1997 Mitsubishi ECLIPSE SPYDER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
20 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
98,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 20 complaints (15.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 20.0% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 5.0% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 5.0% |
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 | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission:Floor Shift Assembly | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 1 |
| Equipment | 1 |
Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Power Train: 2; Power Train:Manual Transmission:Floor Shift Assembly: 2; Air Bags: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control: 1; Equipment: 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 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 6 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 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2002: 2; 2004: 4; 2005: 7; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10007353 · 2002-09-24 (September 24, 2002)
THE THRUST WASHER IS WELDED TO THE CRANKSHAFT IN MY CAR. FOR WHATEVER REASON, THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE THRUST WASHERS THAT CAUSE THERE TO BE AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF PLAY IN THE CRANKSHAFT. THIS CAUSES WHAT HAD BEEN TERMED THE "CRANKSHAFT WALK". AMONG OTHER SYMPTOMS, COMMON AND WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR WAS THAT THE 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION STARTED TO LOCK UP ON ME WHERE I COULD NOT EVEN GET THE CAR IN GEAR. THE MOVEMENT IN THE CRANKSHAFT CAUSED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR TO GO OUT, AND WHEN IT DID, I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT …
Owner-reported narrative. 232,110 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007353 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065841 · 2004-04-09 (April 9, 2004)
1997 MITSIBISHI CONVERTIBLE. BRACKETS ON BOTH SIDES OF CONVERTIBLE TOP HAVE BENT PREVENTING TOP FROM OPENING COMPLETELY. IT HAPPENS ON ALL CONVETIBLES OF THIS TYPE AND HAS ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED BY MANUFACTURER, HOWEVER, THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 6 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065841 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10075365 · 2004-06-14 (June 14, 2004)
MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SUCK! I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY ENGINE SHUT OFF! LUCKLY, I WAS GOING DOWN HILL AND WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF TO THE LEFT, AFTER ALMOST GETTING HIT A COUPLE OF TIMES. MY MECHANIC (BROTHER) TOOK A LOOK AT IT AND SAID IT WAS THE CRANK SHAFT, SO I GOOGLED IT AND GUESS WHAT???? IM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM... TAKE A LOOK HTTP://WWW.ROADRACEENGINEERING.COM/WALKINGCRANKSHAFT.HTM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10075365 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10082902 · 2004-07-29 (July 29, 2004)
97 SPYDER CONVERTIBLE - I AM THE OWNER SINCE 08/03. REAR WINDOW WAS LEAKING A BIT AND LAST WEEK LITERALLY FELL OUT. HAD TO REPLACE TOP, WINDOW COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. CORNERS OF DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES ARE LEAKING SERIOUSLY DESPITE TOP REPLACEMENT. SEALS MAY HAVE TO BE REPLACED. COST SO FAR - $2001 PLUS RENTAL CAR. PASSENGER SEAT SLIDES AND IS DIFFICULT TO LOCK.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 102,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082902 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088718 · 2004-08-27 (August 27, 2004)
FRONT LEFT TIRE CONTINUOUSLY DEFLATING, LEADING TO RAPID DEFLATION BECAUSE OF A SEVEN INCH CUT ALONG THE SEAM OF THE TIRE. FORTUNATELY IT HAPPENED AT A VERY LOW SPEED AND I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD SAFELY. I HAD JUST LEFT THE HIGHWAY AND WAS DRIVING 70 MPH. REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 103,277 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088718 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10106450 · 2005-01-17 (January 17, 2005)
CONVERTIBLE LEAKING BY DRIVER AND PASSENGER AREA WHICH DRIPS ON POWER WINDOW /DOOR LOCK/WINDOW LOCK SWITCH. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10106450 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10107958 · 2005-01-26 (January 26, 2005)
I PURCHASED MY 97 ECLIPSE SYPDER CONVERTIBLE IN JUNE 04. AFTER 3 MONTHS THE CHECK ENGINE CAME ON. DIAGONOSED AS SMALL EVAP LEAK CODE 0442. TOOK TO DEALER. THE FUEL CUT OFF VALVE IS CRACKED AND THE VAPOR HOSE IS SEPARATED (HAS A LEAK) PARTS ARE ON ORDER AND TOTAL COST $475.00. HOW CAN A VALVE CRACK AND A VAPOR HOSE HAVE A LEAK? ARE THESE PARTS DEFECTIVE? PLEASE NOTE THAT I WAS TOLD THAT IF I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, THE CAR WOULD EXPLODE BECAUSE OF THESE 2 PROBLEMS. I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE AT DESERT CHRYSLER JEEP, HERE IN LAS VEGAS, NV, [pho…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10107958 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10110684 · 2005-02-17 (February 17, 2005)
ROOF LEAKED & WOULD NOT FULLY RETRACT DUE TO DEFORMATION OF STRUCTURAL ROOF MEMBERS (ROOF PILLARS). REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF 3 MAJOR ROOF MEMBERS PLUS INSTALLATION OF STRAPS (AS DEFINED IN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN). THIS WAS A STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF THE ROOF DESIGN KNOWN TO MITSUBISHI, BUT NO RECALL OR CONSUMER ALERT WAS COMMUNICATED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 47,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10110684 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V421001 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
Reported: 2000-12-18 (December 18, 2000)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗