2008 Mitsubishi Outlander Electrical System Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V562000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

WHILE PARKED AND TURNED OFF(FOR 15 MINUTES), THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT(HEATED SEAT) CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE WAS DISCOVERED QUICKLY AND EXTINGUISHED BEFORE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TOOK PLACE. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH MITSUBISHI WHO DIRECTED ME TO THE LOCAL MITSUBISHI DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MITSUBISHI(KERRY MITSUBISHI) DEALER WOULD NOT SHARE THE RESULTS WITH ME BUT CONTACTED MITSUBISHI. THE "MANAGEMENT TEAM" AT MITSUBISHI REJECTED ANY RESPONSIBILITY SAYING THAT THE FIRE CAME FROM AN EXTERNAL SOURCE. I HAD ONLY REQUESTED THAT THEY REPLACE THE FAULTY EQUIPMENT IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THIS SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH, MUCH WORSE. *TR

MITSUBISHI IS FULLY AWARE OF PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRONIC KEYS IN NEW MODELS AND WOULD NOT REPLACE THE KEYS. PROBLEMS REPORTED BY MITSUBISHI IN "TECHNICAL BULLETINS" TO DEALERS ARE NOT TREATED AS EQUIPMENT RECALLS, EVEN THOUGH KNOWN EQUIPMENT DEFECTS ARE REPORTED. FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE ELECTRONIC KEY TO MY OUTLANDER WOULD NOT START THE ENGINE. THE ELECTRONIC KEY IDENTIFIED AS MISTSUBISHI'S F.A.S.T KEY WOULD NOT WORK AND IT IS UNKNOWN IF THE DEFECT CAN OCCUR WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER, IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT MITSUBISHI ISSUES "TECHNICAL BULLETINS" TO NOTIFY DEALERS OF EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTIONS THAT ARE NOT CONSIDERED RECALLS BUT REPORTED DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT PARTS THAT SHOULD BE REPLACED ONLY IF THE CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT. I WAS TOLD THAT MITSUBISHI WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC KEYS FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS BUT WOULD NOT RECALL THEM AND WOULD ONLY REPLACE THEM AFTER PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE KEY COSTS ABOUT $500 DOLLARS INCLUDING PROGRAMMING. I CONSIDER THAT MITSUBISHI COULD NOT CONFIRM IF THE ENGINE WOULD STOP DURING USE AND THEREFORE ALL ELECTRONIC KEYS SHOULD BE REPLACED AS THEY ALREADY KNOW OF THE DEFECT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE KEY AT NO COST ONLY BECAUSE THE TECHNICAL BULLETIN REPORTING THE DEFECT WAS ISSUED, BUT REFUSE TO PROVIDE A COPY OF THE ACTUAL TECHNICAL BULLETIN. PLEASE TREAT CONFIDENTIAL-DO NOT DISCLOSE MY NAME. *TR

RADIO DISPLAY CAN NOT BE SEEN DURING THE DAY ESPECIALLY WITH SUNROOF OPEN. *TR