1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR BALL JOINTS IN SEPTEMBER 2000. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT DID NOT REPAIR THE BALL JOINTS. DEALER INDICATED BALL JOINTS DID NOT NEED REPLACEMENT OR REPAIR. HOWEVER, IN DECEMBER 2001 THE BALL JOINTS COLLAPSED. IN JANUARY 2002 DEALER REPAIRED THE BALL JOINTS, BUT DID NOT REPLACE THE ENTIRE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY. CURRENTLY, FRONT END SQUEAKS. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN OUR STREET, MY LOWER BALL JOINT ON MY 1996 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE GS FAILED. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. MY VEHICLE PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT BEFORE THE FAILURE. I DID NOT REALIZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT THE TIME, SO I CORRECTED THE PULL BY TURNING THE WHEEL BACK TO THE LEFT. WITHIN SECONDS OF CORRECTING, THE BALL JOINT FAILED. MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE WAS FORCED INTO THE WHEEL WELL AND VERY NEARLY TORN OFF. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE SAME DEALER TWICE PRIOR REGARDING THE LBJ RECALL. IT UPSETS ME TO KNOW THAT THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THEM WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED FOR THE SECOND TIME. HOWEVER, I FEEL THAT THE DEALERSHIP IN QUESTION WAS NEGLIGENT IN ITS INSPECTION AND DID NOT PERFORM THE REQUIRED INSPECTION FULLY. I HAVE, HOWEVER, RECEIVED SOME ASSISTANCE FROM MITSUBISHI. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS BACK AT THE DELAERSHIP DUE TO OTHER PROBLEMS THAT SURFACED AFTER THE CAR WAS RETURNED. THESE PROBLEMS DID NOT OCCUR BEFORE THE LBJ FAILURE. I AM STILL FIGHTING WITH THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE PROBLEMS RESOLVED. THE DEALER HAS DECIDED TO SWITCH THE BURDEN OF PROOF REGARDING THESE NEW CONDITIONS TO ME, THE CONSUMER. THIS IS HIGHLY UNETHICAL.

MY 1996 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE WAS IN FOR SERVICING THE TIMING BELT. THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLED ME TO ASK IF I WOULD APPROVE AN UPGRADE FOR AN IDLER PULLEY FOR THE AC/POWER STEERING BELT. SINCE THE COST WAS ABOUT $190, I SAID "NO." AFTER PICKING THE CAR UP AND DRIVING HOME, THE AC/POWER STEERING BELT CAME OFF AND I LOST THE POWER STEERING. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE THE $190 UPGRADE DONE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL PART IS DEFECTIVE, AND MITSUBISHI KNOWS THAT IT IS, IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. WHEN THE BELT COMES OFF POWER STEERING IS LOST AND COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE $190, PARTS ONLY, COST IS ALSO EXCESSIVE. THIS IS MERELY AND IDLER PULLEY THAT MANUALLY ADJUSTS THE TENSION TO THIS BELT.