NHTSA Complaint #10864855 — 2001 MITSUBISHI MONTERO

THE CAR/SUV STILL RUNS LIKE NEW, IT PASSES INSPECTION ,EVERY TIME ! IT NEVER FAILED INSPECTION. THE BODY ROT AND RUSTED FRAME LEAD TO MY SPARE TIRE FALL OFF THE CAR WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. I BOUGHT IT NEW IN 2001 AND TAUGHT MY KIDS TO DRIVE WITH IT. WHEN I TOOK THE VECHILE TO FIRESTONE THRE MANAGER DIDN'T EVEN WANT IT ON THE LIFT STATING HE DIDN'T WANT HIS MEN TO GET HURT IF THE FRAME DECIDED TO BRAKE. HE WOULD NOT WORK ON THE CAR ANYMORE AND TOLD ME TO GET RID OF IT, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND BUT AFTER EYEING FOR MYSELF AND EXPERIENCING THE TIRE DROP OUT OF ITS WELL. I WANTED A SECOND OPINION I GOT THAT AND IT WAS THE SAME RESPONSE. I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR A NEW VECHILE AT THE TIME . IT WAS MY SECOND VECHILE I USED ON WEEKENDS DOING CRAFT EVENTS BUT SOMETIMES I WOULD TRAVEL FAR TO NJ, NY, NH , VA.. IT'S WAS TOO THE POINT WHEN THE VENDORS SAW ME COMING TO EVENTS THEY WORRIED ABOUT MY TRAVEL WITH. THE VECHILE. IT HAS SENTIMENTAL VALUE TO MY I LOST MY DAUGHTER IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND KEEPING THE SUV I FEEL LIKE MY MEMORIES OF HER ARE STILL WITH ME POSITIVELY AND FRESH, LASTING, LOVING. AFTER SHE PAST I SAID I WOULD NEVER GET RID OF THE SUV. TODAY THE PLATES ARE OFF ITS STILL IN THE DRIVEWAY AND STILL RUNNING. I FEEL THE FRAME SHOULD HAVE LASTED A LOT LONGER, IT HAS SOME BODY RUST AROUND THE WHEEL WELLS . IT'S PAID FOR AND RUNNING I NEVER MISSED A BEAT WITH THE OIL CHANGES ETC. I WANT TO KEEP THE CAR, BUT CAN'T NOT AND I AM DEVASTATED TO RID MY SELF OF OUR FAMILY AIR LOOM. I COHAN ONE SIDE WELDED LAST YEAR BUT TO DO THE OTHER SIDE FOR 1K IT MIGHT NOT BE A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE IT'S BREAKING DOWN FASTER NOW. THE FIRST FEW YEARS WHEN II HAD THE SUV I HAD A GARAGE BUT LATER YEARS DIDN'T. LIVING IN CT SOME WINTERS CAN BE BRUTAL. THE LOCAL BODY SHOP OFFERS 150.00 WHICH I FEEL INSULTING. I REALLY WANT A RUST FREE FRAME