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Research · Minicompact Cars

2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse SpyderRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 6 owner complaints for the 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder. Most complaints involve wheels (2) and steering (1). 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
4campaigns
Latest Jun 2015
Owner complaints
6
Top: wheels
Fuel cost / yr
$2,800est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

4 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 IMPROPERLY MOLDED.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Jun 29, 2004NHTSA 04V312000
See all 4 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 29, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

6 complaints filed with NHTSA · Oct 2005 – Jun 2019
  1. Wheels2
  2. Steering1
  3. Structure1
  4. Seat belts1
  5. Fuel system, other1
  6. Tires1

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
2
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
2
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Wheels

2 reports2 crashes
“WHEEL CAME OFF WITHOUT HITTING ANYTHING 17 INCH ALLOY WHEEL RIMS ON 2-8-08 AT 2:30 PM I WAS DRIVING THE LANE NEXT TO THE FAST LANE ON THE 210 FREEWAY IN LA CRESCENTA CALIFORNIA AT 60MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING. I TRIED TO CONTROL THE CAR SLOWLY AND ALMOST HAD IT UNDER CONTROL WHEN I HEARD A NOISE. THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE EVEN MORE AND THE ENGINE ACCELERATED. THERE WAS NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR AT ALL, IT SPUN 3 LANES TO THE RIGHT VERY FAST, HIT THE BERM AND ENDED ON ITS SIDE ON THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE WEATHER WAS WARM SUNNY AND CLEAR AND VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC AND THERE WERE NO OBSTACLES ON THE ROAD THE WHOLE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL CAME OFF DURING THE ACCIDENT WITH THE BRAKES ATTACHED TO IT. I COMPLAINED TO MITSUBISHI BUT ALL THEY SAID IT IS NOT A MECHANICAL FAULT. I STILL SAY IT WAS MITSUBISHI'S FAULT A WHEEL SHOULD JUST NOT CAME OFF I HAVE 17" ALLOY WHEEL RIMS. THANK GOD I WALKED OUT OF THIS ALIVE WITH JUST A SMALL SCRATCH, PLEASE CHECK YOUR WHEELS AND BRAKE SHOES IF YOU OWN A 2004 MITSUBISHI SPYDER. MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY TOTALED, I WOULD NOT LIKE TO HAVE THIS HAPPENED TO SOMEONE ELSE WHO MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 11, 2008WheelsCrash reportedODI 10233852

Steering

1 report
“LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHEN YOU LOSE POWER TO THE ALTERNATOR. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY HAD TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON WHILE DRIVING”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 20, 2019SteeringODI 11221592

Structure

1 report
“PAINT IS FADING, SPOTS ARE APPEARING. CAR IS GARAGE KEPT AND POLISHED EVERY 6 MONTHS BY PROFESSIONAL SERVICE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 1, 2012StructureODI 10482917
Send a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 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 29, 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
Auto (S4), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, GT/GTS-VIS · Front-Wheel Drive
182521$3,800423
Eclipse Spyder
Auto (S4), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, SOHC · Front-Wheel Drive
182521$3,800423
Eclipse Spyder
Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, GT/GTS-VIS · Front-Wheel Drive
182621$3,800423
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 · Front-Wheel Drive
182420$3,200444
  • Eclipse Spyder
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L, SOHC
    20 city · 28 hwy · $2,800/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • Eclipse Spyder
    Auto (S4), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, GT/GTS-VIS
    18 city · 25 hwy · $3,800/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Eclipse Spyder
    Auto (S4), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, SOHC
    18 city · 25 hwy · $3,800/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Eclipse Spyder
    Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, GT/GTS-VIS
    18 city · 26 hwy · $3,800/yr
    21
    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
    18 city · 24 hwy · $3,200/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 29, 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 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder as of Oct 29, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 29, 2026Vehicle 1226
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

2004 Eclipse Spyder questions

How many recalls does the 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder have?

4 safety recalls as of Oct 29, 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 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder problems?

Owners filed 6 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are wheels (2), steering (1), structure (1). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder get?

The EPA rates the 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder at 20–23 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (6 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 29, 2026