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2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder Problems and Recalls

Owners filed 27 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder, most often about the body and structure (26% of complaints, typically around 84,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Eclipse Spyder model year since 2000 and has 3 recalls.

Complaints27
Recalls3
Crashes reported5
Fires reported3
Injuries reported4

Most common 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder problems

  1. Body and structure

    7 complaints · 26%

    Half of these problems showed up before 84,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.

    Paint on hood, trunk and fenders is peeling, cracking, coming off. Continues to worsen. Mitsubishi is aware of the "defect", and state they are not mandated to fix it. Upon doing some research, I am learning that there are hundreds of mistibishis (all black in color, like mine) that are having this problem.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2009, at 85,000 miles
    My Mitsubishi spyder 03 started having some white/ yellow spotting about a year ago, and the last few months getting worse, looking like the pain is also cracking in some spots. I am real anal about waxing my car, always clean, always looking nice. And now my car looks like crud. Paint fading, and cracking..
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2010, at 83,000 miles

  2. Wheels and tires

    4 complaints · 15%

    Parts named most often: sidewall, tread/belt.

    The contact owns a 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder equipped with goodyear assurance tripletred tires, size p215/55r16. While driving 25 MPH, the front passenger side tire blew out and caused the contact to drive over a curb. The contact inspected the tire and found that the tire tread was separated. The manufacturer…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2016, at 160,000 miles

  3. Other or unspecified

    4 complaints · 15%

    Dash is cracking into multible pieces due to poor manufacturing material/standards. Pieces could become dangerious projectiles in a collision.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2008, at 55,000 miles
    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…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2017, at 136,000 miles

  4. Air bags

    4 complaints · 15%

    The contact owns a 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder. While driving approximately 15 MPH, the passenger side air bag deployed without warning or impact. When the air bag deployed, the visor on the vehicle detached. The vehicle's top was down at the time and caused the passenger side air bag to blow in the wind, which…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2017, at 135,000 miles
    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…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2017, at 136,000 miles

  5. Visibility and wipers

    3 complaints · 11%

    Parts named most often: windshield, glass, side/rear.

    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…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2017, at 136,000 miles

Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder recalls

  1. Air bags: inflator module

    NHTSA 15V338000 · June 2, 2015 · 443,442 vehicles

    Risk: If the passenger side sun visor detaches and is propelled rearward, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.

    Fix: Mmna will notify their owners, and chrysler will notify the chrysler and dodge owners. Dealers will install a tether strap to retain the passenger sun visor, free of charge. The recall began on july 20, 2015. Owners may contact mmna customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mmna's number for this recall is sr-15-005. Chrysler and dodge owners may contact chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is r30.

    Full defect summary

    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.

  2. Equipment: labels

    NHTSA 04V428000 · September 1, 2004 · 100,432 vehicles

    Risk: This does not meet the requirements of the standard.

    Fix: Mitsubishi caribbean will mail a customer notification letter containing a written description and a graphic of the bi-lingual dashboard air bag warning label. In addition, all current 2000-2004 nativa owners will also receive replacement air bag alert labels for the sun visors. This recall is expected to begin during march or april 2005. The notification to the nativa owners is expected to begin during april or may 2005. Owners should contact mitsubishi caribbean at 1-787-251-8715.

    Full defect summary

    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.

  3. Fuel system: fuel pump

    NHTSA 03V442000 · November 4, 2003 · 17,087 vehicles

    Risk: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.

    Fix: Dealers will inspect the fuel pump pressure. Those vehicles exhibiting higher than normal fuel pump pressure will receive fuel pump modifications. The recall began december 3, 2003. Owners should contact mitsubishi at 1-800-222-0037 or mitsubishi caribbean at 1-800-981-0452.

    Full defect summary

    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.

Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.

Questions about the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder?
By NHTSA owner complaints: body and structure (7 complaints, typically around 84,000 miles); wheels and tires (4 complaints); other or unspecified (4 complaints).
How many recalls does the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder have?
3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 2, 2015 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
Is the 2003 a bad year for the Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder?
It is the 2nd most complained-about Eclipse Spyder model year since 2000, with 27 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.

Other Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder years

Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder problems by year