Car Problem DataNHTSA records

1996 Mitsubishi Spyder

Routine

Owners filed 2 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the structure › body › roof and pillars. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Structure › Body › Roof and Pillars2
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Ball Joint00V421001
Filed Dec 18, 2000567,432 vehiclesMitsubishi America

Defect. 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.

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.

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.

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Ball Joint99V066001
Filed Apr 5, 1999307,000 vehiclesMitsubishi America

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Structure › Body › Roof and Pillars
Filed Apr 1, 2001GA

CONVERTIBLE TOP FRAME WARPED NOT ALLOWING THE TOP TO FULLY OPEN WITHOUT LOCKING UP. FIRST INCIDENT WAS WITHIN ONE MONTH OF PURCHASE AND DEALER ADVICED, IN WRITING, TO BRING VEHICLE IN DUE TO DEFECT PROBLEMS WITH TOP OF THAT MODEL. AFTER SUPPOSED REPAIR TOP CONTINUED WITH SAME WARPING PROBLEM AND MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR AT NO COST.

Structure › Body › Roof and Pillars
Filed Mar 14, 2000PA

MY CONVERTIBLE TOP THE SIDE BRACES WHERE THE TOP FOLDS BACK BEND. *AK

2 of 2 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2001
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20037000Routine
20023000Routine
200113000Routine
19983110Routine
1996 — this page2200Routine

Compare every Spyder year →

Other Mitsubishi models

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Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Dec 18, 2000. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.