1999 Mitsubishi Caribbean Montero

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE BOLT SECURING THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY CAN BECOME LOOSE AND THE PULLEY COULD FALL OFF THE VEHICLE.

Risk. THE CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. ON THE MIRAGE VEHICLES, THE DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW, IMPROVED CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT ON THE OLDER ENGINES. ON NEW ENGINES WHICH ALREADY HAVE THE IMPROVED BOLT, THE DEALER WILL TIGHTEN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT TO THE CORRECT TORQUE SPECIFICATION. ON THE MONTERO MODELS, DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT TO THE CORRECT TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS. IF THE BOLT IS DAMAGED, IT WILL BE REPLACED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON A HIGHWAY DURING DRY ROAD CONDITIONS, THERE WAS A SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED WHO EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WAS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 99V041000, REGARDING THE POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FIRE IN VEHICLE. SHE BELIEVED THERE MAY HAVE BEEN AN EXPLOSION BECAUSE THE WINDOWS WERE SHATTERED ON THE GROUND. SHE SAID THAT IT LOOKED AS THOUGH THE FIRE CAME FROM WHERE THE RADIO AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WAS LOCATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT SHE WOULD NEED TO PAY FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE INSPECTED.*AK

WHEN CONSUMER TURNS OR CHANGES LANES VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT VEHICLE COULD TURN OVER ON THE ROAD. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK *SLC