Owners have filed 11 complaints
about the 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder with NHTSA between 2001 and 2009.
The largest single group is the transmission & drivetrain.
Across this model's run it ranks 8 of 8 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 17
Against the median year of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 0
0% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 1999 compares with every other Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Transmission & Drivetrain
545.5%
Median failure at 107,000 miles
Engine & Cooling
327.3%
Median failure at 75,500 miles
Wheels
19.1%
Median failure at 51,900 miles
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
19.1%
Median failure at 62,000 miles
Suspension
19.1%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
50,000 – 74,999 miles
360.0%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
120.0%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
120.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Mar 2001peak 1Apr 2009
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 107,000 milesCape Coral, FM
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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 THE CODE READ AGAIN, HOWEVER IT RESETS ITSELF IF IT DOES NOT STICK FOR WHILE WHEN DRIVING. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT STARTING AROUND AUGUST OF 2008 AND THE PROBLEM HAD BECOME MORE PERSISTENT UNTIL LAST WEEK 3/25/09 WHEN I HAD THE PULSE GENERATOR REPLACED. IT DID THE SAME THING 4/1/09 ONE WEEK LATER IN THE SAME 2 SPOTS ON THE ROAD. I THINK THE PROBLEM IS ELECTRICAL AND AIR TAKE RELATED BUT THE CODES GIVEN AT THE TIME IT IS DIAGNOSED IS NOT SPECIFIC ENOUGH. I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WITH A MITSUBISHI REP THAT CAN HELP DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE WITH OUT HAVING TO KEEP PAYING FOR IT SINCE I AM PRETTY SURE THAT THIS IS NOT A ONE TIME ISSUE. I WANT MY CAR FIXED BEFORE MORE DAMAGE IS DONE.
NHTSA complaint #10263972 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Scotts Valley, CA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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 STATION IN BAKERSFIELD, CA. LONG STORY SHORT THE TRANNY HAS BEEN REBUILT 8 TIMES SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE, I HAVE SPENT OVER $20,000 IN RENTAL CARS, CABS, HOTELS. ETC. I ONCE AGAIN WAS GIVEN DEC 2007. THE TRANNY BEGAN TO SLIP WITHIN 3 MONTHS. I TRIED TO CONTACT THE ORIGINAL TRANNY SHOP AND THE PLACE WAS GONE, NO NOTICE WAS GIVEN & NOW I NEED TO PUT CAR IN SHOP. THE CAR ORIGINATED OUT OF STATE & HAD 3 OWNERS, EACH OWNER BEING FROM ANOTHER STATE. MITSUBISHI BOUGHT THE CAR AT AN AUCTION & IT ACCRUED OVER 12,000 MILES WHILE CAR WAS IN THEIR POSSESSION. I HAVE BEEN SO STRESSED THAT I HAVE COME OUT OF REMISSION WITH 2 TERMINAL ILLNESSES. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
NHTSA complaint #10231839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Scotts Valley, CA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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 AGAIN BACK FROM THE LA AREA & SES LIGHT CAME ON & TRANNY WAS ALMOST BURNT COMPLETELY AGAIN.SINCE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY A PLACE IN BAKERSFIELD CAME & TOWED IT THE NEXT DAY. I WAS STRANDED AGAIN @ NIGHT & HAD TO PAY FOR A CAB TO TAKE ME BACK TO WHERE I HAD BEEN, OVER 250 MILES WHICH I PAID FOR!.....2 WEEKS LATER MY CAR WAS READY....I HAD TO RENT A CAR TO GET TO BAKERSFIELD TO PICK IT UP..... A MONTH LATER WENT BACK TO LA & SES LIGHT CAME ON & SMOKE POURED FROM UNDER THE HOOD...I CHECKED TRANNY FLUID & IT WAS FULL HOWEVER COULDN'T DRIVE UNTIL IT WAS LOOKED AT..AGAIN STRANDED, NO VACANT HOTELS EXCEPT ONE ($300+ A NIGHT)...HOLIDAY WEEKEND SO I WAITED UNTIL TUES FOR AN AFFILIATED SHOP(PASA ROBLES) TO LOOK AT IT.....THEY SAID IT WAS FINE TO DRIVE....I DROVE 60 MILES & IT HAPPENED AGAIN.....STRANDED IN LOST HILLS I CALLED THE ORIG TRANNY SHOP(SANTA CRUZ) & LATER THEY DROVE 2 LOST HILLS & TOWED IT BACK. I HAD TO PAY FOR A CAB TO BAKERSFIELD AIRPORT ($200), & RENT ANOTHER CAR TO GET TO LA....I RENTED YET ANOTHER CAR TO BE ABLE TO RETURN HOME.........I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MY CAR FOR A TOTAL OF AT LEAST 90 DAYS OR MORE WITHIN A 7 MONTH PERIOD........NOW ONCE AGAIN I AM TAKING MY CAR BACK TO TRANNY SHOP AS SES LITE IS ON & IT WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE, AND SLIPS WHEN DRIVING......IT HAS ONLY BEEN 5 MONTHS SINCE A NEW MFG. TRANNY WAS PUT IN!!!! SUSIE WILHITE
NHTSA complaint #10208063 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Melbourne, FL
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
LOWER BALL JOINTS.
NHTSA complaint #10152851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 51,900 milesGettysburg, PA
WHEELS
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.
NHTSA complaint #10127435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 86,000 milesST Louis, MO
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #10110668 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 62,000 milesWest Columbia, SC
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
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.
NHTSA complaint #10102957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 65,000 milesKalamazoo, MI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #10049713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dunwoody, GA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
INITIAL FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION RESULTED IN TOW ON MAJOR HIGHWAY; REPLACEMENT FAILURE RESULTED IN TOW ON MAJOR HIGHWAY; STILL NO RESOLUTION TO PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #757171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Florence, KY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FAILED BECAUSE INNER AND OUTER RINGS SEPARATED. DEALERSHIP CONTACTED AND REPORTED THAT THEY ARE SEEING THIS ON A FREQUENT BASES. MECHANIC AND DEALERSHIP AGEE THAT INSUFFENCIENT GLUE USED TO SEAL RINGS TOGETHER.
NHTSA complaint #751913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wallingfor, CT
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING THE CLUTCH BROKE INTO PIECES/DISINTEGRATED, THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF A PROBLEM WITH THE CLUTCH. NLM
NHTSA complaint #560005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.