Problems · NHTSA complaints
2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder problems
Owners filed 6 complaints about the 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder with NHTSA between Oct 2005 and Jun 2019. The most-cited component is wheels (2).
Complaints
6
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Wheels2
- Steering1
- Structure1
- Seat belts1
- Fuel system, other1
- Tires1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
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”
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”
Structure
1 report
“PAINT IS FADING, SPOTS ARE APPEARING. CAR IS GARAGE KEPT AND POLISHED EVERY 6 MONTHS BY PROFESSIONAL SERVICE. *TR”
Seat belts
1 report
“IN OUR 2004 ENDEAVOR SUV THE BACK SEATBELTS COME UNDONE WITHOUT ANYONE PUSHING THE RED RELEASE BUTTONS. I HAVE 2 CHILDREN CAR SEATS IN THE BACK AND THIS HAS HAPPENED ON AT LEAST 8 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHERE THE CAR SEAT IS NOT BUCKLED IN ANYMORE BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT CAME LOOSE. WE TOOK IT IN ON 9-21-07 TO DEALER BUT THEY CLAIM THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, BUT I HAVE TO QUESTION THIS BECAUSE THEY ONLY TOOK ABOUT 10 MINUTES TO LOOK AT IT AND THEN SAID IT WAS FINE AND THIS KEEPS HAPPENING AND IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. I DON'T WANT TO WAIT UNTIL SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPENS I WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY. *TR”
Fuel system, other
1 report
“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE NEEDLE OF THE FUEL GAUGE BECAME STUCK, AND THE FUEL WARNING LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. AFTER THE CONTACT FILLED THE FUEL TANK, THE INDICATOR NEEDLE DID NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER.”
Tires
1 report1 crash
“OWNER OF A 2004 ECLIPSE. FIRST PROBLEM WAS END OF JUNE 2005 BUBBLE ON FRONT RIGHT TIRE, WHEN TAKEN TO GET REPLACED FOUND OUT THAT RIM WAS CRACKED ON THE INSIDE. BOUGHT NEW TIRE AND RIM AND HAD REPLACED! SECOND TIME END OF SEPTEMBER 2005, TOOK CAR INTO GET OIL CHANGED TOLD THEM ABOUT SHAKING OF THE CAR. FOUND OUT THAT BACK RIGHT RIM WAS CRACKED AND MISSING A CHUNK OF THE RIM. NEW RIM WAS PURCHASED AND PUT ON. OCTOBER 1, 2005 DRIVING HOME, CAR WAS PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND MY CAR WAS FLIPPED ON TO ITS HOOD. MOST LIKELY CAR IS TOTALED, STILL WAITING ON ADJUSTER. REPORT STILL BEING PROCESSED WITH MITSUBISHI!!! *NM”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.