2004 MITSUBISHI LANCER Visibility Problems

THE TEMPERATURE SELECTION KNOB GETS STUCK IN THE 'COLD' POSITION. THE PROBLEM LIES IN THE AIR BOX INSIDE OF THE DASH WHERE THE AIR BLENDER DOOR IS STUCK. IT MAKES IT DANGEROUS WHEN HEAT IS NEEDED TO DEFROST THE FRONT WINDOW TO SEE. IT IS ALWAYS LIKE THIS AND HAS BEEN FOR 2 YEARS. *TR

HEATER CONTROL KNOB WAS HARD TO TURN SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE AND EVENTUALLY BROKE OFF. NOW I AM FORCED TO ADJUST TEMPERATURE USING PLIERS (OR SUFFER PAYING $1,000 TO FIX PROBLEM). NOT EASY TO ADJUST WITH PLIERS WHILE DRIVING AND EXPERIENCING A CHANGE IN WEATHER CONDITIONS. NOW ALSO FEARFUL OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK WHEN TRYING TO ADJUST TEMPERATURE WITH PLIERS. KNOWN DEFECT WILL NOT BE REPAIRED OR COVERED BY MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. *TR

CLIMATE CONTROL KNOBS ARE STUCK IN PLACE AND CANNOT BE ADJUSTED. THIS STARTED OUT AS AN ANNOYANCE AND QUICKLY BECAME A LIFE-THREATENING DEFECT WHEN I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE DOWN A WINDY MOUNTAIN ROAD AT NIGHT IN A HEAVY SNOWSTORM WITHOUT ANY ABILITY TO DEFROST MY WINDOWS. MITSUBISHI HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS PROBLEM VIA A TSB, AND RESEARCH CLEARLY INDICATES THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2003-2004 LANCERS. MY LOCAL MITSUBISHI DEALER KNEW EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT AND QUOTED THE FIX AROUND $1,300. I COULD HAVE EASILY DIED BECAUSE OF THIS, AND I AM UTTERLY AMAZED THAT THERE HAS SO FAR BEEN NO RECALL FOR SUCH A DANGEROUS AND WIDESPREAD DEFECT. *TR

HEATER KNOB BROKE OFF DUE TO LAZY ENGINEERING ON MITSU'S PART. CALLED AND THEY WOULDN'T COVER THE COSTS. *TR

THERE IS A FLAW IN THE HEATER ON LANCER AND OUTLANDER MODELS. MITSUBISHI HAS ADMITTED IT BY SERVICE BULLETIN. AS I UNDERSTAND A FUNCTIONAL HEATER AND DEFROSTER IS REQUIRED BY NHTSA. I LIKE EVERY OTHER OWNER OF SUCH CARS ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON MY HEAT AND THE KNOB SNAPPED OFF. NOW THERE IS NO HEAT OR WINDSHIELD DEFROST. OVER 1000.00 IS NEEDED FOR REPAIR AND IT'S HAPPENING TO ALL OF THESE CARS. *TR

THE CONTROL FOR THE HEATER/AC IS HARD TO TURN. HAS BEEN SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE EVENTUALLY BROKE AND NOW HAVE NO DEFROSTERS TO KEEP WINDOWS DEFROSTED DURING WINTER MONTHS. VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. AFFECTS VISIBILITY AND SAFETY. MITSUBISHI IS WELL AWARE OF THIS DEFECT. WHEN TALKED WITH DEALER, HE KNEW THE PROBLEM AND PRICE OF REPAIR, WITHOUT SEEING THE VEHICLE. MANY CONSUMERS ONLINE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MITSUBISHI SINCE 2002. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE TO HAVE THIS RECALLED. *TR

MY HOT/COOL KNOB IS BROKEN. MY HEATER FAN ONLY WORKS ON 4, AC ONLY RUNS ON 1,2 OR3. I ALSO HAD WATER ON MY PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR DUE TO CONDENSATION FROM THE AC NOT PROPERLY DRAINING. THE WATER ALSO GOT INTO MY BLOWER MOTOR, WHICH I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED. WILL BE REPLACING HEATER RESISTOR THIS WEEK, SO I CAN USE MY AC AGAIN. HOT/COOL KNOB WILL COST AT LEAST $1000 TO FIX, SO IT'S STAYING BROKEN. *TR