2003 Mitsubishi ECLIPSE SPYDER: complaints, problems and recalls

NAR 02/13/2003. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT STARTING PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WOULD CRANK BUT WOULD CATCH TO START. IN ADDITION, SOMETIMES AS THE CONSUMER TRAVELED DOWN A HILL THE VEHICLE WAS JUST SHUT OFF BY ITSELF, IT WOULD TAKE AT LEAST 30 SECONDS FOR THE VEHICLE TO START AGAIN. IT TOOK THE DEALER SEVERAL TRIES TO DUPLICATE THE CONSUMER PROBLEM. THE DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FUSE BOX, FUEL PUMP RELAY, PRONGS AND WIRES WHICH CAME FROM THE FUSE BOX TO SHUT THE RELAY OFF SO THE VEHICLE WOULD RUN OUT OF GAS, THE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008571 at NHTSA ↗

MY COMPLAINT IS ABOUT THE BLEND DO FOR THE HEATING SYSTEM OF THE 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB IS ROTATED TO THE HOT POSITION, A CABLE BEHIND THE DASHBOARD AND DIRECTLY OVER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ROTATES THE BLEND DOOR LEVER TOWARD THE FIREWALL. A PIN ON THE LEVER, WHICH CONNECTS TO THE CABLE, ENGAGES MY SHOE, PINNING MY SHOE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. TO FREE MY SHOE, I MUST EITHER ROTATE MY HEEL CLOCKWISE TO DISENGAGE THE PIN, OR ROTATE THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB TO THE COLD POSITION. I BELIEVE THIS CREATES A…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,550 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020867 at NHTSA ↗

REAR WINDOW SHATTERED WHILE PARKED IN COVERED PARKING. UNKNOWN CAUSE AND NO INDENTATION (POINT OF IMPACT). *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 13,813 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043744 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK.*MR THE CONSUMER HOPES MITSUBISHI BECOMES AWARE OF THE PROBLEM OCCURRING WITH THEIR CARS. *CB *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10051723 at NHTSA ↗

ONE OF MY GOODYEAR EAGLE RSA P215/50/R17 TIRES HAD A NAIL IN THE TRAID OF THE TIRE. WHEN I TOOK IT TO GOODYEAR TO MY SURPRISE THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE INSIDE SIDEWALL THAT WOULD HAVE BLOWN OUT ON THE ROAD. THERE WAS NO CRACKING ON THE OUTSIDE SO I HAD NO IDEA.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10129310 at NHTSA ↗

ENGINE MOUNTS ARE DEFECTIVE, CAR IS EXHIBITING SIGNS OF POWER FAILURE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 60,280 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147194 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A BLACK 2003 SPYDER GTS AND THE CLEAR COAT IS BUBBLING AND TURNING WHITE. IT STARTED ON THE HOOD AND HAS PROGRESSED TO THE TRUNK, THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD TRIM AND THE SPOILER. THE PROBLEM STARTED IN JUNE 06 AND CONTINUES. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE HOOD. I TALKED TO THE DEALER AND THEY WANT ME TO WAIT, IS THIS SOME KIND OF PLOY TO ALLOW THE WARRANTY TO EXPIRE; THEREFORE AVOIDING WARRANTY WORK? IT KEEPS GETTING WORSE AND I'M TRYING TO GET THEM TO CORRECT A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL MI…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10164265 at NHTSA ↗

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPIDER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 25 - 30 MPH ON A NICE DAY WHEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. SHE STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE ALTERNATOR WERE THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE. THIS HAPPENED ON DECEMBER 23, 2006. THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD, LOST POWER, AND COASTED OUT OF TRAFFIC. SHE STATED THAT THE HORN BEGAN HONKING, AND SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. SHE COULD SEE FLAMES COMING OUT FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED BY ITSELF BEFORE THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10186142 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2003-11-04 (November 4, 2003)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL RETURN LINE HOSE FITTING ON THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP MAY BE RESTRICTED, CAUSING EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE TO BUILD UP IN THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE MAY RESULT IN A LEAK IN THE FUEL RETURN HOSE.

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

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP PRESSURE. THOSE VEHICLES EXHIBITING HIGHER THAN NORMAL FUEL PUMP PRESSURE WILL RECEIVE FUEL PUMP MODIFICATIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN DECEMBER 3, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037 OR MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-800-981-0452.

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.