MARCH 2009 --   Mitsubishi is recalling 39,711 MY 2008-2009 Outlander and Lancer vehicles. Incorrect material composition of the brake booster check valve may cause the check valve to stick closed when the engine is shut off. When the vehicle is re-started and put into motion, under certain driving conditions (very slow vehicle maneuvers), there may be insufficient initial braking assist. This may temporarily increase the stopping distance of the vehicle and therefore increase the risk of a crash. Dealers will replace the brake booster check valve free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during April 2009. Owners may contact Mitsubishi at 1-800-222-0037.    09V-077

DECEMBER 2008 -- Mitsubishi is recalling 21,493 MY 2007-2008 Outlander vehicles equipped with LED type stop lamps and distributed in the United States and Puerto Rico. The brake lamp switch may malfunction and cause the stop lamps to not illuminate during brake application. The failure of the brake lamps to illuminate when the brakes are applied will not provide warning to following traffic and could result in a crash. Dealers will replace the stop lamp switch. The recall is expected to begin during February 2009.  08V680

SEPTEMBER 2008 -- Mitsubishi is recalling 45,988 MY 2005-2007 Endeavor, Galant, Eclipse Coupe, and MY 2007 Eclipse Spyder vehicles. The bracket that is the attachment point for the left rear fuel tank mounting strap may have been improperly formed during a metal stamping process. The process may have caused the metal to have a split in the area where the bolt that holds one of the two fuel tank straps to the underside of the vehicle is located. In the event the fuel tank is full and the vehicle is subject to a severe collision, the bracket may break and allow the fuel tank to drop down, possibly causing a fuel leak. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire. Dealers will inspect to see if the left rear fuel tank strap mounting bracket has splitting beyond a specific limit. Vehicles with moderate to severe splitting will be repaired using a reinforcement cap, a special structural adhesive, and a rivet to reinforce the fuel tank mounting bracket. The recall is expected to begin during October 2008.  08V454

JUNE 2008 -- Mitsubishi is recalling 73,000 MY 2004-2005 Galant passenger vehicles. During vehicle use, the ignition key interlock cable (which is a component of the interlock system) may allow the interlocking cam to fall forward and allow the ignition key to be removed from the ignition switch when the gearshift mechanism is not in the park position. If the driver does not shift to park before removing the key and fails to engage the parking brake, the vehicle could roll and a crash could occur. Dealers will inspect and correct these vehicles for the reported condition. The recall is expected to begin during August 2008. Owners may contact Mitsubishi at 1-888-648-7820. This recall was the subject of a Preliminary Evaluation, PE08-006, conducted by the Office of Defects Investigation.  08V276

FEBRUARY 2008 -- Mitsubishi is recalling 5,400 MY 2007-2008 Outlander passenger vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. For vehicles without an electric power seat, the floor harness connector for the power seat is placed directly on the floorboard underneath the carpeting (vehicles with power seats already have the harness elevated). If a vehicle occupant enters the vehicle with a sufficient amount of snow on their feet containing road salt, it is possible for the melted snow mixture to soak the carpet and allow the salt-water solution to come into contact with the unused power seat harness connector. The connector terminal may corrode and allow current to flow, resulting in the gradual heating and melting of the connector and may result in a fire. Dealers will relocate the floor harness beneath both the passenger and driver seats to above the carpet and away from the bottom of the floorboard to prevent contact with any future melt solution. The manufacturer has not yet provided an owner notification schedule. Owners may contact Mitsubishi at 1-800-222-0037. 08V-094

FEBRUARY 2008 -- Mitsubishi is recalling 7,340 MY 2006-2007 Endeavor vehicles. The right side lower seat belt anchor may separate during a severe vehicle crash. A severe crash could allow the seat belt to not properly restrain the passenger and potentially result in injury or death. Dealers will replace the front passenger side seat belt and bracket assembly. The recall is expected to begin during February 2008. 08V-022

NEWS:   Mitsubishi Recalls 120,000 Endeavors

ConsumerAffairs.com -- April 3, 2008 -- The National Highway Traffic Administration reports that Mitsubishi is recalling 120,00 Endeavors from the 2004 to 2006 model years because the ignition interlock system may fail.

“The ignition key interlock cable may allow the interlocking cam to fall forward and allow the ignition key to be removed from the ignition switch when the gearshift mechanism is not in the park position,” NHTSA warns on its Web site.

Should a driver of one of the recalled Mitsubishi Endeavors fail to shift the transmission into park before removing the key and at the same time fails to engaged the parking brake, “the vehicle could roll and a crash could occur,” the safety warning concludes.

The Japanese automaker has not provided NHTSA with a plan to remedy the ignition interlock problem nor has the company established a notification schedule. Mitsubishi dealers, however, will inspect and correct the problem when they receive repair details from Mitsubishi.

Consumers may contact NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://safercar.gov.

MORE RECALL INFORMATION:    Mitsubishi Endeavor

NEWS:   Mitsubishi Endeavor Recalled for Dangerous Seat Belt

ConsumerAffairs.com -- January 30, 2008 -- Mitsubishi is recalling 7,340 Endeavor SUVs because the right side lower seat belt anchor may break off during a severe crash.

“Breakage of the mounting bracket in a severe crash could allow the seat belt to not properly restrain the passenger and potentially result in injury or death,” according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall notice.

Mitsubishi dealers will replace the front passenger side seat belt and bracket assembly free of charge when the recall begins in February.

Endeavor owners may contact Mitsubishi at 1-800-222-0037 or NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY-1-800-424-9153).

MORE RECALL INFORMATION:    Mitsubishi Endeavor