1999 Mitsubishi ECLIPSE SPYDER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
11 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
65,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 11 complaints (36.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 36.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 9.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 1 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 1 |
| Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly | 1 |
| Wheels | 1 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Power Train:Clutch Assembly: 1; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint: 1; Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly: 1; Wheels: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 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: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
2001: 2; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10049713 · 2003-12-14 (December 14, 2003)
MAIN BEARING FAILURE @ 65,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REPLACE, OR REPAIR. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. I AM ON MY 2ND MOTOR WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049713 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10102957 · 2004-12-14 (December 14, 2004)
CONVERTIBLE TOP LINKS BENT, REAR WINDOW STITCHING FAILURE. TOP WILL NOT GO DOWN DUE TO PREVIOUS. JUST HAPPENED OVERNIGHT. ONE DAY IT WASN'T THERE, THE NEXT THE LINKS WERE BENT. DEALER STATES THIS IS JUST NORMAL WEAR & TEAR AND THE LINKS BENT ARE THE MOST COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TOP. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10102957 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10110668 · 2005-02-17 (February 17, 2005)
I WENT OUT TO START MY 1999 ECLIPSE SPYDER AND THE DRIVE BELT CAME OFF. TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALER WAS INFORMED THAT THE HARMONIC BALANCER HAD BROKEN OFF. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 86,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10110668 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10127435 · 2005-07-05 (July 5, 2005)
NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS ON 1999 ECLIPSE GS SPYDER HAVE LEAD TO THE BENDING OF RIMS ON 2 OUR OF 4 WHEELS. EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AND UNABLE TO PASS PA STATE INSPECTION. WHEELS WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN "LEGAL" REGISTRATION IN PA STATE.
Owner-reported narrative. 51,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10127435 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10152851 · 2006-03-16 (March 16, 2006)
LOWER BALL JOINTS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10152851 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10208063 · 2007-11-06 (November 6, 2007)
I PURCHASED A USED 1999 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER IN AUG 2006. THE FIRST TIME I DROVE IT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK TO A SHOP, THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG & RESET THE BUTTON. WHEN I RETURNED HOME THE SES LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN & I TOOK TO TRANSMISSION SHOP TO SEE WHY?THEY FOUND NOTHING....I THEN DROVE IT & THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY BURNED UP & STRANDED ME @ NIGHT, ALONE, ON A WEEKEND IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE..ON MONDAY I CALLED THE ORIG TRANS. SHOP & THEY CAME & TOWED IT BACK..REBUILT IT WHICH COST ME CLOSE TO $1,800..I DROVE A…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10208063 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10231839 · 2008-06-20 (June 20, 2008)
I PURCHASED A 1999 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER CONVERTIBLE 6-15-06. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR 3 MONTHS THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS OUT OF TOWN SO TOOK TO NEAREST CAR REPAIR STATION. THEY RESET LIGHT & RCVD CODE P1750. WHEN I RTND HOME I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE & TO RESET THE CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT. AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS I WAS REFERRED TO AN AUTHORIZED TRANSMISSION SHOP WHERE THEY REBUILT THE TRANNY. I DROVE 200 MILES AND THE TRANNY BURNED UP. I WAS STRANDED AT NIGHT ON HWY 5...THE CAR WAS TOWED TO NEAREST AUTHORIZED TRANSMISSION STA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10231839 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10263972 · 2009-04-02 (April 2, 2009)
TRANSMISSION STICKING BETWEEN 40-60 MILES PER HOUR AT 3000 RPMS AND HAS A PROBLEM SHIFTING DOWN CAUSING THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT TO COME ON. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS ON THE SAME 2 ROADS IN THE SAME EXACT SPOT. I HAD THE PULSE GENERATORS IN THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND ONE WEEK LATER IT WAS DOING IT AGAIN. I AM TRYING TO DETERMINE IF IT IS AIR INTAKE RELATED SINCE IT HAPPENS ONLY AT THOSE 2 SPOTS ON THE ROAD. TRANSMISSION WAS DIAGNOSED OK (ON COMPUTER UNHOOKED TO THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE CAR) I AM TAKING IT BACK IN TODAY TO HAVE …
Owner-reported narrative. 107,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10263972 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 ↗