Lemon Law News – Mitsubishi Issues Recall over Corroding Wipers
Lemon Laws Protect Mitsubishi Consumers
Mitsubishi Motors North America will recall more than 150,000 vehicles equipped with potentially defective windshield wipers.
The company sent a safety recall report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on Feb. 9, 2018 stating they will recall 158,651 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport vehicles ranging from model years 2011 to 2016, including vehicles built by Mitsubishi Motors North America as well as those built overseas by Mitsubishi Materials Corporation.
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The affected vehicles contain windshield wipers with front wiper link ball joints that can allow water inside, if water drops down through the back side of the body piece between the hood and windshield. Water intrusion can cause corrosion and premature wear, ultimately causing the wiper’s ball joint to separate and fail.
Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain weather conditions, increasing crash risk.
Mitsubishi Materials Corporation received a complaint from the Japanese market in March 2010 regarding malfunctioning wipers in Outlander vehicles. MMC began investigating and confirmed wiper link ball joint corrosion caused the malfunction but could not determine how the corrosion occurred. Mitsubishi continued monitoring the problem for five years worldwide, only finding 10 additional cases throughout that time.
Mitsubishi’s recall chronology states further investigation found deterioration of the front deck garnish can allow water penetration, which can lead to ball joint corrosion. The manufacturer recalled the Mitsubishi Outlander on Oct. 25, 2016, but did not recall the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport given a much lower failure rate in that model.
The manufacturer decided on Feb. 2, 2018 to go ahead with the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport recall.
Mitsubishi will notify owners and dealers will replace the rod of the wiper link and the wiper motor crank arm free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 10, 2018. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA’s number for this recall is SR-18-004.
Your vehicle’s manufacturer is legally required to fix any recalled problems for free. If the dealership refuses to fix the part or tries to charge you for the repair, contact the manufacturer immediately. The Highway Safety Act of 1970, which created the NHTSA, requires car manufacturers to pay for the recall and replacement of a defective part.
If the manufacturer fails to repair, replace, repurchase, or provide your recalled vehicle’s loss value, they are violating the warranty and a lawyer may be able to assist you.
Lemon law attorneys help their clients by dealing directly with the manufacturer on the clients’ behalf, working to promptly resolve the issue and get their clients back on the road. Thanks to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, attorneys can seek their fees directly from the manufacturer, meaning a client can obtain legal counsel without having to pay attorneys’ fees directly out of pocket.
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