Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (wheels, lug nuts, original-equipment tires, TPMS).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Damaged alloy wheels on Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder (17 inch, 6 spoke). I read the postings from last year tonight on your site after I had my second experience with this problem. Last winter I hit a pothole and it completely split my rim. The vehicle maintained stability and I was able to limp back home (about a half mile) but the rim was cracked all the way to the spokes from the lip. Tonight (snowstorm in va/dc area) my wife dropped me off at the office and went shopping. On her way to pick me up the tire suddenly went flat. She was able to limp into a service station where she noticed the tire would not hold air so she had to change the tire in snow/ice/freezing temperatures. Upon further investigation, there were three large dents in the rim at the lip. This is the second rim I am going to have to replace and they are not cheap (about $350 each). …
Car has about 30000 miles, owner went out to look at car this morning and found that front passenger's side tire is completely flat and rim is severely dented. Owner does not recall hitting anything that would have dented rim. Front driver's side rim was minorly dented on pothole about six weeks ago, suspected to have caused slow leak in tire, but owner was not going to report until second rim dented without apparent cause. Two rims now need replaced; neither front tire holds air securely. Both rims visibly damaged, incurring financial expense and causing distress to owner because incident happened out of town on christmas morning the day before she was scheduled to make eight-hour return trip to columbus from philadelphia, rendering the car undrivable. Tires might also need replaced if damage to them has occured. …
From the time I purchased my 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder gt in June of 2000 until I traded it in May of 2002, I had to replace 5 bent wheels/rims at my own expense. Each wheel cost $249 plus installation & tax. My local Mitsubishi dealership told me that although my car was still under warranty-the wheels were not covered. I could not have driven the car more carefully to avoid the bent rims. When I no longer had confidence in the safety of my vehicle, I traded it at a loss. There is no reason a $28000 vehicle should have wheel issues without Mitsubishi taking responsibility. I did not choose the wheel supplier, they did. When I called the customer relations department in ca, they were even less helpful than my local dealership. Again, they reiterated that the wheels were my problem and not theirs. The incident date is not correct. …
2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder gt: passenger side front rim bent out of shape to the degree that the tire, which Mitsubishi dealership inspected and found no puncture and no indication of having been run while flat--lost its air seal and went flat. Upon dealer inspection, it was determined that impact damage from a suspected pothole caused the rim damage. There is a total of three dents from what Mitsubishi has determined are separate impact incidents from "potholes". No damage on other three rims, all of which have 18000 miles of driving rotated by Mitsubishi using factory recommended schedule. Dealer refuses to replace this obviously defective and unsafe rim.
Tire lost inflation during highway driving, due to a bent wheel. I did not realize I had a bent wheel, due to no memory of any significant incident regarding the tires and wheels. I was sent in a very rough ride after tire blew out due to the under-inflation. I was left out in the middle of binghamton and syracuse ny in the middle of nowhere. Mitsubishi diamond care service replaced with donut/spare. Bought new tires for my trip back and it happened again on highway. Police also helped locate my car for diamond care to send help.
17 inch rims are brittle, and when the vehicle approaches a bend or dip in the road, the tire separates from the rim, allowing air to escape. Vehicle has been back to the dealer for an evaluation, and was told that they found no defect. It was probably the road conditions. Dealer was not acknowledging any defect. The rims would bend under normal road conditions. They were very soft when going over small bumps or potholes, even at reasonable speeds. The rims have been repaired 4 times and replaced 2 tires.
Front right aluminum wheel rim is dented badly in two places as a result of normal road conditions such as minor potholes or other road conditions such as rough railroad crossings. I am very very careful with this car (50 yrs old) and have never abused it but the wheels seem to bottom out or deflate easily and dent the rims under conditions that would never affect another car other than this one. I feel unsafe driving the car now with the damaged rims. Not sure whether the warranty will cover the rim replacement.
I've owned my 2001 Eclipse gt Spyder for a yesr and a half now and I've been having ongoing trouble with the rims bending. In fact when I bought the car there was a bend in the front rim that I made the dealer aware of and they sent the car out to have it fixed. I wish I had taken that as an omen and steered clear of buying the car. I've been driving these new england roads and highways for 15 years now and have never seen a rim bend so easy.
The aluminum wheels on the 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder dent almost everytime a minor pothole or railroad tracks are ridden over. I have had to remold the rims 5 times since purchasing the car less than two years ago. These rims should be recalled from Mitsubishi. From all the remolding of the rims, now I have tire pressure problems. This is a serious problem that needs to be addressed.
Tires will not hold air. Though my car is a 2001 I only have 34K miles on it. Tonight, while driving, the right front passenger side went flat while driving, and the tire came off the rim. The tires have always lost air, to the point that they have to be checked and filled every few months. Definitely a mfg defect and safety issue.
NHTSA investigations
Alloy wheel denting and fracturing
Aluminum alloy wheel denting
See attached report.
Wheel & Tire complaints in other Eclipse Spyder years
Frequently asked questions
How common are wheel & tire problems on the 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder?
NHTSA has 37 complaints about the wheels & tires of the 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder, 46% of the model year's 81 complaints. The component named most often is rim (30 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder wheel & tire problems?
No. NHTSA lists no wheels & tires recall for the 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder, though it has 8 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder wheel & tire problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 31,000 miles, and 40% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 1 fire and 0 injuries to wheels & tires problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.