30 of the
285 complaints filed about the Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder
are about the transmission —
11% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2001.
30
Complaints
11%
Share of all complaints
2
Crashes
1
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
The contact owns a 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder. The contact stated while driving 25-30 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power inadvertently. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continued driving. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact also stated that while driving and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle instead started reversing unintendedly. The contact stated that he turned off and restarted the vehicle and continued driving. The vehicle was taken to a local Pep Boys, where it was diagnosed that the power train needed to be reprogrammed and other repairs needed to be completed. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the steering wheel was locked and the brake pedal was firm. The traction control and ABS warning lights were illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was not drivable. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.
NHTSA complaint #11468436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11024118 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO AN INTERNAL SPRING FRACTURING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V011001 (POWER TRAIN). THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO SERVICE CAMPAIGN AND RECALL TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10945909 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING FROM THE HIGHWAY ON AN OFF RAMP AT 50 MPH, ENGINE (RPM) STARTED BOGGING DOWN, THEN BOTH FRONT TIRES LOCKED UP TO A SCREECHING HALT. I ALMOST SLIDE OFF THE RAMP AND ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BY A SEMI TRUCK BEHIND ME. FRONT TIRES WERE LOCKED UP, WOULD NOT MOVE OUT OF THE ROAD AND WOULD NOT COME OUT OF GEAR. HAD IT TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP AND WAS QUOTED $3,000 JUST TO PULL THE TRANSMISSION FOR DIAGNOSTICS. WAS TOLD TRANSMISSION FAILED AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE WORTH THE MONEY TO FIX BECAUSE FRONT STRUT TOWERS BOTH WERE RUSTED. HAD VEHICLE TOWED HOME AND I WILL TRY TO PERFORM THE REPAIR MYSELF.
NHTSA complaint #10575405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY CAR IS A 1997 ECLIPSE SPYDER AUTOMATIC TRANNY 2.4L . THERE WAS ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION IT WAS ON LEAN MODE, LOCKED ON 2ND GEAR AND IT COULD ONLY GO UP TO 40 MILES PER HR OTHER WISE THE RPM WERE VERY HIGH...
NHTSA complaint #10436766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON 2/21/10 EARLY SUNDAY MORNING I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROX. 55MI/HR WHEN MY MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE JUST STOPPED. IT WOULD NOT GO FORWARDS OR BACKWARDS. THERE WAS NO NOISE OR SOUND OF ANY KIND TO INDICATE SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND SAT THERE FOR 3 1/2 HRS FOR A TOW TRUCK. CAR WAS TAKEN TO SOUTH PARK MITSUBISHI IN BETHEL PARK. IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR HAD ONLY 57183 MILES AND I WANTED THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. THEY WOULD NOT DO THAT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO AAMCO. I READ ON LINE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION USED IN MY CAR AND ALSO CERTAIN CHRYSLER MODELS WITH A DEFECTIVE "WAVE SPRING" THAT BREAKS SUDDENLY AND CAUSED CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IN THE TRANSMISSION. I ASKED AAMCO TO SAVE ALL BROKEN PARTS. THE WAVE SPRING BROKE, WENT THROUGH THE PUMP, AND BROKE THE GEARS JUST AS DESCRIBED IN THE ARTICLE "MITSUBISHI F4A51 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAZARD PROBLEM". THIS PROBLEM WAS WELL KNOWN BY MITSUBISHI BECAUSE THE WAVE SPRING WAS REDESIGNED BUT TOOK NO ACTION TO NOTIFY OWNERS OF THE HAZARD THAT EXISTED. BY SWAPPING OUT A REBUILT TRANSMISSION, THE MITSUBISHI DEALER DOES NOT MAKE THE CUSTOMER AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND JUST ASSUMES THE TRANSMISSION WENT BAD AND NEEDED REPLACED THEREFORE NOT MAKING THE ACTUAL PROBLEM WELL KNOWN. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM AND HAD THE PART REPLACED WITH THE NEW DESIGNED WAVE SPRING. THIS ACTION WOULD HAVE SAVED ME A LOT OF MONEY AND NOT PUT MYSELF AND OTHERS IN DANGER OF HARM OR DEATH. MITSUBISHI KNEW OF THE PROBLEM AND DID NOTHING, THEY NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ERROR AND MAKE OTHER OWNERS AWARE SO THAT THE PROBLEM CAN BE RESOLVED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. THEY CAN NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR CLAIM THAT THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A JUST WEAR AND TEAR CASE. IT IS A DEFECT AND I WANT OTHER OWNERS OF CARS WITH THIS DEFECTIVE PART NOTIFIED AND MY EXPENSES REIMBURSED.
NHTSA complaint #10325831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. HE WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS CONTAMINATED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 106,000.
NHTSA complaint #10323802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
THE CLUTCH IS WEARING OUT FAST, IT SEEMS EVERY 1500 MILES A NEW CLUTCH IS NEEDED, TO ME IT THE HORSEPOWER OF THE ENGINE CAN ONLY BE BROUGHT TO THE ROAD AT THE EXPENSE OF EXCESSIVE FLYWHEEL AND CLUTCH WEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10250357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2007 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER GT - AT 3,561 MILES THE CLUTCH BURNT UP AND THE DEALER DID NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY, COSTING ME $1880.00. AT 14,143 APPROX MILES, THE CLUTCH BURNT UP AGAIN. NOT WANTING A 3RD MITSUBISHI CLUTCH, I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER AUTOMOTIVE SHOP WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE MITSUBISHI DEALER DID NOT REPLACE THE FLYWHEEL AS STATED IN HIS INVOICE (I HAVE) AND PUT IN A HEAVIER DUTY CLUTCH. THIS HAS COST ME OVER $4,000 FOR A CAR WITH 14,000 MILES AND BARELY 2 YEARS OLD. I HAVE DRIVEN A STICK ALL MY LIFE AND NEVER REPLACED ONE UNDER 100,000 MILES UNTIL THIS CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10249435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
SPEED CONTROL ISSUE, GAS PEDAL STICKING, CAR CONSISTENTLY IDLES BETWEEN 1500 TO 3000 RPMS ENGINE REVVING UP AND DOWN WHILE AT A STOP AND WHILE IN PARK. MANUAL SHIFT VERY STIFF.
NHTSA complaint #10151247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1997 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF CLUTCH. THE LINE THAT RUNS FROM THE SLAVE CYLINDER TO THE MASTER CYLINDER HAS WHAT APPEARS TO BE A CUT IN THE LINE 1MM FROM THE CONNECTION TO THE MASTER CYLINDER. I HAVE NOW REPLACED THIS LINE SIX (6) TIMES IN TWO YEARS. FAILURE USUALLY OCCURS AFTER DRIVING THE CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR 2 OR MORE HOURS. CLUTCH GOES TO THE FLOOR DUE TO LOSS OF FLUID. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER TWICE & THE SLAVE CYLINDER THREE TIMES, THE LAST TIME WAS 2 WEEKS AGO.
NHTSA complaint #10145844 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
I HAD TO BRING IN MY 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER GS TO A MECHANIC DUE TO AN APPARENT LEAKAGE. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT CAR WAS UNDER A RECALL WHICH HE PRINTED FOR ME. IT IS 01V011001:AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE HOSE ASSEMBLY WHICH IS THE EXACT PROBLEM I AM HAVING. MITSUBISHI REFUSES TO MAKE THE REPAIR AND SAYS MY PARTICULAR CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS COULD BE IF MY MECHANIC PULLED IT FROM THE NHTSA BULLETIN.
NHTSA complaint #10144559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING SO I STOP DRIVING IT. WHEN I TESTED IT OUT AGAIN, IT WAS EVEN WORST AND I CAN'T EVEN GO PAST 40 MPH. SO FAR THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY REPAIRS DONE TO THE CAR SINCE I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT THERE ARE TRANSMISSION RECALLS ON THE AUTOMATIC 97 GS ECLIPSE AND WAS ADVISE NOT TO DRIVE IT ANYMORE BECAUSE IT CAN RESULT IN A ACCIDENT. DID A LITTLE RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS CAR DOES HAVE A RECALL ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. HTTP://WWW.AUTOSITE.COM/CONTENT/OWN/SERVICE/INDEX.CFM/ACTION/RECALLSVIEW/SERIESID/509.
NHTSA complaint #10132942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LEFT REAR WHEEL HARDWARE ATTACHING THE WHEEL, BACKING PLATE, BRAKE CALIPERS TO REAR AXLE FAILED. THERE WERE FOUR ATTACHING BOLTS THAT SHEARED OFF UNDER STRESS OF CRASH AVOIDANCE THAT CAUSED THE REAR WHEEL TO FALL OFF AND LOSE CONTRO OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10090712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SUCK! I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY ENGINE SHUT OFF! LUCKLY, I WAS GOING DOWN HILL AND WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF TO THE LEFT, AFTER ALMOST GETTING HIT A COUPLE OF TIMES. MY MECHANIC (BROTHER) TOOK A LOOK AT IT AND SAID IT WAS THE CRANK SHAFT, SO I GOOGLED IT AND GUESS WHAT???? IM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM... TAKE A LOOK HTTP://WWW.ROADRACEENGINEERING.COM/WALKINGCRANKSHAFT.HTM.
NHTSA complaint #10075365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SUCK! I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY ENGINE SHUT OFF! LUCKLY, I WAS GOING DOWN HILL AND WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF TO THE LEFT, AFTER ALMOST GETTING HIT A COUPLE OF TIMES. MY MECHANIC (BROTHER) TOOK A LOOK AT IT AND SAID IT WAS THE CRANK SHAFT, SO I GOOGLED IT AND GUESS WHAT???? IM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM... TAKE A LOOK HTTP://WWW.ROADRACEENGINEERING.COM/WALKINGCRANKSHAFT.HTM.
NHTSA complaint #10075365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.