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Research · Minicompact Cars

2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse SpyderRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 40 owner complaints for the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder. Most complaints involve structure (9) and power train (5). The EPA rates it 20–23 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
20–23mpg
EPA · 6 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
3campaigns
Latest Jun 2015
Owner complaints
40
Top: structure
Fuel cost / yr
$2,800est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

3 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Jun 2, 2015NHTSA 15V338000

Equipment: labels

Free remedy

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.

EquipmentReported Sep 1, 2004NHTSA 04V428000

Fuel system

Free remedy

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.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Nov 4, 2003NHTSA 03V442000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 28, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

40 complaints filed with NHTSA · Sep 2002 – Sep 2017
  1. Structure9
  2. Power train5
  3. Air bags5
  4. Tires5
  5. Visibility4
  6. Equipment3
  7. Fuel system, gasoline3
  8. Engine and engine cooling2
  9. Electrical system2

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Eclipse Spyder model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
200231
200340
20046
20052
200722
200816
20097
20101
20128
Crashes reported
7
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
5
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Structure

9 reports1 crash1 fire
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 18, 2017Power train, Air bags, StructureCrash reportedFire reportedODI 11024118

Power train

5 reports2 crashes1 fire
“I HAVE A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCE OZ RALLY, CAR HAS 32,000 MILES ON IT, I PURCHASED IT USED. I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WHERE SOMETIMES I WOULD SMELL BURNING ODOR FROM THE VENTS. I THINK CAR RUNS VERY RUFF AND IM NOT SURE WHAT IT IS.. I BELIEVE IT'S THE TRANSMISSION FROM READING ALL THE POST ON HERE.. AND ALSO THE SHIFTING IS ROUGH. I WILL BE TAKING IT TO A DEALER SOON.. HOPEFULLY THEY WONT GIVE ME THE RUN AROUND AND FIX THE PROBLEM RIGHT AWAY.. THANKS! *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 4, 2005Power trainODI 10138599

Air bags

5 reports4 crashes2 fires
“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 STEERING WHEEL AND I SMELLED CHEMICALS. THE FIRE PROMPTLY WENT OUT. MY LEFT ARM WAS ON THE ARMREST OF THE DOOR WITH BOTH FOREARM BONES VISIBLY BROKEN. THE ARM WAS SWOLLEN AND DEFORMED.…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 27, 2017Air bags, Unknown or other, Visibility/wiperCrash reportedODI 11001575
All 2003 Eclipse Spyder problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

6 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Minicompact Cars
Engines
2.4L 4-cyl · 3.0L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Manual 5-spd · Automatic (S4)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline · Premium Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 28, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Eclipse Spyder
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L, SOHC · Front-Wheel Drive
202823$2,800386
Eclipse Spyder
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L, SOHC · Front-Wheel Drive
202823$2,800386
Eclipse Spyder
Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, SOHC · Front-Wheel Drive
182621$3,800423
Eclipse Spyder
Auto (S4), 4 cyl, 2.4 L, SOHC, 2MODE CLKUP · Front-Wheel Drive
182420$3,200444
Eclipse Spyder
Auto (S4), 4 cyl, 2.4 L, SOHC, 2MODE CLKUP · Front-Wheel Drive
182420$3,200444
Eclipse Spyder
Auto (S4), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, SOHC, 2MODE CLKUP · Front-Wheel Drive
182520$4,000444
  • Eclipse Spyder
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L, SOHC
    20 city · 28 hwy · $2,800/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • Eclipse Spyder
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L, SOHC
    20 city · 28 hwy · $2,800/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • Eclipse Spyder
    Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, SOHC
    18 city · 26 hwy · $3,800/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Eclipse Spyder
    Auto (S4), 4 cyl, 2.4 L, SOHC, 2MODE CLKUP
    18 city · 24 hwy · $3,200/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • Eclipse Spyder
    Auto (S4), 4 cyl, 2.4 L, SOHC, 2MODE CLKUP
    18 city · 24 hwy · $3,200/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • Eclipse Spyder
    Auto (S4), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, SOHC, 2MODE CLKUP
    18 city · 25 hwy · $4,000/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 28, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder as of Oct 28, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 28, 2026Vehicle 4992
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2003 Eclipse Spyder questions

How many recalls does the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder have?

3 safety recalls as of Oct 28, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder problems?

Owners filed 40 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are structure (9), power train (5), air bags (5). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder get?

The EPA rates the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder at 20–23 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (6 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 28, 2026