 18, 2017
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.
3
Latest Jun 2, 2015
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.
0
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.
8
4 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 27 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder, most frequently naming the body & structure, tires & wheels and airbags categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 77 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

  • Body & structure725.0%
  • Tires & wheels414.3%
  • Airbags414.3%
  • Visibility310.7%
  • Electrical27.1%
  • Engine27.1%
  • Fuel system27.1%
  • Other / unspecified13.6%

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

3 campaigns 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
15V338000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Jun 2, 2015
443,442 units potentially affected
The defect: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2000-2005 Eclipse vehicles manufactured April 5, 1999, to December 17, 2004, 2001-2005 Eclipse Spyder vehicles manufactured January 19, 2000, to March 18, 2005, 2001-2005 Chrysler Sebring vehicles manufactured April 17, 2000, to February 21, 2005, and 2001-2005 Dodge Stratus vehicles manufactured April 17, 2000, to February 22, 2005. In the affected vehicles, the passenger side sun visor may be folded down in such a position that, if the passenger frontal air bag deploys, the passenger side sun visor may detach.
The risk: If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
The remedy: MMNA will notify their owners, and Chrysler will notify the Chrysler and Dodge owners. Dealers will install a tether strap to retain the passenger sun visor, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-15-005. Chrysler and Dodge owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R30.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.Manufacturer number SR-15-005 (FCA R30)View on NHTSA.gov
04V428000

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Sep 1, 2004
100,432 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH REMOVABLE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS AFFIXED TO THE DASH AND TO THE SUNVISOR DO NOT MEET THE SIZE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
The risk: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
The remedy: MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL CURRENT 2000-2004 NATIVA OWNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. THE NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIVA OWNERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL OR MAY 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.
MITSUBISHI CARIBBEANView on NHTSA.gov
03V442000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Nov 4, 2003
17,087 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL RETURN LINE HOSE FITTING ON THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP MAY BE RESTRICTED, CAUSING EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE TO BUILD UP IN THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE MAY RESULT IN A LEAK IN THE FUEL RETURN HOSE.
The risk: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP PRESSURE. THOSE VEHICLES EXHIBITING HIGHER THAN NORMAL FUEL PUMP PRESSURE WILL RECEIVE FUEL PUMP MODIFICATIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN DECEMBER 3, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037 OR MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-800-981-0452.
MITSUBISHI MOTORS NORTH AMERICA, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 27
AirbagsBody & structurePowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 18, 2017
Crash reportedFire reported1 injury reported

TAKATA AIRBAG: MY INCIDENT HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED. I AM ADDING THE POLICE REPORT. I AM STILL REQUIRING SURGERY AND UNABLE TO USE MY LEFT ARM 10 MONTHS LATER.

NHTSA ID
11024118
Incident
Oct 29, 2016
Mileage
135,000 mi
AirbagsVisibility
Filed Jun 27, 2017
Crash reported1 injury reported

TAKATA RECALL: MY VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 15V338000.ON OCTOBER 29, 2016, I WAS DRIVING TOWARDS MY HOME. AFTER BEING IN THE STOPPED POSITION FOR THE DURATION OF THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL AT THE INTERSECTION OF FM 518 AND FM 1128 IN PEARLAND, TEXAS, THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I PROCEEDED DOWN 1128 TOWARD MY HOME. AFTER PROCEEDING ABOUT1 BLOCK, MY PASSENGER AIRBAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO PASSENGER IN MY VEHICLE AND NOTHING ON THE PASSENGER SEAT, EITHER.THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD. I HAD THE WINDOWS OPEN AND THE TOP DOWN. THE AIRBAG WAS BLOWING IN FRONT OF MY FACE, BLOCKING MY VISION. THE PASSENGER VISOR FLEW OFF, HITTING MY LEFT ARM, AS I WAS TRYING TO KEEP THE AIRBAG OUT OF MY FACE TO GET SAFELY OFF THE ROAD.I PULLED OVER TO THE RIGHT, INTO A PARKING LOT. MY VEHICLE STOPPED ON THE EDGE OF A DITCH AT THE SIDE OF THE PARKING LOT, DUE TO MY VISION BEING BLOCKED. MY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG WENT OFF WHEN I HIT THE CULVERT OF THE DITCH. FIRE CAME OUT OF MY STEERING WHEEL AND I SMELLED CHEMICALS. THE FIRE PROMPTLY WENT OUT. MY LEFT ARM WAS ON THE ARMREST OF THE DOOR WITH BOTH FOREARM BONES VISIBLY BROKEN. THE ARM WAS SWOLLEN AND DEFORMED. I ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE 26 DAYS. I WAS TAKEN TO THE NEAREST TRAUMA UNIT.THE RADIA AND ULNA IN MY FOREARM HAVE BEEN PUT BACK TOGETHER WITH RODS AND SCREWS. MY VEHICLE HAS MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END, RADIATOR, TRANSMISSION, STEERING, AXLE, ETC. 9 MONTHS LATER MY ARMIS NOT HEALED AND I AM STILL WITHOUT A VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
11001575
Incident
Oct 29, 2016
Mileage
136,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 9, 2017
Crash reportedFire reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, THE VISOR ON THE VEHICLE DETACHED. THE VEHICLE'S TOP WAS DOWN AT THE TIME AND CAUSED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG TO BLOW IN THE WIND, WHICH HINDERED THE CONTACT'S VIEW OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER BUT, DUE TO THE DISTRACTION OF THE AIR BAG BLOWING, THE CONTACT STRUCK A CULVERT, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, IT RELEASED A SMALL SPARK AND THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A AAA TRANSMISSION APPROVED SHOP WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED SEVERAL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT BROKE SEVERAL BONES IN HER LEFT HAND THROUGH THE FOREARM. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. UPDATED 10/26/17*LJ *JS

NHTSA ID
10994220
Incident
Oct 10, 2016
Mileage
135,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedTires & wheels
Filed Mar 22, 2016
Crash reported

ON NOVEMBER 28, 2015 MY PASSENGER FRONT TIRE EXPLOSIVELY FAILED COMING OUT OF A LEFT TURN AT ABOUT 25 MPH CAUSING MY CAR TO DROP AND SWERVE, CRASHING INTO A TALL STREET CURB AND STORM SEWER DRAIN CAUSING $2000 DAMAGE TO MY CAR. THE OUTER SIDEWALL SEPARATED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY FROM THE TREAD. THIS PREMIUM TIRE WAS ONLY SEVEN MONTHS OLD WITH MINIMAL WEAR. I CHECK MY TIRE PRESSURE AND FLUIDS EVERY TIME I BUY GAS, OVERHAULED THE SUSPENSION THAT SUMMER AND DIDN'T BELIEVE IT WAS MY FAULT. I TOOK THE TIRE STILL ON THE DAMAGED WHEEL TO A TIRE FAILURE EXPERT WHO RULED OUT PRE-EXISTING DAMAGE, UNUSUAL WEAR OR SIGNS OF DRIVING WITH LOW OR HIGH TIRE PRESSURE; HE STATED THERE WAS A ZIPPER FAILURE RESULTING FROM A BAD TIRE. THIS WAS THE SECOND GOODYEAR ASSURANCE TRIPLETRED TO FAIL ON MY CAR. I CONTACTED GOODYEAR AND FILED A CLAIM WITH THEIR PROPERTY CLAIMS TEAM. I HAD REPLACED THE WHEEL AND TIRE AND GOT TWO CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATES. THEY REQUIRED THE TIRE TO BE TAKEN OFF THE WHEEL AND SHIPPED TO THEM FOR INSPECTION. WITHOUT EXPLANATION, IT SAT DELAYED AT THE GOODYEAR TIRE AND SERVICE CENTER FOR WEEKS. THE CLAIM, #492513, WAS QUICKLY DENIED; I RECEIVED A LETTER WHICH I FOLLOWED UP WITH A PHONE CALL TO CLARIFY. GOODRICH CLAIM'S TEAM STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THE TIRE BLEW OUT SO THEY REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF IT BEING MY FAULT BUT THEY ALSO DIDN'T FIND AN OBVIOUS DEFECT THAT WOULD CAUSE THE BLOWOUT SO THEY CONVENIENTLY DENIED TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR TIRE OR THE DAMAGE FROM THE CRASH THAT RESULTED FROM IT'S FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER OF A CRITICAL COMPONENT LIKE A TIRE CAN'T JUST REFUSE TO BE RESPONSIBLE WHEN IT FAILS AND THEY DON'T TO KNOW WHY. I WAS A LIFETIME LOYAL GOODYEAR CUSTOMER UNTIL THIS. I HAVE THE TIRE AND WHEEL AND PHOTOS AND WON'T GIVE UP UNTIL THEY PAY FOR THE DAMAGES.

NHTSA ID
10851094
Incident
Nov 28, 2015
Mileage
106,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Mar 22, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR ASSURANCE TRIPLETRED TIRES, SIZE P215/55R16. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO DRIVE OVER A CURB. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE TIRE AND FOUND THAT THE TIRE TREAD WAS SEPARATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE TIRE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ID
10851044
Incident
Nov 28, 2015
Mileage
160,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 13, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER. WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID
10748383
Incident
Aug 8, 2015
Mileage
120,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 9, 2013

I BOUGHT AN USED 2003 ECLIPSE AND AT THE TIME I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW BADLY CRACKED THE DASHBOARD WAS. TO MY SURPRISE, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND AN USED DASHBOARD IN GOOD CONDITION...EVERY SINGLE 2003 ECLIPSE I'VE FOUND AND SEEN HAS THE SAME ISSUE AND AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE ONLY SOLUTION MITSUBISHI OFFERS IS TO REPLACE IT WITH A BRAND NEW (YET SAME POOR QUALITY) PART. HOW CAN WE (ECLIPSE OWNERS) GET A FULL OR PARTIAL CREDIT FROM MITSUBISHI, EVEN IF THE TEMPORARY SOLUTION IS TO INSTALL A SIMILAR PART? *TR

NHTSA ID
10523966
Incident
Jun 24, 2013
Mileage
126,300 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 15, 2013
1 injury reported

DRIVERS AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE. AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT CAUSED BRUISING AND LACERATIONS TO NECK AND CHEST. *TR

NHTSA ID
10508327
Incident
Apr 15, 2013
Mileage
160,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

DEALER LETTER

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has launched the 3rd quarterly technician quiz for 2023.

TSB-23-00-001

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This Technical Service Bulletin reviews the regulations that require a label showing the reduction in load carrying capacity be affixed to vehicles when the total net weight of accessories is more than 1.5 percent of the vehicle's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or 100 lbs.

TSB-23-00-004

STRUCTURE

This Technical Service Bulletin provides instructions and material safety data sheets for removal of rap-film adhesive residue.

DEALER LETTER

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has launched the 2nd quarterly technician quiz for 2023.

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.

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—
2003Viewing273054.4
2002242155.9
2001818259.9
2000312—
1999112038.6
1998162039.5
1997202038.8
1996511—
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.