Model year guide

2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 12 on record.

2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder at a glance

Safety recalls2
Owner complaints31
Combined20–22 mpg
Typical price$1,850

Free: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder recalls 2

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #15V338000 · 02/06/2015

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain model year 2000-2005 Eclipse vehicles manufactured April 5, 1999, to December 17, 2004, 2001-2005 Eclipse Spyder vehicles manufactured January 19, 2000, to March 18, 2005, 2001-2005 Chrysler Sebring vehicles manufactured April 17, 2000, to February 21, 2005, and 2001-2005 Dodge Stratus vehicles manufactured April 17, 2000, to February 22, 2005. In th…

Fix: MMNA will notify their owners, and Chrysler will notify the Chrysler and Dodge owners. Dealers will install a tether strap to retain the passenger sun visor, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2015. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this reca…

Equipment:other:labels NHTSA Campaign #04V428000 · 01/09/2004

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH REMOVABLE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS AFFIXED TO THE DASH AND TO THE SUNVISOR DO NOT MEET THE SIZE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Fix: MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL CURRENT 2000-2004 NATIVA OWNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EX…

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder common problems

Owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA. These are the most-reported areas in a sample of the most recent — and what to check before you buy.

Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Wheels
Inspect wheels for bends, cracks and curb rash, and feel for vibration at highway speed.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.

2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder MPG & running costs

Combined20–22 mpg
City18 mpg
Highway26 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,600

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 4 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

What's a 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder worth?

Low
$700
Typical price
$1,850
High
$3,350

From 11 comparable 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$18,000
Fuel only$18,000
Per mile$0.24

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder trims & engines on record

Trims
GT · GS
Engines
3.0L · 2.4L

2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder vehicles on record

2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GT4A3AE85H82E103396 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GT4A3AE85H92E054483 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GS4A3AE45G92E081098 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GS4A3AE45G62E010649 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GS4A3AE45G12E072489 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GT4A3AE85H92E037487 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GT4A3AE85H42E108496 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GT4A3AE85H92E062857 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GT4A3AE85H32E073224 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GS4A3AE45G82E091640 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GT4A3AE85H32E066192 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GT4A3AE85H12E017010

Other Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder model years

2012 2011 2009 2008 2007 2005 2004 2003 2001 1999 1998

2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder — frequently asked questions

Does the 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are free.

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder?

Owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA; in a sample of the most recent, the most-reported problem areas are structure, engine and engine cooling, service brakes.

What gas mileage does the 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder get?

The 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder has U.S. EPA estimates of 20–22 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (4 versions).

How much is a 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder worth?

Comparable 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder listings run roughly $700–$3,350, typically around $1,850 (from 11 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.