Mitsubishi SPYDER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
28 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
33,250 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 to 2003 model years. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 28 complaints (17.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 3 | 10.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 7.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 7.1% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 3.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars | 5 |
| Wheels:Rim | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 2 |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 2 |
| Wheels | 2 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 |
Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars: 5; Wheels:Rim: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Power Train:Clutch Assembly: 2; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 2; Wheels: 2; Air Bags:Side/Window: 1; Electrical System:Wiring: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 16 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 10 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2008 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2001: 3; 2002: 5; 2003: 2; 2004: 10; 2005: 2; 2006: 4; 2008: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 883839 · 2001-03-22 (March 22, 2001)
VEHICLE WILL STALL AND CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. WINDOW LOCKS SHUT DOWN, AND WIRING WAS REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP. REPLACEMRNT WAS COSTLY. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT ELECTRICAL HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, CONVERTIBLE TOPS LEAKED. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 883839 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10159634 · 2006-06-12 (June 12, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED EIGHT TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WHILE IDLING. THE VEHICLE STARTED BACK EACH TIME AFTER 10-15 MINUTES. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ONCE AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 00V299001, REGARDING THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: ENGINE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
Owner-reported narrative. 102,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10159634 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10176784 · 2006-12-21 (December 21, 2006)
MITSUBISHI 2001 ECLIPSE GT WITH SPORTRONIC SHIFTER WITH LESS THAN 35K THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE TRAVELING ALONG A BUSY 5 LANE CA HWY ON 12/18 MONDAY AT AROUND 5:15 PM (PEAK COMMUTE TIME). *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 34,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10176784 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079650 · 2004-06-22 (June 22, 2004)
WHILE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE THE CLUTCH FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED AFTER HAVING THREE CLUTCHES REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10079650 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053735 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)
CONSUMER COULD NOT ROLL THE ELECTRICAL WINDOWS UP OR DOWN. CONSUMER INSISTED THAT THE WINDOWS WERE A DESIGN FLAW. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT A WORN PART IN THE REMOTE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK *MR
Owner-reported narrative. 8,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053735 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10119016 · 2005-04-18 (April 18, 2005)
CONSUMER LETTER COMPLAINT REGARDING THE WARRANTY ON 2003 MITSUBISHI SPYDER. VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, HEADLIGHT EQUIPMENT, SPEAKERS, TURN SIGNALS AND A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE.*MR CONSUMER FEELS THAT THEY WERE TREATED UNFAIR WITH THIS DEAL AND WANT THEIR MONEY BACK FOR THIS VEHICLE, DUE TO NUMBER OF PROBLEM THEY HAVE HAD. *BF *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10119016 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 2 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 |
1996: 2; 1998: 1; 2001: 0; 2002: 0; 2003: 0