2001 Mitsubishi SPYDER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
13 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
58,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data updated: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Owner-reported patterns
Most common problems
Wheels:Rim is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 13 complaints (38.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic
Matching reports
Share of complaints
Transmission and shifting
1
7.7%
Engine operation
1
7.7%
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
Wheels:Rim
5
Wheels
2
Engine And Engine Cooling
1
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
1
Structure:Body
1
Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars
1
Tires
1
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
1
Component breakdown data
Category
Count
Wheels:Rim
5
Wheels
2
Engine And Engine Cooling
1
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
1
Structure:Body
1
Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars
1
Tires
1
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
1
Wheels:Rim: 5; Wheels: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Structure:Body: 1; Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars: 1; Tires: 1; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
2
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
1
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
Category
Count
Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
2
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
1
150,000 and above
0
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 7 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
Wheels:Rim leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
MITSUBISHI 2001 ECLIPSE GT WITH SPORTRONIC SHIFTER WITH LESS THAN 35K THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE TRAVELING ALONG A BUSY 5 LANE CA HWY ON 12/18 MONDAY AT AROUND 5:15 PM (PEAK COMMUTE TIME). *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED EIGHT TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WHILE IDLING. THE VEHICLE STARTED BACK EACH TIME AFTER 10-15 MINUTES. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ONCE AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 00V299001, REGARDING THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: ENGINE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
13 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.
46.2%Usable mileage6 / 13 records
92.3%Valid incident date12 / 13 records
100.0%Valid filing date13 / 13 records
92.3%Ordered incident and filing dates12 / 13 records
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
Component complaint heatmap
Component
1996
1998
2001
2002
2003
Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars
2100.0%ODI 720078
MY CONVERTIBLE TOP THE SIDE BRACES WHERE THE TOP FOLDS BACK BEND. *AK
REAR DEFROSTER ON CONVERTIBLE TOP IS NOT WORKING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER 5 TIMES, CONVERTIBLE TOP WAS REPLACED; BUT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK
2001 MITSUBISHI SPYDER RIMS. I AM HAVING TO REPLACE THE SECOND RIM WITHIN 6 MONTHS BECAUSE OF DENTS IN THE RIM. THE DENTS ARE NOT CAUSED BY HITTING ANYTHING. IT IS UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. AT 400+ DOLLARS A PIECE FOR THESE RIMS: MITSUBISHI, AS WELL AS, DAIMLER CHRYSLER SHOULD BE SPANKED 400 TIMES EACH FOR THEIR GROSS NEGLIGENCE. IT DOES NOT TAKE A GENIUS TO REALIZE THE HAZARDS THIS PLACES MYSELF AND MY FAMILY IN. I WILL BE KEEPING A COPY OF THIS FORM FOR MY RECORDS AS PROOF IN CASE OF MY OR MY FAMILIES DEATH(S) CAUSED BY THESE DA…
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED EIGHT TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WHILE IDLING. THE VEHICLE STARTED BACK EACH TIME AFTER 10-15 MINUTES. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ONCE AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 00V299001, REGARDING THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: ENGINE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
CONSUMER LETTER COMPLAINT REGARDING THE WARRANTY ON 2003 MITSUBISHI SPYDER. VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, HEADLIGHT EQUIPMENT, SPEAKERS, TURN SIGNALS AND A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE.*MR CONSUMER FEELS THAT THEY WERE TREATED UNFAIR WITH THIS DEAL AND WANT THEIR MONEY BACK FOR THIS VEHICLE, DUE TO NUMBER OF PROBLEM THEY HAVE HAD. *BF *NM
WHILE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE THE CLUTCH FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED AFTER HAVING THREE CLUTCHES REPLACED. *AK
VEHICLE WILL STALL AND CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. WINDOW LOCKS SHUT DOWN, AND WIRING WAS REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP. REPLACEMRNT WAS COSTLY. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT ELECTRICAL HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, CONVERTIBLE TOPS LEAKED. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
CONSUMER COULD NOT ROLL THE ELECTRICAL WINDOWS UP OR DOWN. CONSUMER INSISTED THAT THE WINDOWS WERE A DESIGN FLAW. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT A WORN PART IN THE REMOTE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK *MR
ALL 4 ALLOY WHEELS DEVELOPED A DENT IN THEM. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL DENT WAS SO SEVERE THAT IT RESULTED IN THE TIRE LEAKING AIR BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ABLE TO FORM A PROPER SEAL. DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED.*AK
I AM AN EMPLOYEE OF MITSUBISHI MOTORS MANUFACTURING OF AMERICA (MMMA). ON OCTOBER 4, 2001 I WAS INJURED AT WORK. I WAS HIT IN THE HEAD BY THE SEAT BELT GUIDE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER (RIGHT) SEAT OF A 2002 MITSUBISHI SPYDER CONVERTIBLE. THE SEAT HIT ME WITH CONSIDERABLE FORCE CAUSING A MILD CONCUSSION. I DID NOT BLACK OUT AT THE TIME OF THE INJURY. HOWEVER, I EXPERIENCED BLURRED VISION (WHICH CONTINUED FOR A FEW DAYS), NECK PAIN, BACK PAIN AND SEVERE HEAD PAIN. A FEW WEEKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT I STARTED HAVING "SPELLS" AS MY NEUROLOGIST CALLS THEM.…
VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. VEHICLE TOWED, AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
Component failure mileage distribution
Component
Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)
Median
Usable records
Examples
Wheels:Rim
Too few reports for a range
70,568 mi
2 (sparse)
ODI 10049360 · 83,135 mi
2001 MITSUBISHI SPYDER RIMS. I AM HAVING TO REPLACE THE SECOND RIM WITHIN 6 MONTHS BECAUSE OF DENTS IN THE RIM. THE DENTS ARE NOT CAUSED BY HITTING ANYTHING. IT IS UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. AT 400+ DOLLARS A PIECE FOR THESE RIMS: MITSUBISHI, AS WELL AS, DAIMLER CHRYSLER SHOULD BE SPANKED 400 TIMES EACH FOR THEIR GROSS NEGLIGENCE. IT DOES NOT TAKE A GENIUS TO REALIZE THE HAZARDS THIS PLACES MYSELF AND MY FAMILY IN. I WILL BE KEEPING A COPY OF THIS FORM FOR MY RECORDS AS PROOF IN CASE OF MY OR MY FAMILIES DEATH(S) CAUSED BY THESE DA…
ALL 4 ALLOY WHEELS DEVELOPED A DENT IN THEM. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL DENT WAS SO SEVERE THAT IT RESULTED IN THE TIRE LEAKING AIR BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ABLE TO FORM A PROPER SEAL. DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED.*AK
ALL OF THE WHEELS ON MY ECLIPSE SPYDER ARE DAMAGED FROM NORMAL DRIVING. MITSUBISHI CLAIMS I HAVE HIT POT HOLES, CURBS, ETC.BUT I HAVE NOT. MAKING A U-TURN IN A PARKING LOT CAUSED 4 "WAVES" IN MY REAR DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL AND CAUSED MY TIRE TO GO FLAT.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED EIGHT TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WHILE IDLING. THE VEHICLE STARTED BACK EACH TIME AFTER 10-15 MINUTES. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ONCE AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 00V299001, REGARDING THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: ENGINE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
MITSUBISHI 2001 ECLIPSE GT WITH SPORTRONIC SHIFTER WITH LESS THAN 35K THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE TRAVELING ALONG A BUSY 5 LANE CA HWY ON 12/18 MONDAY AT AROUND 5:15 PM (PEAK COMMUTE TIME). *JB
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month
Complaints
Campaigns announced
Examples
2024-10
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2024-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2024-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-10
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-09 (partial)
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2002: 1 complaints · 2003: 5 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
2002
0
1
1
2003
0
4
5
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year
Incident dates used
Filing date fallbacks
Excluded dates
2002
2
0
1
2003
5
0
2
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
Component co-occurrence matrix
Component
Wheels:Rim
Wheels
Engine And Engine Cooling
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Structure:Body
Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars
Tires
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
Wheels:Rim
—
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Wheels
0
—
0
0
0
0
0
0
Engine And Engine Cooling
0
0
—
0
0
0
0
0
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
0
0
0
—
0
0
0
0
Structure:Body
0
0
0
0
—
0
0
0
Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars
0
0
0
0
0
—
0
1ODI 8014862
REAR DEFROSTER ON CONVERTIBLE TOP IS NOT WORKING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER 5 TIMES, CONVERTIBLE TOP WAS REPLACED; BUT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK
REAR DEFROSTER ON CONVERTIBLE TOP IS NOT WORKING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER 5 TIMES, CONVERTIBLE TOP WAS REPLACED; BUT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
1 patterns with matching reports.
Stalling or loss of power
1 mentions · 7.7% of complaints
Median mileage: 102,000 mi (1 usable records).
ODI 10159634 · 102,000 mi
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED EIGHT TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WHILE IDLING. THE VEHICLE STARTED BACK EACH TIME AFTER 10-15 MINUTES. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ONCE AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 00V299001, REGARDING THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: ENGINE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.