Mitsubishi – All Models

June 2000

Dear Consumer:

Thank you for contacting the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) about your
Mitsubishi. This package covers all models which was still in production
in model year 1991 or later.

Mitsubishi has long made cars under in its own name and as import twins
for Chrysler as a Chrysler model. However, Mitsubishi has not had as reliable
a reputation as other Japanese cars such as Honda and have had their share
of mechanical woes and “driveability” problems. Brakes
have been trouble prone with worse than average marks from Consumer Reports
and eight safety recalls. The company extended the warranty on Galant
automatic overdrive transmissions to 5 years/50,000 miles
after it came out in 1985. Manual 5-speed transmissions
on pickups, and Monteros are trouble prone. Engine damage
caused by timing belt failure were covered by a secret warranty on 2.0L
1989-91 Galants and 1989-91 Mirages and on 1.6L 1989-91 Mirages.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has conducted
several investigations of Mitsubishi defects and generated major recalls
on 700,000 1986-91 models for defective Takata seat belt buckles whose
plastic release button breaks and can cause the buckle to jam open or
closed and on nearly 300,000 1994-96 Eclipse, Spyder and Galant models
for damaged ball joint rubber boots that can lead to ball join separation.
NHTSA opened an investigation in 1999 on the 1994 Mirage which have airbags
that are prone to inadvertently deploy.

You’ll find more information on these and other Mitsubishi defects below
and what you can do about them plus
a complaint box. Your information will
help us build a strong case against Mitsubishi on the defects we know
about and help us spot new ones.

We need you to support the Center for Auto Safety in our fight for consumer
rights and against poorly designed and unsafe cars. Your contribution
is tax-deductible and
entitles your to our quarterly newsletter, Lemon Times. Please
submit the membership form along with your
contribution and complaint. If you contribute $35 or more, we will send you the current edition of The Ultimate Car Book, by Jack Gillis.

Sincerely,

Clarence M. Ditlow
Executive Director

MITSUBISHI FACT SHEET
Mirage, 3000GT, Galant, Eclipse, Montero, Diamante, Expo, Expo
LRV, Spyder, Precis
Technical Service Bulletins (TSB’s) listed in brackets below.

Brakes:
Judder 1997-98 Galant (97-35-004); ABS solenoid valve 1994-95 Galant (95-35-001);
ABS light on 1994-96 Galant (95-35-008)/1995 Eclipse (96-54-005).

Electrical: Intake
air temp wiring harness breaks 1995-97 Eclipse (97-16-002); Battery
discharges during idle 1994-96 Galant (97-16-001); Ignition key hard to
remove 1995-96 Eclipse/Spyder 1994-96 Galant (97-23-006); Sunroof inoperative
1995-96 Eclipse (96-42A-009); Sunroof drive motor insert clip 1995-96
Eclipse (96-42A-10); Rear defogger grid repair, All Models to 1995 (95-54-001);
Window fogging, All Models to1996(96-42A-007).

Engine/Driveability:
Misfire 1995-96 Eclipse (97-16-003); Hesitation/surge
at high speeds 1996-97 Eclipse/Spyder, 1996-97 Galant (97-15-001); Valve
lash adjuster noise 1991-97 3000GT, 1992-96 Diamante, 1990-97 Eclipse,
1992-96 Expo/Expo LRV, 1989-97 Galant, 1990-93 Mirage, 1989-97 Montero
(97-11-002); EGR pipe replacement 1991-93 3000 GT, 1992-93 Diamante (94-15-001);
Oil pump gear 1983-89 Truck, 1987-90 Van/Wagon, 1985-87 2.4L Galant, 1989-92
Galant (M92-11-002); Dies/”check engine” stays on/no A/C 1990-91 Precis
(M91-13-003); Automatic valve adjuster, All Models to 1991 (M91-11-009);
Timing belt failure – Free repair 1990-91 Mirage &
1989-91 Galant 2.0L, 1989-91 1.6L Mirage (M-SC93-003); Timing belt replacement
service campaign 1992 Galant/Eclipse (SC-96-001); Erratic idle 1995-96
Eclipse w/420A engine (96-13-010); Steering drift 1994-94 Galant, 1995
Eclipse (95-33A-001); Timing belt auto-tensioner 1992-96 Eclipse/Galant/Montero
(96-11-006); Spark plug fouling 1983-97 All (95-16-003); Check engine
– DTC 31 1993-94 Diamante (96-13-005).

Transmission:
3rd to 2nd harsh 1997-98 Galant/Eclipse Spyder (97-23-013); Ticking during
A/T gear selection 1995-97 Galant (97-32-001); Shift delay when cold,
1992-93 Eclipse/3000 GT (94-23-002); Hard 1-2 shift 1989-90 5 speed Truck,
Montero (M 91-22-008); Gear selector binds 1986-89 Precis (M90-23-013);
Drivetrain vibration 1990-94 Eclipse. (94-32-001); M/T Hard shift into
reverse 1995-96 Eclipse (96-22-001); A/T oil cooler hose replacement 1993-94
Mirage (SC-95-001); A/T throttle 1992-95 Montero, 1989-96 Mirage (96-23-005,
96-23-004).

Other:
P/S belt misalignment 1995-97 Eclipse (97-37A-001); W/S noise from A-Pillar
1995-97 Eclipse (97-42A-004); Door turn cracked 1996-97 Eclipse (97-52A-001);
Resin boot replacement 1991-96 3000 GT, 92-96 Diamante/Montero, 90-96
Eclipse, 92-95 Expo, 94-96 Galant, 93-96 Mirage, 95-96 3000 GT Spyder
(96-26-001); A/C odor All (M93-55-001); Fuel tank filler tube assembly
1994-95 Galant (95-13-002); Front coil spring 1989-92 Mirage (94-33A-001);
Torsion bar pop 1992-96 Montero (96-33A-002); Steering gear box 1994-95
Montero (96-37A-001); A/C leak 1983-97 all w/R134A A/C system (94-55-001).

MAJOR RECALLS
Copies of recalls may be obtained by calling NHTSA’s Technical
Reference Division at 202-366-2768.

Brakes:
Fade – 10,483 1987 Precis (87V-180); ABS hydraulic unit falls down – 458
1995 Eclipse (94V-149.002); Hose cracks – 93,000 1991-94 3000GT, 1992-95
Diamante, 1992-93 Montero (96V-143); Stop light switch sticks, ABS warning
light activates 17,079 1994-95 Galant (98V-212); Vacuum booster check
valve sticks – 1,303 1998 Mirage (98V-059), 31 1998 Mirage (97V-179);
Fluid leakage – 93,000 1991-94 3000GT, 1992-95 Diamante, 1992-93 Montero
(96V-143), 61,800 1997-98 Montero (98V-220).

Engine/Oil System:
Oil pressure gauge leaks – 2,489 1984 Montero (84V-098); Transfer
case oil leaks 5,854 1991 3000 GT (93V-033.001); Heater coolant leaks
into passenger compartment – 23,935 1988-89 Precis (94V-103), 1,906 1988-89
Precis (95V-059); Battery cable wiring harness grounds – 19,789 1999-00
Galant, ’00 Eclipse (99V-333).

Fuel System:
Throttle valve icing – 7,500 1989 Montero (89V-030); fails fuel tank side
crash test – 12,890 1990-94 Precis (94V-080); Fuel tank gasket &/or
gauge fuel leak – 5,731 1995-96 Eclipse (96V-158.001); Throttle sticks
– 20,974 1998 Eclipse/Spyder (98V-045.001, 98V-045.003).

Seats/Seatbelts:
Rear outboard lower belt attachment bolt – 300 1993 Diamante (93V-044);
Release button breaks – 658,000 1991 3000GT, 1990-91 Eclipse, 1986-89
Galant, 1986-91 Mirage/Montero, 1987-90 Trk Van & 53,162 1990-91 Eclipse,
1991 3000GT, 1986-91 Truck/Montero/Galant/Mirage (95V-103.004 & 98V-311);
Automatic shoulder belt doesn’t move – 38,948 1992-93 Expo/Expo LRV/Mirage
(97V-063.001); Shoulder belt anchorage sticks – 15,405 1993 Mirage (97V-073),
3,978 1993 Mirage (98V-317); Cargo mats interfere with folding third seats-
60,243 1994-98 Montero (98V-205); Incomplete retraction of shoulder belt-
6,979 1992-93 Expo, 1993 Mirage (98V-316).

Other:
Front axle hub washer fails – 2,281 1990 Precis (90V-053); W/S mounting
fails – 26 1990 Eclipse (90V-106.002); Sunroof hinge disengages – 367
1990 Eclipse (90V-056.002); Head restraints – 119 1997 Eclipse (97V-081.001);
Door latch switch – 38,948 1995-96 Expo/Expo LRV/Mirage (97V-063); Transfer
case lockup – 24,275 1990-98 Eclipse (98V-069.001), 9,560 1990-92 Galant
(98V-168); Transmission fluids vents onto exhaust system – 2,000 1999
Montero (99V-041); Ball joint boots damaged – 294,000 1994-96 Galant,
1995-96 Eclipse, 1996 Eclipse Spyder & 1,731 1995 Galant (99V-066.001,
99V-066.002); Steering column multi-function switch lever cracks – 101,360
1999-00 Galant, ’00 Eclipse & 98,817 1999 Eclipse (99V-305, 99V-305.001).