2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER Steering Problems

THERE HAS NO BEEN AN INCIDENT YET. THE VEHICLE RATTLES IN THE FRONT END, EXACTLY WHERE THE RECALLED PART IS AT. I TOOK IT TO THE LICENSED DEALERSHIP THAT I WAS TOLD WAS QUALIFIED TO REPLACE THE PART AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE IT CLAIMING THAT THE VEHICLE IS TOO RUSTY AND THEY DON'T WANT TO LIFT IT UP ON THE AIR. I HAD JUST HAD 4 NEW TIRES PUT ON IT RECENTLY AND THEY USED A CAR LIFT WITHOUT ANY ISSUES. I WOULD LIKE THE PART REPLACED BECAUSE NOW I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE DEFECT CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF IT IS NOT REPLACED. THE REASON IT IS BEING RECALLED IS BECAUSE IT IS PRONE TO RUST AND MAY DETERIORATE OVER TIME AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT.

RECALL INFO: "THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE SURFACES OF THE FRONT CROSS MEMBERS USED ON CERTAIN VEHICLES IF EXPOSED LONG TERM TO SNOW MELT WATER AND ANTI-FREEZING AGENTS MAY CORRODE DUE TO INSUFFICIENT PERFORMANCE OF THE RUST PROTECTION. SHOULD CORROSION OCCUR, A LOWER CONTROL ARM COULD BECOME DETACHED RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND POTENTIAL COLLISION. IN MAY 2016 WE HAD TO HAVE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM REPLACED ALONG WITH THE FRONT SWAY BARK LINK ASSEMBLY." I BELIEVE THIS IS ALL PART OF THE CORROSION MENTIONED ABOVE IN THE RECALL. CAR WAS MOVING WHEN LOWER CONTROL ARM BECAME DETACHED. $285.00 TO REPLACE LOWER CONTROL ARM & FRONT SWAY BAR LINK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK. BOTH THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V458000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND THE STEERING WHEEL FELL OFF. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WAS ABLE TO PUT IT BACK ON BUT HAD TO PRESS HARD TO KEEP IT IN PLACE MY MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO REATTACH IT BUT HAD TO DISABLE THE AIR BAG AND NOW COST $700 FOR A NEW STEERING COLUMN AIR BAG AND HORN. I SEE OTHER COMPLAINTS AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT MY OPTIONS ARE REGARDING THIS IS THIS SOMETHING BEING REVIEWED OR A RECALL. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.

LOWER CONTROL ARM ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE BUCKLED UNDER RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE STRIKING A CURB AT ~55 MPH. DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX UNDER WARRANTY CITING THERE IS NO PROOF THAT HITTING THE CURB DID NOT CAUSE THE DAMAGE. I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THERE HAD BEEN A SIMILIAR INCIDENT THE PREVIOUS WEEK INVOLVING ANOTHER LANCER. ON THIS VEHICLE THE FAILURE WAS ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS FAILURE ALSO RESULTED IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AS WELL AS STRIKING AN OBJECT WITH THE VEHICLE. DT