1997 Mitsubishi 3000GT

MY CAR IS WELL KEPT AND GARAGED AT NIGHT. IN NOVEMBER 2012, I WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE CAR AND WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC OF 20 YEARS THAT MY "TOTAL FRONT END" ON THE CAR NEEDED REPLACED. THIS REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF GASKETS, AN OAL FLEX, RACK & PINION, AND A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. IT WAS A VERY EXPENSIVE JOB WITH THE EXPLANATION GIVEN THAT IT WAS "WORN OUT." NOW, THE STEERING IS A PROBLEM WITH STRANGE SOUNDS AND THE PERIODIC MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN DRIVING. AN INSPECTION OF THAT DISCLOSED THAT NOW, THE "INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ON THE STEERING WHEEL" NEEDS REPLACED. AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, I AM FINDING OUT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CARS RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THAT IS THE CASE FOR THIS CAR. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTICES FOR THIS. I LOVE MY CAR BUT AM WONDERING WHY SUCH AN EXPENSIVE CAR (AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE) IS HAVING ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS NOW. I WAS EVEN TOLD THAT THE SUSPENSION WILL BE ANOTHER FUTURE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY MANUFACTURER PURPOSELY SEALED THEM WHEN THEY WERE MADE WHICH MAKES THEM IMPOSSIBLE TO SERVICE AND WILL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. THIS WAS NEVER TOLD TO ME WHEN I PURCHASED IT. PLEASE ADVISE IF I HAVE ANY RECOURSE WITH THE MANUFACTURER FOR THESE REPAIRS. THANK YOU. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MITSUBISHI 3000GT. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. SHE WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE GARAGE FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHICH INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION TRANSFER CASE WASN'T SEALED PROPERLY CAUSING THE FLUID TO LEAK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER IN APRIL OF 2003 FOR RECALL 02V143001 POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED; THEREFORE THEY WILL NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 180,000.

MITSUBISHI HAS NOT HONORED THEIR RESPONSIBILITY ON THE RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 02V143001 FOR MY 1997 3000GT VR4. THE LOCAL ZONE REP HAS TURNED IT DONE WITHOUT A PERSONAL VISIT . I HAVE FORCED A MEETING WITH HIM FOR THURSDAY JAN 18TH BUT I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS A WASTE OF MY TIME BY THE LOCAL DEALER. MY CAR HAD THE OIL LEAK AND AFTER RUNNING DRY I HAVE HAD DAMAGE TO THE TRANSFER CASE LEAVING THE CAR IN AN UNSAFE CONDITION. MOST DISTURBING WAS THE FACT THAT THE DEALER TOLD MY 18 YEAR OLD SON IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE HOME. IF THE GEARS HAD LOCKED UP HE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME PUT PRESSURE ON MITSUBISHI TO ACT RESPONSIBLY. *NM

VEHICLE: 1997 MITSUBISHI 3000GT VR4 THE FRONT SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT PROPERLY, THEREBY LEAVING ENOUGH SLACK IN THE SEAT BELT TO DEEM IT UNSAFE WHEN DRIVING. THIS WAS ALSO A PROBLEM ON MY '94 3000GT AND I HAVE HEARD MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS FROM MANY OTHER OWNERS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED, AS IT EFFECTS THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. *NM