Model year record

1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder

1 recall campaign on file for this model year. 23 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 00V421001

Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint

Component: Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint
Manufacturer: MITSUBISHI AMERICA
Vehicles affected: 567,432
Reported to NHTSA: 2000-12-18
Owners notified: 2001-04-02

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Structure: body: roof and pillars	3	47,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine	2	232,110 mi
Power train	2	118,000 mi
Power train: manual transmission: floor shift assembly	2	—
Air bags	1	—
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline	1	96,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control	1	57,595 mi
Equipment	1	104,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	1	5,900 mi
Power train: automatic transmission	1	101,000 mi
Power train: clutch assembly	1	104,000 mi
Power train: driveline	1	—
Structure	1	—
Structure: body	1	42,500 mi
Tires	1	132,593 mi
Tires: tread/belt	1	103,277 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear	1	102,000 mi
Wheels: rim	1	—

The 1996 model has 5 times as many complaints as this one. The 1998 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.