Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 1995 drew the fewest (2) and the 2001 the most (81).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 Among the fewest complaints |
2 | 0 | Engine and engine cooling | — | — |
| 2005 Among the fewest complaints |
2 | 2 | Child seat | — | 20–23 |
| 2000 Among the fewest complaints |
3 | 1 | Air bags | — | — |
| 1996 | 5 | 0 | Air bags | — | — |
| 2004 | 6 | 4 | Wheels | — | 20–23 |
| 2009 | 7 | 1 | Service brakes | — | 19–22 |
| 1999 | 11 | 1 | Power train | — | — |
| 1998 | 16 | 1 | Structure | — | — |
| 2008 | 16 | 1 | Service brakes | — | 19–22 |
| 1997 | 20 | 1 | Power train | — | — |
| 2007 | 22 | 4 | Service brakes | — | 18–22 |
| 2002 Among the most complaints |
24 | 2 | Wheels | — | 20–22 |
| 2003 Among the most complaints |
27 | 3 | Structure | — | 20–23 |
| 2001 Among the most complaints |
81 | 8 | Wheels | — | 19–23 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder: 81 complaints
Most-reported: Wheels 37 (46%); Power train 11 (14%); Structure 9 (11%).
Reports mention 6 crashes, 2 fires, 4 injuries, 1 death. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 42,300 miles. 8 recall campaigns listed.
2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder: 27 complaints
Most-reported: Structure 7 (26%); Air bags 4 (15%); Tires 4 (15%).
Reports mention 5 crashes, 3 fires, 4 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 100,000 miles. 3 recall campaigns listed.
2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder: 24 complaints
Most-reported: Wheels 8 (33%); Structure 4 (17%); Air bags 3 (13%).
Reports mention 5 crashes, 1 fire, 4 injuries, 1 death. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 38,000 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
The Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder years with the fewest complaints
1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder: 2 complaints
Most-reported: Engine and engine cooling 1 (50%); Equipment 1 (50%).
0 recall campaigns listed.
2005 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder: 2 complaints
Most-reported: Child seat 1 (50%); Electrical system 1 (50%); Fuel system 1 (50%).
Reports mention 1 fire. 2 recall campaigns listed.
2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder: 3 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 1 (33%); Visibility 1 (33%).
Reports mention 1 crash. 1 recall campaign listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2008 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2007 | 22 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 52,000 |
| 2005 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2004 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2003 | 27 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 100,000 |
| 2002 | 24 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 38,000 |
| 2001 | 81 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 42,300 |
| 2000 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1999 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1998 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 101,000 |
| 1996 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder recalls
- MITSUBISHI AMERICA/LOWER BALL JOINT BOOT (1997–1999 model years; 567,432 vehicles across all models; filed Dec 2000; 00V421001)
- Sun Visor May Detach During Air Bag Deployment (2001–2005 model years; 443,442 vehicles across all models; filed Jun 2015; 15V338000)
- MITSUBISHI AMERICA/TRANSMISSION HOSE (2001 model year; 277,227 vehicles across all models; filed Jan 2001; 01V011001)
- MITSUBISHI AMERICA/STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY (2001 model year; 228,294 vehicles across all models; filed Aug 2000; 00V225001)
- MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN/FMVSS 208/AIR BAG LABEL (2000–2005 model years; 100,432 vehicles across all models; filed Sep 2004; 04V428000)
All 15 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder recall campaigns · Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder years FAQ
Which Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 1995 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (2). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2001, 2003 and 2002 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the wheels. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the wheels (52 of 242 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder have?
NHTSA lists 15 recall campaigns covering the Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
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.