2001 Mitsubishi ECLIPSE SPYDER: complaints, problems and recalls

2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER BENT RIMS AND BLEW TIRES. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005111 at NHTSA ↗

2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER GT: PASSENGER SIDE FRONT RIM BENT OUT OF SHAPE TO THE DEGREE THAT THE TIRE, WHICH MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP INSPECTED AND FOUND NO PUNCTURE AND NO INDICATION OF HAVING BEEN RUN WHILE FLAT--LOST ITS AIR SEAL AND WENT FLAT. UPON DEALER INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IMPACT DAMAGE FROM A SUSPECTED POTHOLE CAUSED THE RIM DAMAGE. THERE IS A TOTAL OF THREE DENTS FROM WHAT MITSUBISHI HAS DETERMINED ARE SEPARATE IMPACT INCIDENTS FROM "POTHOLES". NO DAMAGE ON OTHER THREE RIMS, ALL OF WHICH HAVE 18000 MILES OF DRIVING RO…

Owner-reported narrative. 18,780 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007632 at NHTSA ↗

THE ALUMINUM WHEELS ON THE 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER DENT ALMOST EVERYTIME A MINOR POTHOLE OR RAILROAD TRACKS ARE RIDDEN OVER. I HAVE HAD TO REMOLD THE RIMS 5 TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR LESS THAN TWO YEARS AGO. THESE RIMS SHOULD BE RECALLED FROM MITSUBISHI. FROM ALL THE REMOLDING OF THE RIMS, NOW I HAVE TIRE PRESSURE PROBLEMS. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 24,816 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010182 at NHTSA ↗

TIRES ARE LOSING AIR, OR I AM GETTING FLATS DUE TO THE FACT THAT RIMS ARE DEFECTIVE, THEY ARE BENT OUT OF SHAPE VERY EASILY.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010216 at NHTSA ↗

HIT A POTHOLE ON RT 80 IN PENN. RIM AND TIRE HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 31,196 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010326 at NHTSA ↗

WENT OVER A RAILROAD CROSSING IN RED BANK NJ. RIM AND TIRE HAD TO BE REPLACED.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 31,856 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010327 at NHTSA ↗

FLAT TIRE, MANHATTAN NY 49TH STREET. SLIGHT RIM DAMAGED, RIM BANGED OUT.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 33,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010328 at NHTSA ↗

THE SHIFTING KNOB ON THE MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER LOOSENS OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME CAUSING THE SHIFTING KNOB TO COME FREE OF THE SHIFTER. LEAVING THE DRIVER WITHOUT THE CAPABILITY OR SHIFTING CONTROL OF THE METAL SHAFT. THE DRIVER MUST THEN TRY AND SLOW TO A STOP AND RE-INSTALL THE SHIFTING KNOB. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE DEALER INSTALLING NEW SCREWS, WHICH WORK FREE WITHIN A WEEK OR SO. THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO STOP THE PROBLEM FROM RECURRING.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010464 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-08-10 (August 10, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A NUT IN THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY WAS NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED, RESULTING IN SYMPTOMS RANGING FROM STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION TO STIFF STEERING, AND IN THE WORST CASE, NO ABILITY TO TURN LEFT.

Consequence: A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES AND REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY IF A LOOSE NUT CONNECTION IS FOUND.

Reported: 2000-10-02 (October 2, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HARNESS FOR THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR COULD COME IN CONTACT WITH A NEW PROTECTIVE SHIELD CAUSING A GROUNDED CIRCUIT.

Consequence: PROLONGED WIRING HARNESS CONTACT WITH THE HEAT SHIELD WILL CAUSE THE WIRING INSULATION TO WEAR AND EVENTUALLY TO GROUND OUT. THIS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO DIE-OUT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL RE-ROUTE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR HARNESS.

Reported: 2000-10-27 (October 27, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE OUTER LAYER ONLY OF THIS 3-LAYER FUEL RETURN HOSE DOES NOT CONTAIN THE DESIRED OZONE PROTECTION DUE TO A PROCESSING ERROR.

Consequence: THIS HOSE IS CONSIDERED TO BE INADEQUATE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL RETURN HOSE.

Reported: 2001-01-08 (January 8, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A NUMBER OF INCORRECT DRIVER SIDE SEAT MOUNTING BOLTS WERE INSTALLED INTO VEHICLES.

Consequence: THE REAR ANCHOR BOLTS SECURING THE DRIVER'S SEAT MAY NOT PROPERLY SECURE THE SEAT AND COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF DRIVER INJURY IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEAT MOUNTING BOLTS AND THEN REPLACE THE BOLTS IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 15, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037.

Reported: 2001-01-16 (January 16, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. A HOSE WAS MIS-MANUFACTURED AND COULD WEAKEN OVER TIME, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID.

Consequence: FLUID LEAKAGE FROM THE COOLER HOSES CAN CAUSE TRANSAXLE DRIVEABILITY PROBLEMS AND SMOKE IF THE OIL CONTACTS THE FRONT EXHAUST PIPE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HOSE ASSEMBLY FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER. OWNER NOTIFICATION MAILING WILL BE PHASED OVER A FIVE-MONTH PERIOD STARTING MARCH 26, THROUGH JULY 23, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037.

Reported: 2001-03-08 (March 8, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A BULGE IN THE FUEL TANK CAUSED BY THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS RESULTED IN THINNING OF THE MATERIAL DURING A WELDING OPERATION, INCREASING THE RISK OF FUEL LEAKAGE.

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 26, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037.

Reported: 2004-09-01 (September 1, 2004)

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH REMOVABLE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS AFFIXED TO THE DASH AND TO THE SUNVISOR DO NOT MEET THE SIZE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Remedy: MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL CURRENT 2000-2004 NATIVA OWNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. THE NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIVA OWNERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL OR MAY 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.

Reported: 2015-06-02 (June 2, 2015)

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2000-2005 Eclipse vehicles manufactured April 5, 1999, to December 17, 2004, 2001-2005 Eclipse Spyder vehicles manufactured January 19, 2000, to March 18, 2005, 2001-2005 Chrysler Sebring vehicles manufactured April 17, 2000, to February 21, 2005, and 2001-2005 Dodge Stratus vehicles manufactured April 17, 2000, to February 22, 2005. In the affected vehicles, the passenger side sun visor may be folded down in such a position that, if the passenger frontal air bag deploys, the passenger side sun visor may detach.

Consequence: If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.

Remedy: MMNA will notify their owners, and Chrysler will notify the Chrysler and Dodge owners. Dealers will install a tether strap to retain the passenger sun visor, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-15-005. Chrysler and Dodge owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R30.