NHTSA Complaint #767161 — 1996 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE

MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE TRAVELING BETWEEN 60 &65 AT 6:30AM MAY 21, 2002 WHEN I NOTICED A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR, INSTANTANEOUSLY THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP AND THE CAR WENT INTO A SPIN. (THE 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION THROUGH A GEAR OUT THE BOTTOM OF THE HOUSING CAUSING THE FRONT WHEELS TO LOCK) I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL, IN AS WELL, HIT A BANK CAUSING MINOR DAMAGES TO THE PASSENGER SIDE FENDER. (EST. $350.00). PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS, COMPLETELY UNAWARE. I SPOKE TO MITSUBISHI ON MAY 24, 2002 TO SEE IF THIS WAS AN ISSUE AND HOW TO SOLVE THIS FROM HAPPINING AGAIN. THEY WERE PROFESSIONAL AND AFTER 15 CONVERSATIONS WITH 15 DIFFERENT PEOPLE, THEY ADVISED ME THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR RESPONSABILITY, THAT THE CAR'S WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THAT THEY HAD NO COMPLAINTS ON THIS TRANSMISSION. I INVESTIGATED THIS FURTHER TO FIND THAT THREE LOCAL MITSUBISHI DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT MANAGERS TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE REPLACED THESE TRANSMISSIONS IN THE ECLIPSE, THAT THE PIN WORKS LOOSE CAUSING FAILURE. I DECIDED TO HAVE MY CAR FIXED AND BUY A NEW TRANSMISSION. I CONTACTED A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP PRIDE & JOY AUTO REPAIR (540-633-0202). THEY EVALUATED THE CONDITION AND CALLED MITSUBISHI TO FIND OUT THAT THESE TRANSMISSIONS WERE ON BACK ORDER UNTIL SEPT. 30, 2002. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MY CAR FOR 3 MONTHS. NLM