2004 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 2004 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
- Other / unspecified233.3%
- Body & structure116.7%
- Fuel system116.7%
- Seat belts116.7%
- Steering116.7%
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
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEEL CAME OFF WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING 17 INCH ALLOY WHEEL RIMS ON 2-8-08 AT 2:30 PM I WAS DRIVING THE LANE NEXT TO THE FAST LANE ON THE 210 FREEWAY IN LA CRESCENTA CALIFORNIA AT 60MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING. I TRIED TO CONTROL THE CAR SLOWLY AND ALMOST HAD IT UNDER CONTROL WHEN I HEARD A NOISE. THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE EVEN MORE AND THE ENGINE ACCELERATED. THERE WAS NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR AT ALL, IT SPUN 3 LANES TO THE RIGHT VERY FAST, HIT THE BERM AND ENDED ON ITS SIDE ON THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE WEATHER WAS WARM SUNNY AND CLEAR AND VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC AND THERE WERE NO OBSTACLES ON THE ROAD THE WHOLE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL CAME OFF DURING THE ACCIDENT WITH THE BRAKES ATTACHED TO IT. I COMPLAINED TO MITSUBISHI BUT ALL THEY SAID IT IS NOT A MECHANICAL FAULT. I STILL SAY IT WAS MITSUBISHI'S FAULT A WHEEL SHOULD JUST NOT CAME OFF I HAVE 17" ALLOY WHEEL RIMS. THANK GOD I WALKED OUT OF THIS ALIVE WITH JUST A SMALL SCRATCH, PLEASE CHECK YOUR WHEELS AND BRAKE SHOES IF YOU OWN A 2004 MITSUBISHI SPYDER. MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY TOTALED, I WOULD NOT LIKE TO HAVE THIS HAPPENED TO SOMEONE ELSE WHO MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY. *TR
OWNER OF A 2004 ECLIPSE. FIRST PROBLEM WAS END OF JUNE 2005 BUBBLE ON FRONT RIGHT TIRE, WHEN TAKEN TO GET REPLACED FOUND OUT THAT RIM WAS CRACKED ON THE INSIDE. BOUGHT NEW TIRE AND RIM AND HAD REPLACED! SECOND TIME END OF SEPTEMBER 2005, TOOK CAR INTO GET OIL CHANGED TOLD THEM ABOUT SHAKING OF THE CAR. FOUND OUT THAT BACK RIGHT RIM WAS CRACKED AND MISSING A CHUNK OF THE RIM. NEW RIM WAS PURCHASED AND PUT ON. OCTOBER 1, 2005 DRIVING HOME, CAR WAS PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND MY CAR WAS FLIPPED ON TO ITS HOOD. MOST LIKELY CAR IS TOTALED, STILL WAITING ON ADJUSTER. REPORT STILL BEING PROCESSED WITH MITSUBISHI!!! *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
PAINT IS FADING, SPOTS ARE APPEARING. CAR IS GARAGE KEPT AND POLISHED EVERY 6 MONTHS BY PROFESSIONAL SERVICE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE NEEDLE OF THE FUEL GAUGE BECAME STUCK, AND THE FUEL WARNING LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. AFTER THE CONTACT FILLED THE FUEL TANK, THE INDICATOR NEEDLE DID NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
IN OUR 2004 ENDEAVOR SUV THE BACK SEATBELTS COME UNDONE WITHOUT ANYONE PUSHING THE RED RELEASE BUTTONS. I HAVE 2 CHILDREN CAR SEATS IN THE BACK AND THIS HAS HAPPENED ON AT LEAST 8 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHERE THE CAR SEAT IS NOT BUCKLED IN ANYMORE BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT CAME LOOSE. WE TOOK IT IN ON 9-21-07 TO DEALER BUT THEY CLAIM THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, BUT I HAVE TO QUESTION THIS BECAUSE THEY ONLY TOOK ABOUT 10 MINUTES TO LOOK AT IT AND THEN SAID IT WAS FINE AND THIS KEEPS HAPPENING AND IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. I DON'T WANT TO WAIT UNTIL SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPENS I WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHEN YOU LOSE POWER TO THE ALTERNATOR. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY HAD TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON WHILE DRIVING
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 .