IllustrationWE HAVE THE CAR FOR THE PAST 17 YEARS AND WE ALWASY HAVE A ELECTRICAL, ENGINE AND HEAD LIGHTS PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE THEY CAN FIX IT . WE PAID GOOD MONEY FOR THEM TO FIX IT
2002 Mitsubishi Montero
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Montero years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Mitsubishi Montero are substantially higher than the model-year median of 20.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Montero years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
60–25K
925–50K
1850–75K
1975–100K
25100–150K
4150K+
81 reports with mileage · 30 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports1 fire reports5 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
7 reportsTHE CLUSTER WAS REPAIRED IN THE MONTERO BUT IT ONLY WORKS ONCE IN AWHILE. THE PANEL WILL TELL ME EVERY NOW AND THEN IF I HAVE FUEL OR NOT. ALSO, WE HAD TO PAY TO HAVE AN ISSUE RESOLVED THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE COST US ANYTHING BECAUSE IT WAS SHOWN HERE AS A DEFECT FOR OUR MAKE AND MODEL. OUR CAR WAS LEAKING GAS, AND MITSUBISHI REF…
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THE CLUSTER WAS REPAIRED IN THE MONTERO BUT IT ONLY WORKS ONCE IN AWHILE. THE PANEL WILL TELL ME EVERY NOW AND THEN IF I HAVE FUEL OR NOT. ALSO, WE HAD TO PAY TO HAVE AN ISSUE RESOLVED THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE COST US ANYTHING BECAUSE IT WAS SHOWN HERE AS A DEFECT FOR OUR MAKE AND MODEL. OUR CAR WAS LEAKING GAS, AND MITSUBISHI REFUSED TO FIX IT, AT THEIR EXPENSE, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS LISTED HERE AND THERE WERE VERY MANY COMPLAINTS FILED. WE HAD TO TOW THE CAR IN BECAUSE OF THE LEAK, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. AMAZING THAT SO LITTLE CARE WAS SHOWN BY MITSUBISHI FOR SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THIS WAS THE COMPLAINT AND THE RECALL (NHTSA RECALL ID 01V254001) ABOUT THE CAR BEING PARKED AT AN UPWARD SLOPE, THE FUEL TANK LEVELING VALVE NOT MAINTAINING PROPER SEALING IN THE EVEN THAT THE FUEL EXPANDS FROM THE RISE IN AMBIENT TEMP. LEAKAGE OF PRESSURIZED NITROGEN GAS FROM INSIDE THE ACCUMULATOR, ETC. PLEASE CHECK THE RECALL NOTICE.
MY 2002 MITSUBISHI MONTERO XLS WAS STATIONARY AND PARKED FOR THE NIGHT ON THE STREET IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. AT APPROXIMATELY 4:00 AM, THE ALARM STARTED TO SOUND AND THE LIGHTS WERE FLASHING. THE FIRST NIGHT, THE NEIGHBORS AND POLICE DISCOVERED IT BEFORE ME, SO THE POLICE BROKE INTO MY CAR, OPENED THE HOOD, AND DISCONNECTED THE …
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MY 2002 MITSUBISHI MONTERO XLS WAS STATIONARY AND PARKED FOR THE NIGHT ON THE STREET IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. AT APPROXIMATELY 4:00 AM, THE ALARM STARTED TO SOUND AND THE LIGHTS WERE FLASHING. THE FIRST NIGHT, THE NEIGHBORS AND POLICE DISCOVERED IT BEFORE ME, SO THE POLICE BROKE INTO MY CAR, OPENED THE HOOD, AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. WHEN I RECONNECTED THE BATTERY THE NEXT MORNING, THE ALARM CONTINUED TO SOUND, SO I REMOVED THE FUSE FOR THE HORN AND REPLACED IT LATER THAT DAY, TO BE GREETED WITH SILENCE. FOUR NIGHTS LATER, I HAD THE FUSE FOR THE HORN BACK IN THE VEHICLE. I WAS WOKEN UP AT 2:00 AM TO THE SOUND OF MY HORN BLARING. I ONCE AGAIN, HAD TO REMOVE THE FUSE FOR THE HORN. THIS ISSUE HAS TURNED OUT TO BE BOTH A PUBLIC NUISANCE AND UNSAFE.
WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AT NIGHT, MY 2002 LIMITED MITSUBISHI MONTERO'S CAR ALARM WILL GO OFF AT EXACTLY 4:30 AM EACH MORNING UNTIL WE DISABLE THE ALARM WITH THE REMOTE. WE CHECKED AND NO ONE ELSE OR THING IS BUMPING OR SETTING OFF THE ALARM. *TR
AGING OF THE COSMETIC VINYL COVERING ON STEERING WHEEL THAT COVERS AIR BAG MODULE WILL CONTRACT TOO MUCH IN COLD WEATHER, APPROXIMATELY 40 DEGREES F OR LOWER CAUSING CAR HORN TO GO OFF EVEN WITHOUT ENGINE RUNNING. THE VINYL COVERING SQUEEZES THE CAR HORN CONTACTS THAT ARE JUST UNDER THE COVER AND ON TOP OF AIR BAG MODULE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INACCURATELY DISPLAYED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HOT ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE DID NOT OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FAN CL…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INACCURATELY DISPLAYED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HOT ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE DID NOT OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FAN CLUTCH AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 119,000.
CAR STALLED DUE TO DRINK (WHICH WAS IN DRINK HOLDER) SPILLING ACROSS SHIFT AREA DURING SUDDEN BRAKING - APPARENTLY LIQUID SHORTED OUT WIRING AND CAR WOULDN'T DRIVE AGAIN UNTIL IT DRIED OUT - IF THESE TWO ITEMS MUST BE CLOSE TOGETHER THEN THE GEAR/SHIFT AREA SHOULD BE WATER TIGHT/PROOF - FOR SURE THIS COULD CAUSE DAMAGE/CRASH/DEA…
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CAR STALLED DUE TO DRINK (WHICH WAS IN DRINK HOLDER) SPILLING ACROSS SHIFT AREA DURING SUDDEN BRAKING - APPARENTLY LIQUID SHORTED OUT WIRING AND CAR WOULDN'T DRIVE AGAIN UNTIL IT DRIED OUT - IF THESE TWO ITEMS MUST BE CLOSE TOGETHER THEN THE GEAR/SHIFT AREA SHOULD BE WATER TIGHT/PROOF - FOR SURE THIS COULD CAUSE DAMAGE/CRASH/DEATH/INJURY. *TR
Official recalls
304V428000 · Equipment:other:labels
Sep 1, 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Remedy: 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 EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. THE NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIVA OWNERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL OR MAY 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.
04V319000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage
Jul 6, 2004
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FULL AND THE VEHICLE IS PARKED FACING FORWARD ON AN UPWARD SLOPE, THE FUEL TANK LEVELING VALVE MAY NOT MAINTAIN PROPER SEALING IN THE EVENT THE FUEL EXPANDS FROM A RISE IN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE FUEL LEVELING VALVE DOES NOT SEAL PROPERLY, FUEL MAY LEAK ONTO THE GROUND. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEVELING VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037 OR MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.
01V254001 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum
Aug 3, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE ACCUMULATOR THAT IS INSTALLED ON THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, THIS COULD RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF THE PRESSURIZED NITROGEN GAS FROM INSIDE THE ACCUMULATOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE LOSS OF THIS GAS PRESSURE COULD RESULT IN AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH PANEL WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, AND POSSIBLY A DELAYED FIRST TIME BRAKE BOOST ASSIST AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED ACCUMULATOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION MAILING BEGAN OCTOBER 1, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1RQ06007 · Brake Booster Accumulator Failure
Opened May 24, 2006 · Closed Oct 12, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:fluid; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:hydraulic; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:hydraulic:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
IN OCTOBER 2001, MITSUBISHI NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO. 01V-254) TO REMEDY A DEFECT CONDITION THAT COULD RESULT IN A LEAK OF PRESSURIZED NITROGEN GAS FROM THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR IN APPROXIMATELY 39,000 MODEL YEARS (MY) 2001-2002 MITSUBISHI MONTERO VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 12, 1999 THROUGH JUNE 20, 2001. ACCORDING TO MITSUBISHI, THE ACCUMULATOR THAT IS INSTALLED ON THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED IMPROPERLY, WHICH OVER A PERIOD OF TIME MAY RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF THE PRESSURIZED NITROGEN GAS FROM INSIDE THE ACCUMULATOR. THE LOSS OF THIS GAS PRESSURE MAY RESULT IN AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH PANEL WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, AND POSSIBLY A DELAYED FIRST TIME BRAKE BOOST ASSIST AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.DURING RQ06-007, MITSUBISHI INDICATED THAT THE DECISION TO CONDUCT RECALL 01V-254 WAS BASED ON PROJECTED FAILURE RATES OF 36.5% WITHIN 2-YEARS OF SERVICE AND 100% IN THE FIRST 4-YEARS OF SERVICE. THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED RQ06-007 BASED ON SIX COMPLAINTS OF HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR FAILURE IN THE APPROXIMATELY 23,335 MY 2002 MONTERO VEHICLES THAT WERE BUILT AFTER THE VEHICLES RECALLED IN 01V-254.ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGED THAT THE FAILURE RESULTED IN A CRASH.DURING THE INVESTIGATION, ODI IDENTIFIED 20 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND 58 WARRANTY CLAIMS RELATED TO BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, RESULTING IN A COMPLAINT RATE OF APPROXIMATELY 85 PER 100,000 VEHICLES AND A WARRANTY CLAIM RATE OF 0.25%.MITSUBISHI?S PROJECTED ACCUMULATOR FAILURE RATES AT 2- AND 4-YEARS IN SERVICE FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE 0.5% AND 1.3% RESPECTIVELY AND ODI?S ANALYSES PRODUCED SIMILAR RESULTS.ODI?S INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THE INCIDENTS OF INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT TYPICALLY OCCURRED WITHIN THE FIRST FEW SECONDS AFTER THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND WERE ACCOMPANIED BY NOISE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCUMULATOR CHARGING.ODI?S INVESTIGATION OF THE CRASH INCIDENT CONCLUDED THAT IT COULD NOT BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT CONDITION.ODI ALSO COLLECTED AND ANALYZED DATA FOR POST-REMEDY ACCUMULATOR FAILURES IN VEHICLES THAT HAD THE 01V-254 REPAIRS COMPLETED.MITSUBISHI PROVIDED DATA DURING THE INVESTIGATION THAT INDICATED 95% OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES HAD RECEIVED THE RECALL REMEDY.FOR THESE VEHICLES, THERE WERE 14 COMPLAINTS AND 249 WARRANTY CLAIMS IDENTIFIED, RESULTING IN A COMPLAINT RATE OF 28 PER 100,000 VEHICLES AND A WARRANTY CLAIM RATE OF 0.64%.ANALYSIS OF THESE FAILURES SHOWED A DECLINING TREND WITH INCREASING VEHICLE AGE, WITH ALMOST HALF OF THE WARRANTY CLAIMS OCCURRING WITHIN THE FIRST 12-MONTHS AFTER RECEIVING THE RECALL REMEDY. DUE TO THE LOW FAILURE RATES, ABSENCE OF RELATED CRASHES, AND NO INDICATION OF INCREASING FAILURE TRENDS IN EITHER THE SUBJECT VEHICLES OR POST-REPAIR RECALL POPULATION THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.
Additional source detail variants (7)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:fluid
IN OCTOBER 2001, MITSUBISHI NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO. 01V-254) TO REMEDY A DEFECT CONDITION THAT COULD RESULT IN A LEAK OF PRESSURIZED NITROGEN GAS FROM THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR IN APPROXIMATELY 39,000 MODEL YEARS (MY) 2001-2002 MITSUBISHI MONTERO VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 12, 1999 THROUGH JUNE 20, 2001. ACCORDING TO MITSUBISHI, THE ACCUMULATOR THAT IS INSTALLED ON THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED IMPROPERLY, WHICH OVER A PERIOD OF TIME MAY RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF THE PRESSURIZED NITROGEN GAS FROM INSIDE THE ACCUMULATOR. THE LOSS OF THIS GAS PRESSURE MAY RESULT IN AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH PANEL WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, AND POSSIBLY A DELAYED FIRST TIME BRAKE BOOST ASSIST AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.DURING RQ06-007, MITSUBISHI INDICATED THAT THE DECISION TO CONDUCT RECALL 01V-254 WAS BASED ON PROJECTED FAILURE RATES OF 36.5% WITHIN 2-YEARS OF SERVICE AND 100% IN THE FIRST 4-YEARS OF SERVICE. THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED RQ06-007 BASED ON SIX COMPLAINTS OF HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR FAILURE IN THE APPROXIMATELY 23,335 MY 2002 MONTERO VEHICLES THAT WERE BUILT AFTER THE VEHICLES RECALLED IN 01V-254.ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGED THAT THE FAILURE RESULTED IN A CRASH.DURING THE INVESTIGATION, ODI IDENTIFIED 20 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND 58 WARRANTY CLAIMS RELATED TO BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, RESULTING IN A COMPLAINT RATE OF APPROXIMATELY 85 PER 100,000 VEHICLES AND A WARRANTY CLAIM RATE OF 0.25%.MITSUBISHI?S PROJECTED ACCUMULATOR FAILURE RATES AT 2- AND 4-YEARS IN SERVICE FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE 0.5% AND 1.3% RESPECTIVELY AND ODI?S ANALYSES PRODUCED SIMILAR RESULTS.ODI?S INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THE INCIDENTS OF INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT TYPICALLY OCCURRED WITHIN THE FIRST FEW SECONDS AFTER THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND WERE ACCOMPANIED BY NOISE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCUMULATOR CHARGING.ODI?S INVESTIGATION OF THE CRASH INCIDENT CONCLUDED THAT IT COULD NOT BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT CONDITION.ODI ALSO COLLECTED AND ANALYZED DATA FOR POST-REMEDY ACCUMULATOR FAILURES IN VEHICLES THAT HAD THE 01V-254 REPAIRS COMPLETED.MITSUBISHI PROVIDED DATA DURING THE INVESTIGATION THAT INDICATED 95% OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES HAD RECEIVED THE RECALL REMEDY.FOR THESE VEHICLES, THERE WERE 14 COMPLAINTS AND 249 WARRANTY CLAIMS IDENTIFIED, RESULTING IN A COMPLAINT RATE OF 28 PER 100,000 VEHICLES AND A WARRANTY CLAIM RATE OF 0.64%.ANALYSIS OF THESE FAILURES SHOWED A DECLINING TREND WITH INCREASING VEHICLE AGE, WITH ALMOST HALF OF THE WARRANTY CLAIMS OCCURRING WITHIN THE FIRST 12-MONTHS AFTER RECEIVING THE RECALL REMEDY. DUE TO THE LOW FAILURE RATES, ABSENCE OF RELATED CRASHES, AND NO INDICATION OF INCREASING FAILURE TRENDS IN EITHER THE SUBJECT VEHICLES OR POST-REPAIR RECALL POPULATION THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
IN OCTOBER 2001, MITSUBISHI NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO. 01V-254) TO REMEDY A DEFECT CONDITION THAT COULD RESULT IN A LEAK OF PRESSURIZED NITROGEN GAS FROM THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR IN APPROXIMATELY 39,000 MODEL YEARS (MY) 2001-2002 MITSUBISHI MONTERO VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 12, 1999 THROUGH JUNE 20, 2001. ACCORDING TO MITSUBISHI, THE ACCUMULATOR THAT IS INSTALLED ON THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED IMPROPERLY, WHICH OVER A PERIOD OF TIME MAY RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF THE PRESSURIZED NITROGEN GAS FROM INSIDE THE ACCUMULATOR. THE LOSS OF THIS GAS PRESSURE MAY RESULT IN AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH PANEL WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, AND POSSIBLY A DELAYED FIRST TIME BRAKE BOOST ASSIST AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.DURING RQ06-007, MITSUBISHI INDICATED THAT THE DECISION TO CONDUCT RECALL 01V-254 WAS BASED ON PROJECTED FAILURE RATES OF 36.5% WITHIN 2-YEARS OF SERVICE AND 100% IN THE FIRST 4-YEARS OF SERVICE. THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED RQ06-007 BASED ON SIX COMPLAINTS OF HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR FAILURE IN THE APPROXIMATELY 23,335 MY 2002 MONTERO VEHICLES THAT WERE BUILT AFTER THE VEHICLES RECALLED IN 01V-254.ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGED THAT THE FAILURE RESULTED IN A CRASH.DURING THE INVESTIGATION, ODI IDENTIFIED 20 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND 58 WARRANTY CLAIMS RELATED TO BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, RESULTING IN A COMPLAINT RATE OF APPROXIMATELY 85 PER 100,000 VEHICLES AND A WARRANTY CLAIM RATE OF 0.25%.MITSUBISHI?S PROJECTED ACCUMULATOR FAILURE RATES AT 2- AND 4-YEARS IN SERVICE FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE 0.5% AND 1.3% RESPECTIVELY AND ODI?S ANALYSES PRODUCED SIMILAR RESULTS.ODI?S INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THE INCIDENTS OF INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT TYPICALLY OCCURRED WITHIN THE FIRST FEW SECONDS AFTER THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND WERE ACCOMPANIED BY NOISE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCUMULATOR CHARGING.ODI?S INVESTIGATION OF THE CRASH INCIDENT CONCLUDED THAT IT COULD NOT BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT CONDITION.ODI ALSO COLLECTED AND ANALYZED DATA FOR POST-REMEDY ACCUMULATOR FAILURES IN VEHICLES THAT HAD THE 01V-254 REPAIRS COMPLETED.MITSUBISHI PROVIDED DATA DURING THE INVESTIGATION THAT INDICATED 95% OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES HAD RECEIVED THE RECALL REMEDY.FOR THESE VEHICLES, THERE WERE 14 COMPLAINTS AND 249 WARRANTY CLAIMS IDENTIFIED, RESULTING IN A COMPLAINT RATE OF 28 PER 100,000 VEHICLES AND A WARRANTY CLAIM RATE OF 0.64%.ANALYSIS OF THESE FAILURES SHOWED A DECLINING TREND WITH INCREASING VEHICLE AGE, WITH ALMOST HALF OF THE WARRANTY CLAIMS OCCURRING WITHIN THE FIRST 12-MONTHS AFTER RECEIVING THE RECALL REMEDY. DUE TO THE LOW FAILURE RATES, ABSENCE OF RELATED CRASHES, AND NO INDICATION OF INCREASING FAILURE TRENDS IN EITHER THE SUBJECT VEHICLES OR POST-REPAIR RECALL POPULATION THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:hydraulic:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
IN OCTOBER 2001, MITSUBISHI NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO. 01V-254) TO REMEDY A DEFECT CONDITION THAT COULD RESULT IN A LEAK OF PRESSURIZED NITROGEN GAS FROM THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR IN APPROXIMATELY 39,000 MODEL YEARS (MY) 2001-2002 MITSUBISHI MONTERO VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 12, 1999 THROUGH JUNE 20, 2001. ACCORDING TO MITSUBISHI, THE ACCUMULATOR THAT IS INSTALLED ON THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED IMPROPERLY, WHICH OVER A PERIOD OF TIME MAY RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF THE PRESSURIZED NITROGEN GAS FROM INSIDE THE ACCUMULATOR. THE LOSS OF THIS GAS PRESSURE MAY RESULT IN AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH PANEL WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, AND POSSIBLY A DELAYED FIRST TIME BRAKE BOOST ASSIST AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.DURING RQ06-007, MITSUBISHI INDICATED THAT THE DECISION TO CONDUCT RECALL 01V-254 WAS BASED ON PROJECTED FAILURE RATES OF 36.5% WITHIN 2-YEARS OF SERVICE AND 100% IN THE FIRST 4-YEARS OF SERVICE. THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED RQ06-007 BASED ON SIX COMPLAINTS OF HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR FAILURE IN THE APPROXIMATELY 23,335 MY 2002 MONTERO VEHICLES THAT WERE BUILT AFTER THE VEHICLES RECALLED IN 01V-254.ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGED THAT THE FAILURE RESULTED IN A CRASH.DURING THE INVESTIGATION, ODI IDENTIFIED 20 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND 58 WARRANTY CLAIMS RELATED TO BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, RESULTING IN A COMPLAINT RATE OF APPROXIMATELY 85 PER 100,000 VEHICLES AND A WARRANTY CLAIM RATE OF 0.25%.MITSUBISHI?S PROJECTED ACCUMULATOR FAILURE RATES AT 2- AND 4-YEARS IN SERVICE FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE 0.5% AND 1.3% RESPECTIVELY AND ODI?S ANALYSES PRODUCED SIMILAR RESULTS.ODI?S INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THE INCIDENTS OF INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT TYPICALLY OCCURRED WITHIN THE FIRST FEW SECONDS AFTER THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND WERE ACCOMPANIED BY NOISE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCUMULATOR CHARGING.ODI?S INVESTIGATION OF THE CRASH INCIDENT CONCLUDED THAT IT COULD NOT BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT CONDITION.ODI ALSO COLLECTED AND ANALYZED DATA FOR POST-REMEDY ACCUMULATOR FAILURES IN VEHICLES THAT HAD THE 01V-254 REPAIRS COMPLETED.MITSUBISHI PROVIDED DATA DURING THE INVESTIGATION THAT INDICATED 95% OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES HAD RECEIVED THE RECALL REMEDY.FOR THESE VEHICLES, THERE WERE 14 COMPLAINTS AND 249 WARRANTY CLAIMS IDENTIFIED, RESULTING IN A COMPLAINT RATE OF 28 PER 100,000 VEHICLES AND A WARRANTY CLAIM RATE OF 0.64%.ANALYSIS OF THESE FAILURES SHOWED A DECLINING TREND WITH INCREASING VEHICLE AGE, WITH ALMOST HALF OF THE WARRANTY CLAIMS OCCURRING WITHIN THE FIRST 12-MONTHS AFTER RECEIVING THE RECALL REMEDY. DUE TO THE LOW FAILURE RATES, ABSENCE OF RELATED CRASHES, AND NO INDICATION OF INCREASING FAILURE TRENDS IN EITHER THE SUBJECT VEHICLES OR POST-REPAIR RECALL POPULATION THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:hydraulic
IN OCTOBER 2001, MITSUBISHI NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO. 01V-254) TO REMEDY A DEFECT CONDITION THAT COULD RESULT IN A LEAK OF PRESSURIZED NITROGEN GAS FROM THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR IN APPROXIMATELY 39,000 MODEL YEARS (MY) 2001-2002 MITSUBISHI MONTERO VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 12, 1999 THROUGH JUNE 20, 2001. ACCORDING TO MITSUBISHI, THE ACCUMULATOR THAT IS INSTALLED ON THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED IMPROPERLY, WHICH OVER A PERIOD OF TIME MAY RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF THE PRESSURIZED NITROGEN GAS FROM INSIDE THE ACCUMULATOR. THE LOSS OF THIS GAS PRESSURE MAY RESULT IN AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH PANEL WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, AND POSSIBLY A DELAYED FIRST TIME BRAKE BOOST ASSIST AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.DURING RQ06-007, MITSUBISHI INDICATED THAT THE DECISION TO CONDUCT RECALL 01V-254 WAS BASED ON PROJECTED FAILURE RATES OF 36.5% WITHIN 2-YEARS OF SERVICE AND 100% IN THE FIRST 4-YEARS OF SERVICE. THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED RQ06-007 BASED ON SIX COMPLAINTS OF HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR FAILURE IN THE APPROXIMATELY 23,335 MY 2002 MONTERO VEHICLES THAT WERE BUILT AFTER THE VEHICLES RECALLED IN 01V-254.ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGED THAT THE FAILURE RESULTED IN A CRASH.DURING THE INVESTIGATION, ODI IDENTIFIED 20 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND 58 WARRANTY CLAIMS RELATED TO BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, RESULTING IN A COMPLAINT RATE OF APPROXIMATELY 85 PER 100,000 VEHICLES AND A WARRANTY CLAIM RATE OF 0.25%.MITSUBISHI?S PROJECTED ACCUMULATOR FAILURE RATES AT 2- AND 4-YEARS IN SERVICE FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE 0.5% AND 1.3% RESPECTIVELY AND ODI?S ANALYSES PRODUCED SIMILAR RESULTS.ODI?S INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THE INCIDENTS OF INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT TYPICALLY OCCURRED WITHIN THE FIRST FEW SECONDS AFTER THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND WERE ACCOMPANIED BY NOISE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCUMULATOR CHARGING.ODI?S INVESTIGATION OF THE CRASH INCIDENT CONCLUDED THAT IT COULD NOT BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT CONDITION.ODI ALSO COLLECTED AND ANALYZED DATA FOR POST-REMEDY ACCUMULATOR FAILURES IN VEHICLES THAT HAD THE 01V-254 REPAIRS COMPLETED.MITSUBISHI PROVIDED DATA DURING THE INVESTIGATION THAT INDICATED 95% OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES HAD RECEIVED THE RECALL REMEDY.FOR THESE VEHICLES, THERE WERE 14 COMPLAINTS AND 249 WARRANTY CLAIMS IDENTIFIED, RESULTING IN A COMPLAINT RATE OF 28 PER 100,000 VEHICLES AND A WARRANTY CLAIM RATE OF 0.64%.ANALYSIS OF THESE FAILURES SHOWED A DECLINING TREND WITH INCREASING VEHICLE AGE, WITH ALMOST HALF OF THE WARRANTY CLAIMS OCCURRING WITHIN THE FIRST 12-MONTHS AFTER RECEIVING THE RECALL REMEDY. DUE TO THE LOW FAILURE RATES, ABSENCE OF RELATED CRASHES, AND NO INDICATION OF INCREASING FAILURE TRENDS IN EITHER THE SUBJECT VEHICLES OR POST-REPAIR RECALL POPULATION THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist
IN OCTOBER 2001, MITSUBISHI NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO. 01V-254) TO REMEDY A DEFECT CONDITION THAT COULD RESULT IN A LEAK OF PRESSURIZED NITROGEN GAS FROM THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR IN APPROXIMATELY 39,000 MODEL YEARS (MY) 2001-2002 MITSUBISHI MONTERO VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 12, 1999 THROUGH JUNE 20, 2001. ACCORDING TO MITSUBISHI, THE ACCUMULATOR THAT IS INSTALLED ON THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED IMPROPERLY, WHICH OVER A PERIOD OF TIME MAY RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF THE PRESSURIZED NITROGEN GAS FROM INSIDE THE ACCUMULATOR. THE LOSS OF THIS GAS PRESSURE MAY RESULT IN AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH PANEL WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, AND POSSIBLY A DELAYED FIRST TIME BRAKE BOOST ASSIST AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.DURING RQ06-007, MITSUBISHI INDICATED THAT THE DECISION TO CONDUCT RECALL 01V-254 WAS BASED ON PROJECTED FAILURE RATES OF 36.5% WITHIN 2-YEARS OF SERVICE AND 100% IN THE FIRST 4-YEARS OF SERVICE. THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED RQ06-007 BASED ON SIX COMPLAINTS OF HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR FAILURE IN THE APPROXIMATELY 23,335 MY 2002 MONTERO VEHICLES THAT WERE BUILT AFTER THE VEHICLES RECALLED IN 01V-254.ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGED THAT THE FAILURE RESULTED IN A CRASH.DURING THE INVESTIGATION, ODI IDENTIFIED 20 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND 58 WARRANTY CLAIMS RELATED TO BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, RESULTING IN A COMPLAINT RATE OF APPROXIMATELY 85 PER 100,000 VEHICLES AND A WARRANTY CLAIM RATE OF 0.25%.MITSUBISHI?S PROJECTED ACCUMULATOR FAILURE RATES AT 2- AND 4-YEARS IN SERVICE FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE 0.5% AND 1.3% RESPECTIVELY AND ODI?S ANALYSES PRODUCED SIMILAR RESULTS.ODI?S INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THE INCIDENTS OF INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT TYPICALLY OCCURRED WITHIN THE FIRST FEW SECONDS AFTER THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND WERE ACCOMPANIED BY NOISE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCUMULATOR CHARGING.ODI?S INVESTIGATION OF THE CRASH INCIDENT CONCLUDED THAT IT COULD NOT BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT CONDITION.ODI ALSO COLLECTED AND ANALYZED DATA FOR POST-REMEDY ACCUMULATOR FAILURES IN VEHICLES THAT HAD THE 01V-254 REPAIRS COMPLETED.MITSUBISHI PROVIDED DATA DURING THE INVESTIGATION THAT INDICATED 95% OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES HAD RECEIVED THE RECALL REMEDY.FOR THESE VEHICLES, THERE WERE 14 COMPLAINTS AND 249 WARRANTY CLAIMS IDENTIFIED, RESULTING IN A COMPLAINT RATE OF 28 PER 100,000 VEHICLES AND A WARRANTY CLAIM RATE OF 0.64%.ANALYSIS OF THESE FAILURES SHOWED A DECLINING TREND WITH INCREASING VEHICLE AGE, WITH ALMOST HALF OF THE WARRANTY CLAIMS OCCURRING WITHIN THE FIRST 12-MONTHS AFTER RECEIVING THE RECALL REMEDY. DUE TO THE LOW FAILURE RATES, ABSENCE OF RELATED CRASHES, AND NO INDICATION OF INCREASING FAILURE TRENDS IN EITHER THE SUBJECT VEHICLES OR POST-REPAIR RECALL POPULATION THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
IN OCTOBER 2001, MITSUBISHI NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO. 01V-254) TO REMEDY A DEFECT CONDITION THAT COULD RESULT IN A LEAK OF PRESSURIZED NITROGEN GAS FROM THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR IN APPROXIMATELY 39,000 MODEL YEARS (MY) 2001-2002 MITSUBISHI MONTERO VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 12, 1999 THROUGH JUNE 20, 2001. ACCORDING TO MITSUBISHI, THE ACCUMULATOR THAT IS INSTALLED ON THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED IMPROPERLY, WHICH OVER A PERIOD OF TIME MAY RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF THE PRESSURIZED NITROGEN GAS FROM INSIDE THE ACCUMULATOR. THE LOSS OF THIS GAS PRESSURE MAY RESULT IN AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH PANEL WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, AND POSSIBLY A DELAYED FIRST TIME BRAKE BOOST ASSIST AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.DURING RQ06-007, MITSUBISHI INDICATED THAT THE DECISION TO CONDUCT RECALL 01V-254 WAS BASED ON PROJECTED FAILURE RATES OF 36.5% WITHIN 2-YEARS OF SERVICE AND 100% IN THE FIRST 4-YEARS OF SERVICE. THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED RQ06-007 BASED ON SIX COMPLAINTS OF HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR FAILURE IN THE APPROXIMATELY 23,335 MY 2002 MONTERO VEHICLES THAT WERE BUILT AFTER THE VEHICLES RECALLED IN 01V-254.ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGED THAT THE FAILURE RESULTED IN A CRASH.DURING THE INVESTIGATION, ODI IDENTIFIED 20 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND 58 WARRANTY CLAIMS RELATED TO BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, RESULTING IN A COMPLAINT RATE OF APPROXIMATELY 85 PER 100,000 VEHICLES AND A WARRANTY CLAIM RATE OF 0.25%.MITSUBISHI?S PROJECTED ACCUMULATOR FAILURE RATES AT 2- AND 4-YEARS IN SERVICE FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE 0.5% AND 1.3% RESPECTIVELY AND ODI?S ANALYSES PRODUCED SIMILAR RESULTS.ODI?S INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THE INCIDENTS OF INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT TYPICALLY OCCURRED WITHIN THE FIRST FEW SECONDS AFTER THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND WERE ACCOMPANIED BY NOISE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCUMULATOR CHARGING.ODI?S INVESTIGATION OF THE CRASH INCIDENT CONCLUDED THAT IT COULD NOT BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT CONDITION.ODI ALSO COLLECTED AND ANALYZED DATA FOR POST-REMEDY ACCUMULATOR FAILURES IN VEHICLES THAT HAD THE 01V-254 REPAIRS COMPLETED.MITSUBISHI PROVIDED DATA DURING THE INVESTIGATION THAT INDICATED 95% OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES HAD RECEIVED THE RECALL REMEDY.FOR THESE VEHICLES, THERE WERE 14 COMPLAINTS AND 249 WARRANTY CLAIMS IDENTIFIED, RESULTING IN A COMPLAINT RATE OF 28 PER 100,000 VEHICLES AND A WARRANTY CLAIM RATE OF 0.64%.ANALYSIS OF THESE FAILURES SHOWED A DECLINING TREND WITH INCREASING VEHICLE AGE, WITH ALMOST HALF OF THE WARRANTY CLAIMS OCCURRING WITHIN THE FIRST 12-MONTHS AFTER RECEIVING THE RECALL REMEDY. DUE TO THE LOW FAILURE RATES, ABSENCE OF RELATED CRASHES, AND NO INDICATION OF INCREASING FAILURE TRENDS IN EITHER THE SUBJECT VEHICLES OR POST-REPAIR RECALL POPULATION THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum
IN OCTOBER 2001, MITSUBISHI NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO. 01V-254) TO REMEDY A DEFECT CONDITION THAT COULD RESULT IN A LEAK OF PRESSURIZED NITROGEN GAS FROM THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR IN APPROXIMATELY 39,000 MODEL YEARS (MY) 2001-2002 MITSUBISHI MONTERO VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 12, 1999 THROUGH JUNE 20, 2001. ACCORDING TO MITSUBISHI, THE ACCUMULATOR THAT IS INSTALLED ON THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED IMPROPERLY, WHICH OVER A PERIOD OF TIME MAY RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF THE PRESSURIZED NITROGEN GAS FROM INSIDE THE ACCUMULATOR. THE LOSS OF THIS GAS PRESSURE MAY RESULT IN AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH PANEL WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, AND POSSIBLY A DELAYED FIRST TIME BRAKE BOOST ASSIST AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.DURING RQ06-007, MITSUBISHI INDICATED THAT THE DECISION TO CONDUCT RECALL 01V-254 WAS BASED ON PROJECTED FAILURE RATES OF 36.5% WITHIN 2-YEARS OF SERVICE AND 100% IN THE FIRST 4-YEARS OF SERVICE. THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED RQ06-007 BASED ON SIX COMPLAINTS OF HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR FAILURE IN THE APPROXIMATELY 23,335 MY 2002 MONTERO VEHICLES THAT WERE BUILT AFTER THE VEHICLES RECALLED IN 01V-254.ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGED THAT THE FAILURE RESULTED IN A CRASH.DURING THE INVESTIGATION, ODI IDENTIFIED 20 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND 58 WARRANTY CLAIMS RELATED TO BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, RESULTING IN A COMPLAINT RATE OF APPROXIMATELY 85 PER 100,000 VEHICLES AND A WARRANTY CLAIM RATE OF 0.25%.MITSUBISHI?S PROJECTED ACCUMULATOR FAILURE RATES AT 2- AND 4-YEARS IN SERVICE FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE 0.5% AND 1.3% RESPECTIVELY AND ODI?S ANALYSES PRODUCED SIMILAR RESULTS.ODI?S INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THE INCIDENTS OF INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT TYPICALLY OCCURRED WITHIN THE FIRST FEW SECONDS AFTER THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND WERE ACCOMPANIED BY NOISE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCUMULATOR CHARGING.ODI?S INVESTIGATION OF THE CRASH INCIDENT CONCLUDED THAT IT COULD NOT BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT CONDITION.ODI ALSO COLLECTED AND ANALYZED DATA FOR POST-REMEDY ACCUMULATOR FAILURES IN VEHICLES THAT HAD THE 01V-254 REPAIRS COMPLETED.MITSUBISHI PROVIDED DATA DURING THE INVESTIGATION THAT INDICATED 95% OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES HAD RECEIVED THE RECALL REMEDY.FOR THESE VEHICLES, THERE WERE 14 COMPLAINTS AND 249 WARRANTY CLAIMS IDENTIFIED, RESULTING IN A COMPLAINT RATE OF 28 PER 100,000 VEHICLES AND A WARRANTY CLAIM RATE OF 0.64%.ANALYSIS OF THESE FAILURES SHOWED A DECLINING TREND WITH INCREASING VEHICLE AGE, WITH ALMOST HALF OF THE WARRANTY CLAIMS OCCURRING WITHIN THE FIRST 12-MONTHS AFTER RECEIVING THE RECALL REMEDY. DUE TO THE LOW FAILURE RATES, ABSENCE OF RELATED CRASHES, AND NO INDICATION OF INCREASING FAILURE TRENDS IN EITHER THE SUBJECT VEHICLES OR POST-REPAIR RECALL POPULATION THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.