MitsubishiEclipse Spyder20123.8L/mitsubishi/eclipse-spyder/2012/3-8l/

2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder — 3.8L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 Eclipse Spyder 3.8L.

Body PASSENGER CAREngine 3.8LTransmission Automatic (S5)

The 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder 3.8L is a passenger car powered by a 3.8L engine and Automatic (S5) transmission rated at 16/24/19 mpg, with maintenance requiring 4.5 qt of oil meeting 10W-30 / 5W-20 API viscosity standards. Within the model's 2000-2012 complaint history, which peaked at 99 issues in 2006 and reached a low of one in 2010, the 2012 model year records only 8 total owner complaints primarily focused on Air Bags and zero recalls. This performance places the 2012 Spyder near the lower end of the model's reported issues, suggesting a stable position within the vehicle's reliability history.

Model year201220112010200920082007

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque65-80 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy16/24/19 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24 · 550 CCA battery, OE oil filter MD352627. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 24 · 550 CCAOEM · verified
Tire size4WD:P225-75R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filterMD352627 alt MZ690072
Engine air filterMR571396
Fuel filter1770A122
Spark plugMN158596 alt 1822A002
Front wiper blades8250A536 alt 8250A098
Serpentine beltMN187016 alt MN187015
Thermostat1305A278 alt MD194988

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S5)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length179.9 in
Overall width72.4 in
Overall height54.3 in
Wheelbase101.6 in
Curb weight3472 lb
Track (front / rear)61.4 / 61.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)59/41

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 24 / 19 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 10W-30 / 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 · DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 65-80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0-22.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidMitsubishi Diamond Queen SP-III
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity8.9
Brake FluidDOT 3 · DOT 4
Engine Oil10W-30 · API · 5W-20
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt
Manual Transmission Fluid75W-80 · GL-3
Manual Transmission Fluid Capacity4.7
Power Steering FluidGenuine Mitsubishi PS fluid

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts134-140 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts54 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine BoltsBolts: 18 ft-lbs, nuts: 15 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts33-39 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts29-37 ft-lbs
Main Bearings54 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0-22.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs10 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts65-80 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub145-188 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)680 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.16-1.26 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.70 oz
Standard BCI Group Number24
Standard BCI Cranking Performance550 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test23 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature177-183 °F
Engine Compression225-161 PSI. 14 Maximum variation PSI.
Engine Oil Pressure4.2 psi @ Idle, 42-100 psi @ 3500 rpm psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket25-31 ft-lbs / 28-36 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle67-81 ft-lbs / 42-48 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.080; Rear: 0.080 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0039 in / 0.0016 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.023 in / 0.394 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.023 in / 0.394 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.96 in / 0.33 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
120 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90-9420 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages
158 ft. lbs.58 ft. lbs
2Loosen all bolts completely in reverse order.
315 ft. lbs.15 ft. lbs
490 degrees.90 degrees
590 degrees.; Replace any cylinder head bolts that exceed the maximum length 99.4 mm (3.91).90 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
176-84 ft. lbs.76–84 ft. lbs
2Loosen all bolts.
376-84
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
16 ft. lbs., step 2: tighten only bolts 8 and 9: 8.1 ft. lbs., step 3: tighten all but 8 and 9: 6.6 ft. lbs., step 4: turn all but bolts 8 and 9, 906 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs at 105,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
At 60,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miFuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect) · Fuel System (inspect)
At 105,000 miSpark Plugs (replace) · Timing Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2012 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder sits at the tail of a clear post-2006 improvement arc, with federal complaints dropping from a peak of 99 in 2006 to just 8 in the target year — a figure bracketed by 7 in 2009 and 1 in 2010, indicating a generally well-sorted final production run. Notably, 2012 shows zero recalls and zero investigations, the only such clean entry alongside 2010, suggesting Mitsubishi had resolved earlier regulatory concerns before the model was discontinued. TSB volume of 34 is consistent with the late-generation norm (32–35 from 2007–2010), implying no unusual service burden beyond expected refinement work. The complaint profile is narrow but worth attention: 4 of 8 filings involve air bags, while suspension, electrical, and exterior lighting each contributed a single report; one crash and no fire complaints were recorded, though the dataset does not specify root cause for the air bag cluster. Buyers should still confirm any open air bag service actions or warranty coverage on that specific system, even though the overall federal footprint is light. Net assessment: 2012 is one of the stronger candidate years in the generation's record, combining low complaint volume, no recalls, and a settled TSB baseline — a defensible choice for a used buy, provided the air bag history is verified.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
34
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
8
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 8 complaints on record, top 5 components.

Air Bags4
Suspension,Structure1
Electrical System,Service Brakes1
Electrical System,Exterior Lighting1
Service Brakes1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 34 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
DEALER LETTER2023-07-21EquipmentThis is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has…
TSB-23-00-0042023-04-24StructureThis Technical Service Bulletin provides instructions and material safety data sheets for…
TSB-23-00-0012023-04-24EquipmentThis Technical Service Bulletin reviews the regulations that require a label showing the…
DEALER LETTER2023-04-21EquipmentThis is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has…
TSB-11-66-001REV2023-03-07Electrical SystemThis Technical Service Bulletin contains technical information and troubleshooting for…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Eclipse Spyder. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2012 Eclipse Spyder 3.8L take?

4.5 qt of ABOVE 100 degreesF 10W-30 SM API, BELOW 100 degreesF 5W-20 SM API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2012 Eclipse Spyder have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 3.8L get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 24 highway / 19 combined mpg.