Mitsubishi recalls nearly 30k 2008-2009 Lancer/Lancer EVO models over airbag sensors
Mitsubishi Evo X - Click above for high-res image gallery
Potential corrosion of the front impact airbag sensor has prompted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to recall up to 29,353 2008-2009 Mitsubishi Lancer and Lancer Evolution models. NHTSA is concerned that long-term exposure to a mixture of melted snow and salt thrown up by other vehicles on the road may cause the wintery mixture to adhere to the front impact sensor and lead to corrosion over time. In the event of an accident or collision, a damaged sensor may short-circuit and delay airbag deployment possibly causing driver or passenger injury. The recall is currently limited to states where heavy road salt is used in the winter (i.e., Connecticut, New York, Wisconsin, etc...).
Mitsubishi dealers have been instructed to replace the airbag sensors with a redesigned model with improved corrosion resistance. Of course, the service will be performed at no charge. While the safety recall isn't scheduled to begin until November 27, 2009, owners may contact Mitsubishi Customer Relations at 888-648-7820, contact NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236, or visit NHTSA on the Internet at www.safercar.gov. Full press release after the jump.
Gallery: 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X
[Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration]
PRESS RELEASE:
Vehicle Make / Model: 2008-2009
Model Year(s): MITSUBISHI / LANCER
MITSUBISHI / LANCER EVOLUTION
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09V435000
Summary:
MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 LANCER AND LANCER EVOLUTION 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 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN AREAS WHERE HEAVY ROAD SALT IS USED IN THE WINTER, A LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO A MIXTURE OF MELTED SNOW WITH SALT THROWN UP BY THE OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD MAY CAUSE A WATER-SALT MIXTURE TO ADHERE TO THE FRONT IMPACT SENSORS.
Consequence:
THIS COATING OVER TIME MAY CAUSE CORROSION OR THE SENSOR. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLES CRASH OF THE TYPE THAT WOULD DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS THIS TYPE OF SHORT-CIRCUIT MAY CAUSE A DELAY IN THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS WHICH COULD RESULT IN DRIVER OR PASSENGER INJURY.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FRONT AIRBAG SENSORS THAT HAVE IMPROVED CORROSION RESISTANCE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE NOVEMBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MITSUBISHI CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT AT 888-648-7820.
Notes:
OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ryan 6:05PM (11/17/2009)
wohoo! another trip to the service department! although last time, after the fuel thing, it started to smell like burning from the hvac whenever i was on boost, so now i have a reason to get that checked out.
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Mr_Pie 6:14PM (11/17/2009)
with the amount of control you have in an evo, i dont think there'll ever be a need for airbags. but whatever.
actually with the 5-speed manual one i tried, keeping up with those mercs and beemers on the left lane of the autobahn is quite a struggle. thus, its not fast enough to need an airbag. i kid.
but mitsubishi really seem to have the short end of the stick when it comes to recalls dont they.
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IRONFIST2 6:59PM (11/17/2009)
So if you buy a used Lancer from Florida and then drive it up north you're going to be riding around on the old sensors.
Bunch of cheap asses if you ask me, they should be recalling ALL Lancers.
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ThunderbirdJunkie 12:30AM (11/18/2009)
Don't worry, they'll get their asses sued as soon as a malfunctioning unit outside of the salt belt malfunctions
Jason 11:55PM (11/17/2009)
That's why it says "is currently limited." Snowbelt states are about 3 weeks away from getting the ice and salt that article talks about. With a limited supply of new sensors, if some dude from Florida or Georgia getting one means that someone in New York or Michigan doesn't, who do you think is more at risk.
Syllepses 12:53AM (11/18/2009)
I love this generation Evo, but this picture is hilarious:
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/07/mitsubishi_evo_x_27.jpg
HERRRRRRRRRRRRR
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