1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder Problems
- Complaints
- 16filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 58,000miles, 7 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 16 consumer complaints for the 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder. The part named most often is body and structure, with 7 complaints (44% of the total), followed by latches, locks and linkages (3) and equipment (2). 7 of the complaints include a mileage, and 43% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 58,000 miles. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 14 technical service bulletins for this model year. Body and structure complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Body and structure7 44%
- Equipment2 13%
- Other or unknown2 13%
- Engine cooling1 6.3%
- Steering1 6.3%
- Suspension1 6.3%
Example complaints
Body and structure: “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.”
NHTSA complaint #10082929, filed 2004-07, 26,000 milesLatches, locks and linkages: “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 came right off. There was no vandalisim, just a faulty product. I had to pay $367 to get new handles put back on the car, plus $22.50 for towing the car to a Mitsubishi dealer because you can't get into a car if you have no handle to lift.”
NHTSA complaint #10056657, filed 2004-02, 88,000 milesEquipment: “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 assistance on my vehicle. I find it appalling that the same problem occurred several times to my car when I was well within the warranty period for my car (before 50,000 miles). I took my car into the Mitsubishi service center, and got the response: technician cannot duplicate problem at this time. …”
NHTSA complaint #10025890, filed 2003-07Other or unknown: “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 after a couple years. I dont have pictures but after rain, the whold car is wet and as I drive and take my first turn, the vehicle starts to leak from the corner and gets center console and radio wet. All over the eclipse forums you will see the issue without a recall. …”
NHTSA complaint #11092079, filed 2018-05, 1 milesMileage when problems were reported
43% of the 7 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 45,000 and 65,200 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Recalls and investigations
- 00V421001Dec 18, 2000Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball jointCovers: Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder 1997–1999, Galant 1994–1998, Eclipse 1995–1999 +1 more
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…
Recall details for the 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 14 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 10211530Apr 7, 2022Exterior lighting, Other or unknown. 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…
- 10169006Nov 26, 2019Equipment. This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
- 10163703Jul 30, 2019Equipment. This is a Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers. This bulletin supersedes TSB-18-00-003, issued April, 2018, to add updated information for Carrying Capacity Reduced Label.
- 10130469Feb 26, 2018Equipment. This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
- 10170074Aug 28, 2015Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors), Engine cooling…. This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
- 10170070Jul 29, 2015Equipment. This TSB contains troubleshooting steps for diagnosis of various customer complaints relating to the audio system speakers in Mitsubishi vehicles equipped with original equipment audio components.
- 10170071Jul 22, 2015Engine cooling, Suspension, Fuel system, Transmission and…. This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
- 10170099Mar 5, 2013Equipment. This is an index of Tech Talk newsletter articles released in 2012.
- 10170096Mar 5, 2013Transmission and drivetrain, Wheels, Electrical system…. This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
- 10170100Feb 6, 2013Steering, Transmission and drivetrain, Electrical system…. This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
Other model years of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 7 | 60,284 | 1 | — | 22 | — | Not enough data |
| 2008 | 16 | 59,500 | 1 | — | 22 | — | Falling |
| 2007 | 22 | 52,000 | 4 | — | 22 | — | Stable |
| 2004 | 6 | 42,925 | 4 | — | 21 | — | Not enough data |
| 2003 | 27 | 92,500 | 3 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2002 | 24 | 38,000 | 2 | — | 21 | — | Falling |
| 2001 | 81 | 42,300 | 8 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 11 | 65,000 | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1998 | 16 | 58,000 | 1 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1997 | 20 | 98,500 | 1 | — | — | — | Rising |
| 1996 | 5 | 100,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder model years
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder have?
NHTSA recorded 16 consumer complaints for the 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder is reported most often?
Body and structure is named most often, in 7 complaints (44% of the total), followed by latches, locks and linkages with 3.
Has the 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder reported?
Among the 7 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 58,000 miles and the middle half falls between 45,000 and 65,200 miles; 43% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.