ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A CONDITION EXISTS THAT ALLOWS OIL TO LEAK FROM THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE TRANSFER CASE.
Safety risk
LOW OIL LEVELS IN THE TRANSFER CASE COULD CAUSE BEARING DAMAGE AND RESULT IN DRIVE TRAIN LOCKUP, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSFER CASE FOR INDICATIONS OF OIL LEAKAGE OR DAMAGE. VEHICLES THAT HAVE OIL LEAKAGE WILL HAVE THE TRANSFER CASE RESEALED AND RE-FILL THE TRANSFER CASE TO THE PROPER LEVEL, OR REPLACED THE TRANSFER CASE IF THERE IS EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DECEMBER 9, 2002. 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 AMERICA AT 1-888-648-7820 OR MITSUBMISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Manufacturer
MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN
Vehicles affected
10,000
Reported to NHTSA
1996-08-12
Owners notified
1996-12-03
Defect description
UNDER CONDITIONS OF FULL LOCK STEERING AND FULL SUSPENSION TRAVEL, THE LEFT OR RIGHT FRONT WHEEL-SIDE BRAKE HOSE CAN CRACK, RESULTING IN BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE.
Safety risk
BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE WILL CAUSE ILLUMINATION OF THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP AND REDUCTION IN BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT WHEEL-SIDE BRAKE HOSES WITH REVISED HOSE ASSEMBLIES.
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Manufacturer
MITSUBISHI AMERICA
Vehicles affected
93,000
Reported to NHTSA
1996-07-25
Owners notified
1996-09-15
Defect description
UNDER CONDITIONS OF FULL LOCK STEERING AND FULL SUSPENSION TRAVEL, THE LEFT OR RIGHT FRONT WHEEL-SIDE BRAKE HOSE CAN CRACK, RESULTING IN BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE.
Safety risk
BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE WILL CAUSE ILLUMINATION OF THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP AND REDUCTION IN BRAKING EFFICIENCY INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT WHEEL-SIDE BRAKE HOSES WITH REVISED HOSE ASSEMBLIES.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Power train: manual transmission
25
98,000 mi
Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)
21
90,000 mi
Seat belts: front: retractor
21
86,353 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift
17
—
Power train: automatic transmission
11
42,000 mi
Seat belts
6
86,000 mi
Power train: driveline
3
140,000 mi
Electrical system
2
143,000 mi
Power train
2
36,000 mi
Power train: driveline: driveshaft
2
—
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module
1
—
Engine
1
148,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine
1
34,468 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline
1
—
Exterior lighting: headlights
1
—
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system
1
115,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system
1
148,000 mi
Parking brake: conventional
1
—
Power train: automatic transmission: cooling unit and lines
1
—
Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft
1
—
Power train: driveline: differential unit
1
—
Seat belts: front
1
75,000 mi
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly
1
—
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
1
—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum: shoes/linings
1
89,000 mi
Suspension: front
1
—
Suspension: front: control arm
1
—
Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm
1
—
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint
1
—
Unknown or other
1
—
Vehicle speed control
1
—
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal
1
—
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly
1
34,468 mi
Visibility: windshield
1
—
Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
1
—
The 1991 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. The 1993 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.