NHTSA Complaint #10125917 — 1992 MITSUBISHI 3000GT

I OWN A 1992 MITSUBISHI 3000GT VR4 WHICH EXPERIENCED A MAJOR DRIVETRAIN LOCKUP. I BOUGHT THE CAR 2000. IN JAN 03, I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT CAUSING BODY DAMAGE. I COMPLETED REPAIRS BY LATE JAN 05 & RELICENSED THE CAR IN FEB. ON MAR 22, 05, THE CAR SUDDENLY MADE AN AWFUL SOUND & THE TIRES LOCKED UP. I REGAINED CONTROL AS THE TIRES BECAME FREE AGAIN. ONCE TOWED HOME, I FOUND THE T-CASE HAD BEEN RIPPED OFF OF THE TRANSMISSION & MOUNTS. UPON ATTEMPT TO DRAIN THE T-CASE I FOUND IT EMPTY WITH METAL SHAVINGS PRESENT. THE OUTSIDE WAS WET WITH T-CASE OIL. LEAKY SEALS CAUSED A MAJOR LOCKUP. I LEARNED OF RECALL #02V143001. I WROTE MITSU. TO WHICH THEY REPLIED BY HAVING ME TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID IF THE RECALL CAUSED FAILURE, MITSU. WOULD COMPLETE ALL REPAIRS. WALKERS RENTON MITSUBISHI DETERMINED WITHOUT A DOUBT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE RECALL. CORPORATE TOLD THE DEALER THEY WOULD BUY ME OUT OF THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. SHORTLY AFTER, THE STORY CHANGED & MITSUBISHI DECIDED TO DO NOTHING. FINALLY, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MIKE PALIKAN, MANAGER OF DISPUTE RESOLUTIONS FOR MITSU. HE EXPLAINED THE RECALL WAS NO LONGER VALID BECAUSE TOO MUCH TIME HAD LAPSED SINCE ISSUANCE IN DEC 02 AND I SHOULD HAVE ALREADY HAD THE RECALL DONE. THEREFORE, MITSUBISHI IS NO LONGER LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE RECALL. I AM ACTIVE DUTY O3 IN THE US COAST GUARD. THE RECALL WAS SENT TO MY PERM. ADDRESS (PARENTS HOME). THE CAR HAD BEEN LICENSED & DRIVABLE FOR A TOTAL OF 2 1/2 MONTHS SINCE RECALL AND I HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO COMPLETE IT. WHAT MITSU. IS DOING IS ILLEGAL. THERE IS NO EXPIRATION ON A SAFETY RECALL. THEY ARE DOING NEW RECALLS EVERY DAY BECAUSE THEY DONT WANT A LAWSUIT BECAUSE SOMEONE WAS KILLED DUE TO THIS. HAD MY WHEELS REMAINED LOCKED ON THE HIGHWAY, I WOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I HOPE NHTSA WILL RESOLVE THIS WITH MITSUBISHI WITH THEM COMPLETING ALL REPAIRS BEFORE FURTHER ACTION MUST BE TAKEN BY MY ATTORNEY AND I.