The Weekly Driver
Reliability
Mitsubishi

Eclipse Spyder (2008)

2008 · Sports Car · 1 engine
Reliability score 9.0/10
16 NHTSA Complaints
1 Recalls
0 Fire Reports
4 Crash Reports
View all 5 generations of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder → Inspection checklist

Reliability Score

9.0 / 10

Reliability score

Very few owner complaints against similar sports cars

The class average is 7.0. Based on complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the engine, transmission or drivetrain.

Owners filed 2 powertrain complaints. A typical sports car fleet of this size and age would have drawn about 9.

Scores this high have held: three years on they had moved 0.1 points in the typical case.

Breakdown
Complaints overall2 complaints against about 9 for similar vehicles
9.0
Last three years
n/aNot enough data
Engine, transmission or drive unit failed or replaced
n/aNot enough data
Oil consumption, fuel in the oil or overheating
n/aNot enough data

Each line scores one view of the same complaints the same way, so the lines overlap. The mark on each bar is the class average. A line needs 20 expected complaints to show a number.

Similar vehicles are others in the same class, compared at the same age and in the same years. The score counts complaints owners filed with NHTSA, per vehicle built, which is different from the share of vehicles that fail. How the score is worked out

On the record

No serious powertrain recall covering 5% or more of this generation and no escalated investigation in NHTSA's files. Warranty extensions and settlements have not been researched.

Complaints by Engine Code

Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder Unidentified Engine

16 complaints 16.0 per year
View details

Complaint Breakdown

brakes
8
engine
2
wheels tires
2
safety systems
2
other
1

Owner Complaints by System

Complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder, counted across every engine. A complaint can name more than one system.

Brakes: 8 owner complaints

Recalls (1)

15V337000Jun 2, 2015serious
Service Brakes

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Eclipse vehicles manufactured April 20, 2005, to February 13, 2009, and 2007-2009 Eclipse Spyder vehicles manufactured December 23, 2005, to February 13, 2009. Due to corrosion inside the antil-lock brake system (ABS) unit, one or more of the internal valves may seize. In a braking event that uses the ABS, a seized valve would increase brake pedal travel and reduce braking ability.

All Generations

2002200220032003200620062007200720082008

Alternatives in Sports Car

Mazda
MX-5 Miata
2006-2015
9.8/10
4 engines / 69 complaints
Pontiac
Firebird
2000
9.7/10
5 engines / 24 complaints
Porsche
911
2012-2019
9.6/10
6 engines / 41 complaints
Pontiac
Firebird
2001
9.5/10
3 engines / 24 complaints
Hyundai
Genesis Coupe
2010-2016
9.4/10
3 engines / 75 complaints
Pontiac
Firebird
2002
9.4/10
3 engines / 21 complaints

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common 2008-2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder complaints?

Owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008-2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder. The systems they name most often are the brakes, the engine and the wheels and tires.

Is the 2008-2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder a good used car?

That depends on the model year, the mileage and the maintenance history of the car in front of you. Owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008-2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder. Check which systems they name most often and whether a recall is still open on that car.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2008-2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder have?

NHTSA has 16 owner complaints on file for the 2008-2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder as of the latest data pull. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.

What recalls affect the 2008-2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder?

NHTSA lists 1 recall covering some 2008-2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder vehicles. Which ones apply depends on the VIN: enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see the open campaigns on a specific car.

What should I check before buying a used Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder?

Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm every open recall has been done. Look hardest at the brakes, the engine and the wheels and tires, the systems owners complain about most. Ask for maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the car and run a vehicle history report for prior accidents and title issues.

Does the Eclipse Spyder have NHTSA crash test ratings?

NHTSA has not published crash test ratings for the 2008 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder. Not all vehicles are tested each year. For the latest NHTSA safety information, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 16 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: low. Last updated: 2026-10-12.

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