NHTSA Complaint #11062645 — 2007 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER

ON JANUARY 2, 2018 OUR LOCAL OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURE WAS A NEGATIVE (-)20 DEGREES F. THAT MORNING WHILE STILL IN MY DRIVEWAY, BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE AND THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING PENETRATED THE INNER SIDEWALL OF THE 18" TIRE AND THIS RESULTED IN THE TIRE BECOMING TWO DISTINCT PIECES. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD, IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS AND POSSIBLE DEADLY ACCIDENT. UPON CONTACTING MY DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT UPON SEARCHING THE MITSUBISHI DATABASE, THAT A TSB 14-33-002 WAS NO LONGER POSTED AT THE DEALER INTERNET ACCESS POINT, APPARENTLY IT HAD BEEN PURGED FROM THE SYSTEM. I LEARNED OF TSB-14-33-002 BY OTHER SEARCHING ONLINE. MITSUBISHI WOULD NOT COVER THE FAILURE, DESPITE IT'S SERIOUSNESS TO PUBLIC SAFETY. I AM CONCERNED THAT 2007 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDERS HAVE A METALLURGY PROBLEM OR FAULTY MANUFACTURER'S DESIGN, AND SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF A NATIONAL SAFETY RECALL - AT LEAST IN COLDER CLIMATE STATES THAT USE CALCIUM CHLORIDE OR SALT ON THEIR ROADS. I HAVE THE CAR CURRENTLY IN A HEATED GARAGE AWAITING AN INSPECTION BY NHTSA OR MITSUBISHI. MY COMPLAINT IN WRITING TO MITSUBISHI REMAINS UNANSWERED. I SUGGEST THAT IF THESE VEHICLE SUFFER FAILED FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND ARE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, THAT THE BROKEN COIL SPRING WILL BE CONSIDERED A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT RATHER THAN THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. IF THERE IS A CHAIN COLLISION INVOLVING OTHER VEHICLES, THEN AGAIN THE DRIVER MAY BE BLAMED AS THE CAUSE, WHEN IN REALITY THE FAILED SPRING WAS THE CAUSE. SUGGESTION: NHTSA MIGHT CHECK FOR ALL SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURE ACCIDENTS INVOLVING 2007 OUTLANDERS AND DETERMINE IF THEY SUFFERED BROKEN FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND A TORN UP FRONT TIRE. PHOTOS ATTACHED TO THIS REPORT. ADDITIONAL PHOTOS CAN BE TAKEN ONCE THE REPLACEMENT $260. SPRINGS ARRIVE AND WE REPLACE THEM, DOCUMENTING OUR FINDINGS. I AM WILLING TO SUBMIT FOR METALLURGY TESTS.