U.S. public vehicle records

Mitsubishi SPYDER recalls by model year

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

28 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

33,250 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1996 to 2003 model years. Data updated: 2026-10-01 (October 1, 2026). 12 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1996

1998

2001

2002

2003

1996: 2; 1998: 1; 2001: 0; 2002: 0; 2003: 0

First model yearSecond model year

Year-by-year records

Mitsubishi SPYDER model-year comparison
Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Change in recalls
1996	2	2	Not available
1998	3	1	Not available
2001	13	0	Not available
2002	3	0	0
2003	7	0	0

Recall history

3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

00V421001 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint

Reported: 2000-12-18 (December 18, 2000) · Model years: 1996

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 BALL STUD TO CORRODE.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. THIS CAMPAIGN SUPERCEDES MMC'S PREVIOUS SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN, SEE 99V-066.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT FOR WEAR. BALL JOINTS THAT EXHIBIT WEAR BEYOND THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY DESIGNED LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS. BALL JOINTS THAT ARE WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE CLEANED AND A SPECIAL SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED TO PREVENT INTRUSION OF MOISTURE.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

99V066001 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint

Reported: 1999-04-05 (April 5, 1999) · Model years: 1996

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.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE RUBBER BOOTS, AND IF THE BOOT IS DAMAGED, THEY WILL REPLACE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM AND BALL JOINT ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

98V045001 · Vehicle Speed Control

Reported: 1998-03-03 (March 3, 1998) · Model years: 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DASH PANEL PAD CAN SHIFT INTERFERRING WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTROL.

Consequence: THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTROL WOULD NOT RETURN TO IDLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE A PORTION OF THE DASH PANEL PAD SO IT CANNOT INTERFERE WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTROL.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

28 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

42.9%Usable mileage12 / 28 records

92.9%Valid incident date26 / 28 records

100.0%Valid filing date28 / 28 records

92.9%Ordered incident and filing dates26 / 28 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.

From model yearThrough model year

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 Look up ODI 720078 at NHTSA ↗	266.7% ODI 8016289 METAL BARS HAVE BENT AND CONVERTIBLE TOP WILL NOT GO DOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK Look up ODI 8016289 at NHTSA ↗	17.7% ODI 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 Look up ODI 8014862 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Wheels:Rim	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	538.5% 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… Look up ODI 10049360 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	17.7% 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. Look up ODI 10159634 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	114.3% ODI 10119016 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 Look up ODI 10119016 at NHTSA ↗
Power Train:Clutch Assembly	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 10155386 · 56,000 mi ON MY MITSUBISHI 2002 GT SPYDER, THE CLUTCH HAS GONE OUT. IT ONLY HAS 56K MILES... (I DO NOT RIDE THE CLUTCH OR ANYTHING). *NM Look up ODI 10155386 at NHTSA ↗	114.3% ODI 10079650 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 Look up ODI 10079650 at NHTSA ↗
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 883839 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 Look up ODI 883839 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	114.3% ODI 10053735 · 8,200 mi 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 Look up ODI 10053735 at NHTSA ↗
Wheels	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	215.4% ODI 10105545 · 20,000 mi 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 Look up ODI 10105545 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Air Bags:Side/Window	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 763019 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.… Look up ODI 763019 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Wiring	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 10092660 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 Look up ODI 10092660 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.

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… Look up ODI 10049360 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10073444 · 58,000 mi FRONT PASSENGER SIDE RIM DENTED EASILY. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO REPLACE THE PART BECAUSE OF A CONCERN FOR A POSSIBLE TIRE BLOWOUT. *AK Look up ODI 10073444 at NHTSA ↗
Engine And Engine Cooling	Too few reports for a range	102,000 mi	1 (sparse)	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. Look up ODI 10159634 at NHTSA ↗
Power Train:Clutch Assembly	Too few reports for a range	56,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10155386 · 56,000 mi ON MY MITSUBISHI 2002 GT SPYDER, THE CLUTCH HAS GONE OUT. IT ONLY HAS 56K MILES... (I DO NOT RIDE THE CLUTCH OR ANYTHING). *NM Look up ODI 10155386 at NHTSA ↗
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls	Too few reports for a range	8,200 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10053735 · 8,200 mi 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 Look up ODI 10053735 at NHTSA ↗
Wheels	Too few reports for a range	39,000 mi	2 (sparse)	ODI 10105545 · 20,000 mi 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 Look up ODI 10105545 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10133540 · 58,000 mi 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. Look up ODI 10133540 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

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	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)	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.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

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	Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars	Wheels:Rim	Engine And Engine Cooling	Power Train:Clutch Assembly	Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls	Wheels	Air Bags:Side/Window	Electrical System:Wiring
Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars	—	0	0	0	1 ODI 883839 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 Look up ODI 883839 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0
Wheels:Rim	0	—	0	0	0	0	0	0
Engine And Engine Cooling	0	0	—	0	0	0	0	0
Power Train:Clutch Assembly	0	0	0	—	0	0	0	0
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls	1 ODI 883839 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 Look up ODI 883839 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0	—	0	0	0
Wheels	0	0	0	0	0	—	0	0
Air Bags:Side/Window	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	0
Electrical System:Wiring	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—

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.

Search patterns

1 patterns with matching reports.

Stalling or loss of power

3 mentions · 10.7% of complaints

Median mileage: 102,000 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 883839

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

Look up ODI 883839 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Look up ODI 10159634 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 10079650

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

Look up ODI 10079650 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b