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Mitsubishi Eclipse SpyderModel year report

2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder Problems

Complaints
24filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
38,000miles, 11 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
21 mpgcombined, 3.0L 6-cyl FWD · 18 city / 26 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints for the 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder. The part named most often is wheels, with 8 complaints (33% of the total), followed by body and structure (4) and air bags (3). 11 of the complaints include a mileage, and 64% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 38,000 miles. Of all complaints, 5 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 4 an injury, 1 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 30 technical service bulletins for this model year. Wheels complaints overlap with 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Body and structure complaints overlap with 5 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.

Also reported: Seat belts (1), Steering (1), Suspension (1).

Example complaints

Wheels: “Under normal driving conditions, tire began losing air. Took to the tire dealer and no tire problem was found. Two weeks later tire would hold no air, returned to the tire dealer and they found that the wheel was cracked and would not allow the tire to hold air. I had to purchase a new wheel and a new tire since riding on low / no air damaged the tire.”

NHTSA complaint #10393118, filed 2011-03, 69,050 miles

Body and structure: “The boot cover for the convertible top blew off two times onto the highway behind me on a recent trip to houston, tx. After passing a u-haul and noticing that the boot cover was about to blow off again, I immediately pulled off the highway, removed the boot cover and placed it in the trunk. This could have caused a major accident if the cover had blown off in the path of a vehicle following me. I dread to think what might have happened if the cover had blown off in the path of the u-haul I was passing.”

NHTSA complaint #762365, filed 2002-05

Air bags: “The contact owns a 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder. The contact stated that he approached an intersection driving 15 MPH when he was involved in a crash. The air bags did not deploy and the seat belt did not restrain him. Both vehicles were inoperable and were towed from the scene. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact sustained three cracked ribs and was transported to the hospital. The police were also contacted and a report was filed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 73,500. Mitsubishi was called with same info. Updated 11/03/2011”

NHTSA complaint #10425768, filed 2011-09, 73,500 miles

Fuel system: “My check engine light came on and my car felt wobbly. I took it to my mechanic who said there was a misfire which could mean I needed new spark plugs but shouldn't until 60,000; I only have 44,000 miles on my car. He replaced all six spark plugs but that did not fix the problem so he replaced the wires, cap and rotor, the check engine light was still on so he did a compression test and said my 6th piston was not holding compression and this was a bigger problem so I should take it to the dealership. …”

NHTSA complaint #10124851, filed 2005-06, 44,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

64% of the 11 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 25,000 and 69,050 miles.

9%0–109%10–2545%25–5027%50–750%75–1009%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (11 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 38,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

200382005200720102022
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Eclipse Spyder FWD2.4L 4-cyl5-speed manual192722$3,050
Eclipse Spyder FWD2.4L 4-cyl4-speed automatic172420$3,350
Eclipse Spyder FWD3.0L 6-cyl5-speed manual182621$3,900
Eclipse Spyder FWD3.0L 6-cyl4-speed automatic172520$4,100

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2002 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. 30 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 30 bulletins →

Other model years of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2009760,2841—22—Not enough data
20081659,5001—22—Falling
20072252,0004—22—Stable
2004642,9254—21—Not enough data
20032792,5003—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20022438,0002—21—Falling
20018142,3008—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19991165,0001———Not enough data
19981658,0001———Stable
19972098,5001———Rising
19965100,0000———Not enough data

All Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder have?

NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints for the 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder is reported most often?

Wheels is named most often, in 8 complaints (33% of the total), followed by body and structure with 4.

Has the 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder get?

The EPA rates the 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder (Eclipse Spyder, 3.0L 6-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 18 city and 26 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,900 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder reported?

Among the 11 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 38,000 miles and the middle half falls between 25,000 and 69,050 miles; 64% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

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.