Total Complaints
32 filings
MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER · model year
32 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash reports, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003MITSUBISHIECLIPSE SPYDER carries 32 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 10 crashes, 5 fires, 8 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2003 ECLIPSE SPYDER is unknown or other with 4 filings, followed by air bags (4) and structure:body (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2003 ECLIPSE SPYDER. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
32 filings
Crashes Reported
10 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 4 |
| AIR BAGS | 4 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 3 |
| STRUCTURE | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| TIRES | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 1 |
| TIRES:SIDEWALL | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 1 |
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
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.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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, 200
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
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.
TAKATA AIRBAG: MY INCIDENT HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED. I AM ADDING THE POLICE REPORT. I AM STILL REQUIRING SURGERY AND UNABLE TO USE MY LEFT ARM 10 MONTHS LATER.
Mileage: 135,000
TAKATA AIRBAG: MY INCIDENT HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED. I AM ADDING THE POLICE REPORT. I AM STILL REQUIRING SURGERY AND UNABLE TO USE MY LEFT ARM 10 MONTHS LATER.
Mileage: 135,000
TAKATA AIRBAG: MY INCIDENT HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED. I AM ADDING THE POLICE REPORT. I AM STILL REQUIRING SURGERY AND UNABLE TO USE MY LEFT ARM 10 MONTHS LATER.
Mileage: 135,000
TAKATA RECALL: MY VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 15V338000.ON OCTOBER 29, 2016, I WAS DRIVING TOWARDS MY HOME. AFTER BEING IN THE STOPPED POSITION FOR THE DURATION OF THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL AT THE INTERSECTION OF FM 518 AND FM 1128 IN PEARLAND, TEXAS, THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I PROCEEDED DOWN 1128 TOWARD MY HOME. AFTER PROCEEDING ABOUT1 BLOCK, MY PASSENGER AIRBAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO PASSENGER IN MY VEHICLE AND NOTHING ON THE PASSENGER SEAT, EITHER.THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD. I HAD THE WINDOWS OPEN AND THE TOP DOWN. THE AIRBAG WAS BLOWING IN FRONT OF MY FACE, BLOCKING MY VISION. THE PASSENGER VISOR FLEW OFF, HITTING MY LEFT ARM, AS I WAS TRYING TO KEEP THE AIRBAG OUT OF MY FACE TO GET SAFELY OFF THE ROAD.I PULLED OVER TO THE RIGHT, INTO A PARKING LOT. MY VEHICLE STOPPED ON THE EDGE OF A DITCH AT THE SIDE OF THE PARKING LOT, DUE TO MY VISION BEING BLOCKED. MY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG WENT OFF WHEN I HIT THE CULVERT OF THE DITCH. FIRE CAME OUT OF MY STE
Mileage: 136,000
TAKATA RECALL: MY VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 15V338000.ON OCTOBER 29, 2016, I WAS DRIVING TOWARDS MY HOME. AFTER BEING IN THE STOPPED POSITION FOR THE DURATION OF THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL AT THE INTERSECTION OF FM 518 AND FM 1128 IN PEARLAND, TEXAS, THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I PROCEEDED DOWN 1128 TOWARD MY HOME. AFTER PROCEEDING ABOUT1 BLOCK, MY PASSENGER AIRBAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO PASSENGER IN MY VEHICLE AND NOTHING ON THE PASSENGER SEAT, EITHER.THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD. I HAD THE WINDOWS OPEN AND THE TOP DOWN. THE AIRBAG WAS BLOWING IN FRONT OF MY FACE, BLOCKING MY VISION. THE PASSENGER VISOR FLEW OFF, HITTING MY LEFT ARM, AS I WAS TRYING TO KEEP THE AIRBAG OUT OF MY FACE TO GET SAFELY OFF THE ROAD.I PULLED OVER TO THE RIGHT, INTO A PARKING LOT. MY VEHICLE STOPPED ON THE EDGE OF A DITCH AT THE SIDE OF THE PARKING LOT, DUE TO MY VISION BEING BLOCKED. MY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG WENT OFF WHEN I HIT THE CULVERT OF THE DITCH. FIRE CAME OUT OF MY STE
Mileage: 136,000
TAKATA RECALL: MY VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 15V338000.ON OCTOBER 29, 2016, I WAS DRIVING TOWARDS MY HOME. AFTER BEING IN THE STOPPED POSITION FOR THE DURATION OF THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL AT THE INTERSECTION OF FM 518 AND FM 1128 IN PEARLAND, TEXAS, THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I PROCEEDED DOWN 1128 TOWARD MY HOME. AFTER PROCEEDING ABOUT1 BLOCK, MY PASSENGER AIRBAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO PASSENGER IN MY VEHICLE AND NOTHING ON THE PASSENGER SEAT, EITHER.THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD. I HAD THE WINDOWS OPEN AND THE TOP DOWN. THE AIRBAG WAS BLOWING IN FRONT OF MY FACE, BLOCKING MY VISION. THE PASSENGER VISOR FLEW OFF, HITTING MY LEFT ARM, AS I WAS TRYING TO KEEP THE AIRBAG OUT OF MY FACE TO GET SAFELY OFF THE ROAD.I PULLED OVER TO THE RIGHT, INTO A PARKING LOT. MY VEHICLE STOPPED ON THE EDGE OF A DITCH AT THE SIDE OF THE PARKING LOT, DUE TO MY VISION BEING BLOCKED. MY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG WENT OFF WHEN I HIT THE CULVERT OF THE DITCH. FIRE CAME OUT OF MY STE
Mileage: 136,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, THE VISOR ON THE VEHICLE DETACHED. THE VEHICLE'S TOP WAS DOWN AT THE TIME AND CAUSED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG TO BLOW IN THE WIND, WHICH HINDERED THE CONTACT'S VIEW OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER BUT, DUE TO THE DISTRACTION OF THE AIR BAG BLOWING, THE CONTACT STRUCK A CULVERT, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, IT RELEASED A SMALL SPARK AND THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A AAA TRANSMISSION APPROVED SHOP WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED SEVERAL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT BROKE SEVERAL BONES IN HER LEFT HAND THROUGH THE FOREARM. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. UPDATED 10/26/17*LJ
Mileage: 135,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR ASSURANCE TRIPLETRED TIRES, SIZE P215/55R16. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO DRIVE OVER A CURB. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE TIRE AND FOUND THAT THE TIRE TREAD WAS SEPARATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE TIRE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
Mileage: 160,000
ON NOVEMBER 28, 2015 MY PASSENGER FRONT TIRE EXPLOSIVELY FAILED COMING OUT OF A LEFT TURN AT ABOUT 25 MPH CAUSING MY CAR TO DROP AND SWERVE, CRASHING INTO A TALL STREET CURB AND STORM SEWER DRAIN CAUSING $2000 DAMAGE TO MY CAR. THE OUTER SIDEWALL SEPARATED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY FROM THE TREAD. THIS PREMIUM TIRE WAS ONLY SEVEN MONTHS OLD WITH MINIMAL WEAR. I CHECK MY TIRE PRESSURE AND FLUIDS EVERY TIME I BUY GAS, OVERHAULED THE SUSPENSION THAT SUMMER AND DIDN'T BELIEVE IT WAS MY FAULT. I TOOK THE TIRE STILL ON THE DAMAGED WHEEL TO A TIRE FAILURE EXPERT WHO RULED OUT PRE-EXISTING DAMAGE, UNUSUAL WEAR OR SIGNS OF DRIVING WITH LOW OR HIGH TIRE PRESSURE; HE STATED THERE WAS A ZIPPER FAILURE RESULTING FROM A BAD TIRE. THIS WAS THE SECOND GOODYEAR ASSURANCE TRIPLETRED TO FAIL ON MY CAR. I CONTACTED GOODYEAR AND FILED A CLAIM WITH THEIR PROPERTY CLAIMS TEAM. I HAD REPLACED THE WHEEL AND TIRE AND GOT TWO CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATES. THEY REQUIRED THE TIRE TO BE TAKEN OFF THE WHEEL AND SHIPPED TO T
Mileage: 106,000
ON NOVEMBER 28, 2015 MY PASSENGER FRONT TIRE EXPLOSIVELY FAILED COMING OUT OF A LEFT TURN AT ABOUT 25 MPH CAUSING MY CAR TO DROP AND SWERVE, CRASHING INTO A TALL STREET CURB AND STORM SEWER DRAIN CAUSING $2000 DAMAGE TO MY CAR. THE OUTER SIDEWALL SEPARATED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY FROM THE TREAD. THIS PREMIUM TIRE WAS ONLY SEVEN MONTHS OLD WITH MINIMAL WEAR. I CHECK MY TIRE PRESSURE AND FLUIDS EVERY TIME I BUY GAS, OVERHAULED THE SUSPENSION THAT SUMMER AND DIDN'T BELIEVE IT WAS MY FAULT. I TOOK THE TIRE STILL ON THE DAMAGED WHEEL TO A TIRE FAILURE EXPERT WHO RULED OUT PRE-EXISTING DAMAGE, UNUSUAL WEAR OR SIGNS OF DRIVING WITH LOW OR HIGH TIRE PRESSURE; HE STATED THERE WAS A ZIPPER FAILURE RESULTING FROM A BAD TIRE. THIS WAS THE SECOND GOODYEAR ASSURANCE TRIPLETRED TO FAIL ON MY CAR. I CONTACTED GOODYEAR AND FILED A CLAIM WITH THEIR PROPERTY CLAIMS TEAM. I HAD REPLACED THE WHEEL AND TIRE AND GOT TWO CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATES. THEY REQUIRED THE TIRE TO BE TAKEN OFF THE WHEEL AND SHIPPED TO T
Mileage: 106,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER. WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Mileage: 120,000
I BOUGHT AN USED 2003 ECLIPSE AND AT THE TIME I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW BADLY CRACKED THE DASHBOARD WAS. TO MY SURPRISE, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND AN USED DASHBOARD IN GOOD CONDITION...EVERY SINGLE 2003 ECLIPSE I'VE FOUND AND SEEN HAS THE SAME ISSUE AND AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE ONLY SOLUTION MITSUBISHI OFFERS IS TO REPLACE IT WITH A BRAND NEW (YET SAME POOR QUALITY) PART. HOW CAN WE (ECLIPSE OWNERS) GET A FULL OR PARTIAL CREDIT FROM MITSUBISHI, EVEN IF THE TEMPORARY SOLUTION IS TO INSTALL A SIMILAR PART? *TR
Mileage: 126,300
DRIVERS AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING SPACE. AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT CAUSED BRUISING AND LACERATIONS TO NECK AND CHEST. *TR
Mileage: 160,000
PASSENGER SIDE DOOR BY SIDE MIRROR WATER LEAKS IN. WATER FOULS DOWN THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR AND MAKES A PUDDLE INFRONT OF PASSENGER SEAT. THERE ARE NO CRACKS LOOSE SEALS THAT COULD BE FOUND OR SEEN. IT SEEMS AS IF THE POUNDING OF WATER ON THE SIDE CAUSES WATER TO LEAK IN. *TR
Mileage: 62,500
I HAD A NAIL IN MY TIRE AND WENT TO HAVE IT FIXED. UPON REMOVING TIRE THE TECH INFORMED ME AND SHOWED ME THAT THE INNER PART OF THE GOOD YEAR TIRE 215/50R17 WAS CRACKED. I HAD TIRE REPLACED WITH 2007 GOOD YEAR TIRE I HAD SAVED FROM MY LAST PURCHASE, THAT HAD SIDE WALL ISSUES ALSO. I REPLACED ALL TIRES WITH ANOTHER BRAND, DID NOT KEEP THE TIRES. MY PREVIOUS TIRES WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE 2003 WERE ALSO GOOD YEAR AND THEY HAD DRY-ROT ( I WAS LED TO BELIEVE AT THE TIME) I GOT THEM WITH THE VEHICLE WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED AT THAT TIME 2007 WITH ANOTHER SET OF GOOD YEAR 215/50R17. NOW I HAVE DUNLOPS 215/50R17 PURCHASED 7/21/2011 HOPING TO DO BETTER. I HOPE THAT THIS INFORMATION IS OF HELP IN POSSIBLY PREVENTING A SERIOUS INJURY TO SOMEONE. UPDATED 09/06/11 *TR
MY MITSUBISHI SPYDER 03 STARTED HAVING SOME WHITE/ YELLOW SPOTTING ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AND THE LAST FEW MONTHS GETTING WORSE, LOOKING LIKE THE PAIN IS ALSO CRACKING IN SOME SPOTS. I AM REAL ANAL ABOUT WAXING MY CAR, ALWAYS CLEAN, ALWAYS LOOKING NICE. AND NOW MY CAR LOOKS LIKE CRUD. PAINT FADING, AND CRACKING.. *TR
Mileage: 83,000
MY AC IS LEAKING INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE JUST ABOVE THE GAS PEDAL. THE LEAK IS OCCURRING WHERE THE AC CONNECTS TO THE FIRE WALL. THE CONNECTION IS SQUARE AND THE LEAK IS COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE SQUARE. IT OCCURS EVERYTIME I USE MY AC. I JUST NOTICED IT ABOUT 7 MONTHS AGO BUT HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR 10 MONTHS. I AM SURE I DIDN'T NOTICE IT BEFORE BECAUSE I WASN'T USING MY AC DURING THE WINTER. I AM TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT. *TR
Mileage: 82,000
PAINT ON HOOD, TRUNK AND FENDERS IS PEELING, CRACKING, COMING OFF. CONTINUES TO WORSEN. MITSUBISHI IS AWARE OF THE "DEFECT", AND STATE THEY ARE NOT MANDATED TO FIX IT. UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH, I AM LEARNING THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF MISTIBISHIS (ALL BLACK IN COLOR, LIKE MINE) THAT ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Mileage: 85,000
ROTTED FUEL FILLER NECK. EVAP CODE AND FUEL LEAK DURING REFUELING. NO PARTS AVAILABLE DUE TO HIGH DEMAND. *TR
Mileage: 84,353
DASH IS CRACKING INTO MULTIBLE PIECES DUE TO POOR MANUFACTURING MATERIAL/STANDARDS. PIECES COULD BECOME DANGERIOUS PROJECTILES IN A COLLISION. *CN
Mileage: 55,000
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.