Model year record

1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder recalls & problems

The 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder has 2 safety recalls and 16 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is structure (7 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints16filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Fuel system, gasolineJul 26, 2007

Delivery › Fuel pump

Recall 07E055000222 vehicles

Problem: CERTAIN AIRTEX FUEL PUMP MODULE ASSEMBLIES, P/N E7081H, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE WALL OF THE FLARED FITTING OF THE FUEL PUMP IS NOT THICK ENOUGH TO PREVENT THE MATING THREADED FITTINGS FROM BOTTOMING OUT BEFORE AN ADEQUATE SEAL IS ACHIEVED. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF FUEL AT THE CONNECTION OF THE VEHICLE FUEL LINE AND THE FUEL PUMP MODULE ASSEMBLY.
Risk: IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FUEL LEAK COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: AIRTEX WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AIRTEX AUTOMOTIVE AT 800-880-3056.

SuspensionDec 18, 2000

Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint

Recall 00V421001567,432 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, DIRT AND WATER CAN INTRUDE. ALSO, MMC HAS ADDED THE POTENTIAL OF LEAKING MOISTURE, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE BALL STUD TO CORRODE.
Risk: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. THIS CAMPAIGN SUPERCEDES MMC'S PREVIOUS SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN, SEE 99V-066.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT FOR WEAR. BALL JOINTS THAT EXHIBIT WEAR BEYOND THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY DESIGNED LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS. BALL JOINTS THAT ARE WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE CLEANED AND A SPECIAL SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED TO PREVENT INTRUSION OF MOISTURE.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Typical mileage*
StructureBody › Roof and pillars; Frame and members	7	45,000 mi
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Torque converter	3	—
Latches/locks/linkagesDoors › Latch	3	—
Equipment	2	—
Unknown or other	2	—
Steering	1	—
VisibilitySun/moon roof assembly	1	—
SuspensionFront › Control arm › Lower ball joint	1	—
Engine and engine cooling	1	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Power train
FLEX PLATE BROKE
Oct 19, 2018 · 58,000 miles
Unknown or other
THE SPYDER GS HAS ALWAYS LEAKED FROM THE SOFT TOP SEALS SPECIALLY FROM THE TOP RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE. IT IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE IN THE 2ND GENERATION SPYDER GS WHICH IM SUPRISED IT HAS NEVER BEEN A RECALL FOR THE WEATHER STRIPPING. DEALERSHIP CHARGES 300 FOR THE WEATHERSTRIPPING AND THEY STILL LEAK AFTER A COUPLE YEARS. I DONT HAVE PICTURES BUT AFTER RAIN, THE WHOLD CAR IS WET AND AS I DRIVE AND TAKE MY FIRST TURN, THE VEHICLE STARTS TO LEAK FROM THE CORNER AND GETS CENTER CONSOLE AND RADIO WET. ALL OVER THE ECLIPSE FORUMS YOU WILL SEE THE ISSUE WITHOUT A RECALL. MITSUBISHI HAS NOT YET GIVEN ADVICE ON HOW GO FIX THIS. CAR CANT BE DRIVEN IN THE RAIN WITHOUT HAVING TO LEAK.
May 1, 2018 · 1 miles
Structure › Frame and members
BOTH MY HANDLES BROKE OFF, THE DRIVERS SIDE ARM REST,( WHERE THE BUTTONS FOR THE WINDOWS ARE), FELL OFF AND INTO THE CAVITY BELOW. THE CONVERTIBLE TOP LEAKS BADLY ALONG THE POINT WHERE THE TOP MEETS THE CAR WINDSHIELD,WINDOWS,AND BACK WINDOW. VERY UPSET THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM YET NO ONE WANTS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE...MITSUBISHI SHOULD PAY FOR REPAIRS... *TR
Jun 1, 2005
Structure › Frame and members
CONVERTIBLE ROOF DOES NOT FOLD DOWN DUE TO BENT FRAME MEMBERS ON EACH SIDE - CALLED "BENT TOP STACK CONTROL LINKS". THIS PREVENTS THE TOP FRONT BOW FROM CLOSING TIGHTLY AND ALLOWS WATER TO ENTER THE CAB CAUSING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE FROM MOLD AND MILDEW - HEALTH HAZARDS. THE HEAD LINER PULLS 1-1/2" FROM THE FRONT BOW AND SAGS SIGNIFICANTLY DUE TO THE SLACK DISTORTING THE VIEW FORWARD AND LIMITS THE VIEW IN THE MIRROR - A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE. THE REPAIR SHOULD BE A FACTORY ISSUE AND NOT COST ME MORE THAN $500 FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR. IF THIS BAR BREAKS IT WILL FURTHER DAMAGE THE RAG TOP AND QUADRUPLE THE REPAIR COST. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH MANY MITZU ECCLIPSE SPYDERS…
May 1, 2002 · 45,000 miles
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
I PURCHASED MY CAR NEW IN FEBRUARY 1998. AFTER 9 YEARS I ONLY HAVE 43,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I LIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SO THERE IS NO EXTREME TEMPERATURE CHANGES WHICH MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THE DOOR HANDLE TO BE COMPROMISED, NOR ABUSE AS I SEE OTHERS ARE BEING TOLD BY SERVICE SHOPS. I DID NOT EXPECT TO OPEN MY DRIVERS SIDE CAR DOOR LAST WEEK AND HAVE IT COME OFF IN MY HAND. THE REASON I BOUGHT THIS CAR WAS THAT A FRIEND HAD JUST BOUGHT ONE FOR HIMSELF THE MONTH BEFORE I DID. I WAS VISITING HIM YESTERDAY AND ASKED HIM TO GUESS WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR AND HE BEAT ME TO IT. HIS DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE HAD COME OFF IN HIS HAND 2 WEEKS AGO. I WAS FIRST CHECKING FOR A POSSIBLE RECALL BEFORE…
Feb 27, 2007
Engine and engine cooling
IN THE SUMMER OF 2003 MY CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER STARTED LEAKING SO IREPLACED IT. THEN IN MAY OF 2004 MY CLUTCH FAILED SO I HAD IT REPLACED WITH A STOCK CLUTCH. TWO MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE DEVELOPED SIGNS OF "CRANKWALK", WHICH HAPPENS TO ALOT OF 95-99 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSES. I HAD IT FORMALLY DIAGNOSED WITH CRANKWALK AND NOW I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE MY CAR. I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE MY MOTOR WITH A NEW ONE THAT WILL COST $3000 AND IT MIGHT END AT THE SAME FATE. I HAVE DONE ALOT OF RESEARCH AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS WHO HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN BUT, MITSUBISHI WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL FOR THEIR PRODUCT. *AK
Jul 6, 2004 · 110,000 miles
Structure › Body › Roof and pillars
THE CONVERTIBLE TOP MOTORS HAVE GONE OUT AGAIN. I HAVE HAD THE MOTORS SERVICED SEVERAL TIME OVER 4 TIMES IN TWO YEARS. APPARNETLY THE GEAR PINS BREAK WITHIN THE MOTORS AND CAUSE THEM TO FAIL. I CANNOT OPEN NOR CLOSE MY CONVERTIBLE TOP.*AK
Jul 15, 2004 · 26,000 miles
Structure › Body › Roof and pillars
CONVERTIBLE TOP DOES NOT GO DOWN ALL THE WAY. DESIGN FLAW CAUSES THE TOP STACK CONTROL LINKS TO BEND UPON OPENING AND CLOSING THE TOP. THE REPLACEMENT PARTS ALONG WITH LABOR IS RIDICULOUSLY HIGH OVER $650. MITSUBISHI WHO IS FULLY AWARE OF THIS DESIGN FLAW, REFUSES TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY.*AK
Apr 10, 2004 · 65,200 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.