Recalls (1)
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗MITSUBISHI AMERICA/LOWER BALL JOINT BOOT
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (20)
20 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The power train is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 20 |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 6 | 30% |
| Structure | 5 | 25% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 4 | 20% |
| Tires | 2 | 10% |
| Air bags | 1 | 5% |
| Equipment | 1 | 5% |
| Fuel system | 1 | 5% |
| Visibility | 1 | 5% |
| Wheels | 1 | 5% |
How 1997 compares with other Eclipse Spyder years
Best and worst Eclipse Spyder years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 2 | 0 |
| 1996 | 5 | 0 |
| 1997 | 20 | 1 |
| 1998 | 16 | 1 |
| 1999 | 11 | 1 |
| 2000 | 3 | 1 |
| 2001 | 81 | 8 |
| 2002 | 24 | 2 |
| 2003 | 27 | 3 |
| 2004 | 6 | 4 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Looking at a 1997 Eclipse Spyder for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder FAQ
How many recalls does the 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 00V421001 (suspension). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder problems?
Owners filed 20 complaints with NHTSA. Power train (6), Structure (5), Engine and engine cooling (4) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
How does the 1997 Eclipse Spyder compare with other years?
Among the 1995–2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder model years at least five years old, the 1995 drew the fewest complaints (2) and the 2001 the most (81). The 1997 drew 20. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.