1997 Mitsubishi Montero Sport

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES: MIRAGE MODEL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.5L ENGINES; MONTERO SPORT MODELS EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L ENGINES; AND MONTERO MODELS EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L ENGINES. 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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 55 AND 65 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BALL JOINTS, WHEEL BEARINGS, TRANSMISSION MOUNT, UNIVERSAL BOLT, AND TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V311001 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), BUT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 114,000.

VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND STALLED. CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT FELL OUT AND HARMONIC BALANCER FELL OFF.CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. *TR

COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE, CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT DEFECTIVE SHOULD HAVE RECALLED ALL OF THEM. *TR

CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT CAME LOOSE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. HAD TO STEER VERY HARD MANUALLY TO PARK CAR. DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

STEERING TERMINAL CAME OFF MAKING THE VEHICLE GO IN DANGER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE SO IT COULD WARM UP BEFORE DRIVING AND WENT BACK INTO THE HOUSE. WHILE IN THE HOUSE, SHE HEARD A LOUD BOOM SIMILAR TO AN EXPLOSION. SHE FOUND THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE SALVAGE YARD. THE SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE SUSTAINED PROPERTY DAMAGE. IN JULY OF 2008, THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING WHEN SHE ACTIVATED THE HEADLIGHTS. THE HEADLIGHTS CAUGHT FIRE AND MELTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT DUE TO A SHORT ON THE CONNECTOR WIRE, THE AIR BAG CONNECTOR WIRE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 116,000. UPDATED 02/24/09. *LJ UPDATED 02/24/09. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NUT AND BOLT PULLED OUT FROM THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO PULL TO THE LEFT. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNLESS THE MANUFACTURER APPROVED THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V311001 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE). THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 126,000.

I OWN A 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT LS. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR A CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT, NHTSA RECALL ID: 00V311001. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE MITSUBISHI DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE BOLT. THIS WAS BACK IN 2000. IN FEBRUARY OF 2008 I WAS DRIVING, GETTING READY TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I HEARD A GRINDING AND THEN A LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE, I LOST POWER STEERING AND QUICKLY PULLED OVER. POPPED THE HOOD OF MY VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY HAD BROKEN OFF. I TOWED IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT HAD BROKEN. HE GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF $2400 TO HAVE THE CRANKSHAFT REPLACED, OR $3100 TO PUT IN A REBUILT ENGINE. I CALLED MITSUBIHSI AND TALKED TO S LADY WHO WAS VERY RUDE, SHE WOULD HARDLY LET ME SAY ANYTHING. SHE STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO AND TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP THAT HAD REPLACED THE BOLT. THAT DEALERSHIP IS NO LONGER THERE, WENT OUT OF BUSINESS. LOOKING ONLINE I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO PEOPLE WHO OWN BOTH THE 97 AND 98 MODELS OF MONTERO SPORTS, EVEN AFTER BRINGING THEIR VEHICLES IN FOR THE RECALL. IF THIS HAD OCCURRED WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED AS I LOST ALL POWER STEERING. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, I KNOW THAT MITSUBISHI ISSUED A RECALL TO FIX THIS BUT THEIR FIX DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I ALSO FEEL THAT MITSUBISHI SHOULD PAY FOR FIXING MY VEHICLE AS IT IS RELATED TO THE BOLT BREAKING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. HER VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO RECALL #00V311001 AFFECTING THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE THE MECHANIC TIGHTENED THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT. AFTER SIX MONTHS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE ENGINE, OIL, AND BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE STEERING COLUMN ALSO BEGAN TO TIGHTEN UP. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER SINCE HER VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER THE RECALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS. THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY WAS REPLACED. TWO MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD SHUTTER THEN THE PULLEY FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE HER WITH ANY ASSISTANCE. SHE HAS PICTURES OF THE FAILED COMPONENT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 149,000. UPDATED 02-11-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR REPAIRS $1,300.00 AND RECEIVED A DISCOUNT OF $200 FROM THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER FURTHER STATED THE DEALER ALSO FOUND ANOTHER DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE IN WHICH THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A 2ND INCIDENT WITH THE BRAKE RECALL. UPDATED 02/11/08 *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOLT IN THE VEHICLE'S CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BACKED OUT. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE PULLEY TO BECOME LOOSE AND SHEER THE PIN ON THE END OF THE CRANKSHAFT. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING, BRAKES, AND ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 109,000.

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT BROKE ON 10-24-05. SHE HAD RECALL 00V311000 REPAIR WORK DONE IN OCTOBER -2002. THE CONTACT WANTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT BECAUSE SHE WAS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CRANK SHAFT. SHE FELT THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED PROPERLY THE FIRST TIME. SHE SPOKE TO THE DEALER AND TO MITSUBISHI. MITSUBISHI TOLD HER TO CONTACT THE DEALER AND IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE COVERED. SHE CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND HE TOLD HER THAT AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL THEY TIGHTENED THE BOLT, AS STATED IN THE RECALL. SHE THOUGH THE RECALL NOTICE SHOULD HAVE STATED THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE ACTUALLY CHANGED THE BOLT.*AK

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. IN 6-03 HE BROUGHT THE CAR I TO DEALER BECAUSE THE TIMING BELT CAME OFF. THE REPAIR WORK COST $463.06. ON 7-26-03 THE CONTACT BROUGHT IT BACK BECAUSE THE TIMING BELT CAME OFF AGAIN. HE FOUND THERE WAS RECALL 00V311001 AND THE DEALER FIXED IT AT NO COST LAST WEEK ON 9-29--0) THE TIMING BELT CAME OFF AGAIN. HE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED, AND THE MECHANIC COULD SEE THE BOLT STICKING OUT. TALKED TO THE DEALER, AND THE DEALER ORIGINALLY SAID THEY WOULD REPAIR IT BECAUSE IT HAD A LIFETIME WARRANTY. LATER THE CONTACT FOUND OUT FROM THE DEALER THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE ESTIMATE REPAIR EXPENSE WOULD BE $500.00. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND NEITHER WANTED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE DEALER DID NOT REPAIR IT CORRECTLY. *AK

RECALL CAMPAIGN 00V311001 CONCERNING CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND CONTROL. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OFF THE MAIN ROAD. THEN, TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CONSUMER'S HOME. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT BROKE. CONSUMER STATED THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITHIN A YEAR AFTER RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE.*AK

VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING ASSIST, AND THE ENGINE OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT SHEARING OFF. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

SHOULDER BELT GUIDE ALLOWS FOR BELT TO BE TRAPPED. THIS PRESENTS A SAFETY CONCERN IN THE THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN A CRASH.*AK

1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT RECALL SERVICE. 18 MONTHS LATER, THE BOLT BACKED OUT, CAUSING APPROX. $1000 IN DAMAGES, REPAIRED AT PRIVATE MECHANIC'S GARAGE. HAPPENED AGAIN 1 MONTH LATER; SAME GARAGE REPAIRED UNDER THEIR WARRANTY. HAPPENED AGAIN 1 MONTH LATER; PRIVATE GARAGE REFUSED TO REPAIR AGAIN. TOOK IT TO MANUFACTURER DEALERSHIP; PAID ANOTHER APPROX. $1100 FOR REPAIRS. HAPPENED AGAIN 2 MONTHS LATER; DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO WARRANTY REPAIR; ESTIMATES ANOTHER $2800 TO REPLACE ENTIRE CRANKSHAFT. MITSUBISHI REFUSES TO COVER ANY OF THE REPAIRS.*AK

THE REAR CALIPERS BECAME VERY HOT, LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING AND AS A RESULT THE DRIVER ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK *CB *NLM

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS HAD 5 ALTERNATERS IN THE LAST 13 MONTHS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

WHILE WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE AT ZERO SPEED, I WAS STRUCK IN THE REAR BY A CONVERSION VAN GOING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. PRIMARY IMPACT CAUSED THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO COLLAPSE. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND I AS THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED SEVERE LOWER AND UPPER SPINE INJURIES. DT

NO SUMMARY. DT