1998 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER

2 recalls, 21 complaints - 59 TSBs

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Defect Description

CERTAIN AIRTEX FUEL PUMP MODULE ASSEMBLIES, P/N E7081H, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE WALL OF THE FLARED FITTING OF THE FUEL PUMP IS NOT THICK ENOUGH TO PREVENT THE MATING THREADED FITTINGS FROM BOTTOMING OUT BEFORE AN ADEQUATE SEAL IS ACHIEVED. THIS COND... Read more

Consequence

IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FUEL LEAK COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy

AIRTEX WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AIRTEX AUTOMOTIVE AT 800-880-3056.

222 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: AIRTEX PRODUCTS

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

Defect Description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, DIRT AND WATER CAN INTRUDE. ALSO, MMC HAS ADDED THE POTENTIAL OF LEAKING MOISTURE, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE BALL STUD TO CORRODE.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. THIS CAMPAIGN SUPERCEDES MMC'S PREVIOUS SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN, SEE 99V-066.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT FOR WEAR. BALL JOINTS THAT EXHIBIT WEAR BEYOND THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY DESIGNED LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS. BALL JOINTS THAT ARE WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE CLEANED AND A SPECIAL SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED T... Read more

567,432 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: MITSUBISHI AMERICA

Complaint Statistics

21 total complaints

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS	5
EQUIPMENT	2
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH	2
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS	2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	2
STEERING	1
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY	1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION	1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER	1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT	1

Incident date: Oct 19, 2018

FLEX PLATE BROKE

Incident date: Oct 19, 2018

FLEX PLATE BROKE

Incident date: May 1, 2018

THE SPYDER GS HAS ALWAYS LEAKED FROM THE SOFT TOP SEALS SPECIALLY FROM THE TOP RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE. IT IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE IN THE 2ND GENERATION SPYDER GS WHICH IM SUPRISED IT HAS NEVER BEEN A RECALL FOR THE WEATHER STRIPPING. DEALERSHIP CHARGES 300 FOR THE WEATHERSTRIPPING AND THEY STILL LEAK A... Read more

Incident date: Jun 1, 2005

BOTH MY HANDLES BROKE OFF, THE DRIVERS SIDE ARM REST,( WHERE THE BUTTONS FOR THE WINDOWS ARE), FELL OFF AND INTO THE CAVITY BELOW. THE CONVERTIBLE TOP LEAKS BADLY ALONG THE POINT WHERE THE TOP MEETS THE CAR WINDSHIELD,WINDOWS,AND BACK WINDOW. VERY UPSET THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM ... Read more

Incident date: Jun 1, 2005

Incident date: May 1, 2002

CONVERTIBLE ROOF DOES NOT FOLD DOWN DUE TO BENT FRAME MEMBERS ON EACH SIDE - CALLED "BENT TOP STACK CONTROL LINKS". THIS PREVENTS THE TOP FRONT BOW FROM CLOSING TIGHTLY AND ALLOWS WATER TO ENTER THE CAB CAUSING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE FROM MOLD AND MILDEW - HEALTH HAZARDS. THE HEAD LINER PULLS 1-1/2" F... Read more

Incident date: Feb 27, 2007

I PURCHASED MY CAR NEW IN FEBRUARY 1998. AFTER 9 YEARS I ONLY HAVE 43,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I LIVE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SO THERE IS NO EXTREME TEMPERATURE CHANGES WHICH MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THE DOOR HANDLE TO BE COMPROMISED, NOR ABUSE AS I SEE OTHERS ARE BEING TOLD BY SERVICE SHOPS. I DID NOT EXPEC... Read more

Incident date: Jul 6, 2004

IN THE SUMMER OF 2003 MY CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER STARTED LEAKING SO IREPLACED IT. THEN IN MAY OF 2004 MY CLUTCH FAILED SO I HAD IT REPLACED WITH A STOCK CLUTCH. TWO MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE DEVELOPED SIGNS OF "CRANKWALK", WHICH HAPPENS TO ALOT OF 95-99 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSES. I HAD IT FORMALLY DIAGNOSED ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 15, 2004

THE CONVERTIBLE TOP MOTORS HAVE GONE OUT AGAIN. I HAVE HAD THE MOTORS SERVICED SEVERAL TIME OVER 4 TIMES IN TWO YEARS. APPARNETLY THE GEAR PINS BREAK WITHIN THE MOTORS AND CAUSE THEM TO FAIL. I CANNOT OPEN NOR CLOSE MY CONVERTIBLE TOP.*AK

Incident date: Apr 10, 2004

CONVERTIBLE TOP DOES NOT GO DOWN ALL THE WAY. DESIGN FLAW CAUSES THE TOP STACK CONTROL LINKS TO BEND UPON OPENING AND CLOSING THE TOP. THE REPLACEMENT PARTS ALONG WITH LABOR IS RIDICULOUSLY HIGH OVER $650. MITSUBISHI WHO IS FULLY AWARE OF THIS DESIGN FLAW, REFUSES TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY.*AK

Incident date: Mar 29, 2004

RECALL WORK THAT WOULD NOT BE COMPLETED, UNLESS ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSTICS WERE PURCHASED AND PAID FOR. SUBSEQUENTLY, I CONTINUE TO DRIVE AROUND WITH THE DEFECTIVE CONTROL-ARM BALL JOINTS ON MY 1998 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER. I HAVE NO OTHER DEALERSHIPS WITHIN 25 MILES OF MY TOWN, AND I BELIEVE CONCO... Read more

Incident date: Mar 3, 2004

MY 1998 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER IS DEFECTIVE. THE CONVERTIBLE ROOF DOES NOT FOLD INTO THE DOWN POSITION UNLESS I GUIDE IT BY HAND. THERE ARE TWO METAL BRACKETS ON EACH SIDE OF THE ROOF THAT ARE BENDING AND CAUSING THE TOP TO HANG UP WHEN YOU PUT THE TOP DOWN. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY S... Read more

Incident date: Dec 15, 2003

BOTH OF MY OUTSIDE HANDLES ON MY CAR FELL OFF WITHIN A COUPLE MONTHS OF EACH OTHER. I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT MY PASSENGER SIDE HANDLE FELL OFF UNTIL I SAW IT MISSING ON DAY. THE DRIVER SIDE HANDLE FELL OFF AS I WENT OUT TO MY CAR ONE MORNING TO LEAVE FOR WORK. I WENT TO LIFT UP ON THE HANDLE AND IT ... Read more

Incident date: May 25, 2003

I RECENTLY SENT A LETTER TO THE MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORPORATION REGARDING MY 1998 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER (PLEASE RE-READ ATTACHED). I WAS CONTACTED BY THE CORPORATE OFFICE REGARDING MY ERRATIC SHIFT PROBLEM IN MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND WAS EVENTUALLY TOLD THAT I WOULDNT BE PROVIDED ANY SORT OF ... Read more

Incident date: May 25, 2003

Incident date: Sep 10, 2002

THE ROOF OF MY 1998 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY DUE TO TWO BRACKETS BENDING WHEN YOU OPEN THE ROOF. I HAD THIS FIXED AT THE DEALER IN SEPTEMBER 2002 AND THEN IT JUST HAPPENED AGAIN THE FIRST TIME THAT I OPENED THE ROOF THIS SPRING (MARCH 14, 2003). *NLM

Incident date: Sep 1, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT WATER LEAKS FROM CONVERTIBLE TOP RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE FLOODING. TS

Incident date: Aug 1, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE PULLS EXCESSIVELY TO THE RIGHT. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DEALER WHO RULED OUT THE TIRES OR VEHICLE'S ALIGNMENT AS CAUSES. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER ISSUE IS PART OF VEHICLE'S NORMAL OPERATION. TS

Incident date: May 1, 2002

CONVERTIBLE TOP IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. ADHESIVE IS LOOSENING, CREATING A STRAIN ON THE STRAPS. TWO LEVERS THAT HELP TOP FOLD ARE BENDING, SO TOP DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY.*AK

Technical Service Bulletins, 1998 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER

59 manufacturer communications from 34 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.

Most Affected Components

Component	Bulletins
100000 POWER TRAIN	5
070000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE	4
350000 EQUIPMENT	4
162900 STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS	3
020000 SUSPENSION	3
110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	3
200000 WHEELS	3
060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	3

980000 UNKNOWN OR OTHER

This Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers to explain the difference between normal dew condensation, which is a natural phenomenon, and water penetration caused by improper sealing or a defective/broken part.

120000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING

350000 EQUIPMENT