Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Structure7
- Air bags4
- Unknown or other4
- Tires4
- Electrical system2
- Visibility2
- Fuel system, gasoline2
- Wheels1
- Visibility/wiper1
- Engine1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 4 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 9 2003 Eclipse Spyder vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 7 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 4 variants: combined 10.3–11.7 L/100 km (about 20–23 mpg US), CO₂ 237–269 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eclipse Spyder · Minicompact · Regular gasoline | 11.7 | 8.6 | 10.3 |
| Eclipse Spyder · Minicompact · Premium gasoline | 13.1 | 9.0 | 11.3 |
| Eclipse Spyder · Minicompact · Premium gasoline | 13.4 | 9.4 | 11.6 |
| Eclipse Spyder · Minicompact · Regular gasoline | 13.2 | 9.8 | 11.7 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder.
| 2015220 22 May 2015 | Airbag On certain vehicles, in the event of a collision that warrants a deployment of the front passenger airbag, the deploying airbag could strike the passenger sun … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mitsubishi told its dealers about the 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637159 | SUBJECT REGARDING SERVICE MANUAL INFORMATION FOR CERTAIN 2003 MODELS. *TT |
| 637135 | BULLETIN REVIEW REGARDING TSB-02-00-005 CONTAINS SPECIFICATIONS FOR 2003 COUPE MODELS. *TT |
| 637083 | SUBJECT REGARDING CLUTCH COVER (PRESSURE PLATE) REMOVAL. *TT |
| 637079 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF HARD OR NOTCHY SHIFT QUALITY OR A SLIGHT JUDDER DURING THE FIRST FEW SHIFTS ON COLD MORNINGS. *TT |
| 636971 | BULLETIN REVIEW TSB-02-42A-006 REGARDING PROCEDURES FOR REINSTALLING THE HEADLINER ONTO THE REAR GLASS. *TT |
| 636953 | SC-02-001 - REGARDING INCORRECT VEHICLE EMISSION CONTROL INFORMATION (VECI) LABEL SERVICE CAMPAIGN. |
| 636948 | SUBJECT REGARDING IOD #18 FUSE SHORT CIRCUIT - UPDATE. *TT |
| 636932 | VEHICLE TECHNICAL INFORMATION REGARDING REAR SUSPENSION RATTLE. *TT |
| 636910 | VEHICLE TECHNICAL INFORMATION REGARDING IOD #18 FUSE SHORT CIRCUIT UPDATE. *TT |
| 636908 | VEHICLE TECHNICAL INFORMATION REGARDING FOG LAMPS. *TT |
| 636906 | VEHICLE TECHNICAL INFORMATION REGARDING LOOSE DEFROSTER TABS - UPDATE. *TT |
| 636897 | VEHICLE TECHNICAL INFORMATION REGARDING REAR SUSPENSION RATTLE NOISE. *TT |
| 636838 | SUBJECT REGARDING BUZZ, RATTLE AT REAR QUARTER PANEL (UPDATE). *TT |
| 636819 | INFORMATION ON DIAGNOSING A RATTLING NOISE HEARD FROM REAR SUSPENSION OF VEHICLE. *TT |
| 635123 | THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS HEADLINER INSTALLATION TIPS. *TT |
| 635107 | SUBJECT REGARDING VEHICLE EMISSION CONTROL INFORMATION (VECI) LABEL SERVICE CAMPAIGN. *TT |
| 634624 | SUBJECT REGARDING CORRECTED AIR CONDITIONER MAGNETIC CLUTCH SERVICE PROCEDURES. *JG |
| 634564 | SUBJECT REGARDING FRONT BRAKE RINGING NOISE. *JG |
| 634430 | SUBJECT REGARDING POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE REPROGRAMMING FOR COLD ENGINE MISFIRE. *JG |
| 631476 | SUBJECT REGARDING CLUTCH/MANUAL TRANSAXLE RATTLE. *SLC |
| 631474 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF HARD OR NOTCHY SHIFT QUALITY, OR A SLIGHT JUDDER DURING THE FIRST FEW SHIFTS ON COLD MORNINGS. *SLC |
| 631472 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF A SLIGHT RATTLE FROM THE CLUTCH/TRANSAXLE. *SLC |
| 10240443 | This is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has launched the 3rd quarterly technician quiz for 2023. |
| 10235609 | This Technical Service Bulletin provides instructions and material safety data sheets for removal of rap-film adhesive residue. |
| 10235608 | This Technical Service Bulletin reviews the regulations that require a label showing the reduction in load carrying capacity be affixed to vehicles when the total net weight of accessories is more than 1.5 percent of the vehicle's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or 100 lbs. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)