Ignition Turned Off - Sudden Acceleration!
Mitsubishi Sucks > Cars > Complaints > USA > Sudden Acceleration > Turned Off Ignition
March 12, 2010. Mitsubishisucks.com went through NHTSA complaints database. We saw over 200 complaints related to some sort of speeding control problem. We are doing a thorough analysis of those complaints. Are they caused mainly because of 'driver error' as some claim or are they genuine unintended sudden acceleration cases? Here we present a few cases where the drivers had the presence of mind to attempt shutting off the engine by turning off ignition besides braking, changing to neutral gear and so on.
Cases are listed in order by model names. ODI numbers are presented to ease searching for them in NHTSA database.
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ODI: 804822
1996 MITSUBISHI 3000GT
MYSTIC ISLAND, NJ
Date of Failure: November 9, 1996
WHEN USING THE POWER BUTTON TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR ACCELERATED TO (90) MPH . SHUTTING THE POWER BUTTON OFF OR STEPPING ON THE BRAKE, DID NOT DISENGAGE THE PEDAL. *AK
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ODI: 10222693
1995 MITSUBISHI 3000GT
BRIGHTON, CO
Crash: YES
Date of Failure: March 25, 2008
Component: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO PASS ANOTHER CAR, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOT STUCK AND THE CAR'S SPEED WAS INCREASING RAPIDLY. WHILE THERE WAS NO OPPORTUNITY TO PASS (ANOTHER CAR COMING FROM OPPOSITE DIRECTION), THE DRIVER HAD TO SWERVE QUICKLY BACK TO OWN LANE WHILE THE CAR?S ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STILL STUCK. THE DRIVER WAS TRYING TO APPLY BRAKES WITHOUT SUCCESS OF RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CAR SPUN TO A LEFT SIDE DITCH FACING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND HITTING A TRAFFIC SIGN. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DID NOT DISENGAGE UNTIL THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. NO PERSONAL INJURIES. *TR
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ODI: 899283
1992 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE
BAKERSVILLE, CA
Date of Failure: November 5, 2001
Component: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. CONSUMER HAD TO TURN VEHICLE OFF FOR IT TO COME TO A STOP. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITONAL INFORMATION.*AK
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ODI: 10067103
2004 MITSUBISHI ENDEAVOR
WINTHROP, MA
Crash: YES
Date of Failure: April 10, 2004
Component: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN SWITCHING FROM NEUTRAL INTO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT 80 MPH. EVEN WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SURGE. *AK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN DRIVE, THE ACCELERATOR STUCK AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD, EXITED THE CAR WASH, CROSSED A HIGHWAY, HIT A CURB, GRAZED A TELEPHONE POLE, PROCEEDED INTO THE JIFFY LUBE INTO A GRASSY AREA AND WENT BACK ONTO THE HIGHWAY, AND TURNED 180 DEGREES AND FINALLY THE VEHICLE TURNED INTO A 180 DEGREE ANGLE. THE ONLY WAY THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE STOPPED WAS BY TURNING OFF THE IGNITION. *SC *JB
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ODI: 10184640
2006 MITSUBISHI GALANT
PUYALLUP, WA
Date of Failure: November 10, 2006
Crash: YES, Injured: 1
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MITSUBISHI GALLANT. THE CONSUMER PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 60 MPH AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE OCNSUMER COULD NOT TURN IT AT ALL. THE CONTACT USED ALL OF THE STRENGTH IN HER ARMS TO TURN IT A COUPLE OF INCHES AVOID HITTING A LIGHT POST. WHEN SHE TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY PUMPING THE BRAKES THEY DID NOT WORK, SHE COULD NOT TURN THE IGNITION OFF. THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED WHEN SHE RAN UP ON THE CURB AND HIT A SIGN THAT WAS BEING HELD UP BY CEMENT. THE CONTACT HIT THE CURB IN AN ATTEMPT TO KEEP FROM CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACTS INSURANCE AGENT SUGGESTED THAT SHE HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED BY THE DEALERSHIP, WHO REFUSED THE VEHICLE. THE AGENT THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER NEAR WHERE THE VEHICLE HAD CRASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COLLISION CENTER AND THEN TAKEN TO MITSUBISHI, WHERE THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE REPAIRS HAD BEEN MADE IT WOULD ACCELERATE OR DECELERATE ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT WAS AFRAID AND DID NOT WANT THE VEHICLE ANYMORE. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THEY WERE GOING TO TRADE AND THAT SHE WOULD GET ANOTHER 2006 MITSUBISHI. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WERE BOTH 11,000. *AK THE CONTACT RECEIVED A 2007 GALANT. THE CONTACT HAS INCLUDED THE INSURANCE CLAIM FOR THE VEHICLE, AND REQUESTED A LETTER FROM THE MITUBUSHI DEALERSHIP STATING THAT THE CAR WAS DEFECTIVE, HOWEVER MITUBUSHI IS STATING THAT THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT. *UPDATE 5/3/07 *TR
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ODI: 716876
1999 MITSUBISHI GALANT
HOUSTON, TX
Date of Failure: October 25, 1999
Crash: YES
GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, CAR ACCELERATED AND SMASHED INTO A MOBILE HOME. (DETAILS? RDRUNER31@AOL.COM). I WAS ATTEMPTING TO BACK OUT OF SOMEONE'S DIRT DRIVEWAY. I WAS POSITIONED AT AN ANGLE. WHEN I BACKED OUT (GOING ABOUT 3-5 MPH), I BUMPED INTO A TREE. I THEN PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES SO THAT I COULD PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE. WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, THE CAR ACCELERATED AT AN EXTREME RATE AND MADE A TERRIBLY LOUD NOISE. THE CAR THEN THRUSTED FORWARD (THE ENTIRE TIME MY FOOT WAS HEAVY ON THE BRAKE - I AM 100% SURE OF THIS!). THE BRAKE DID NOT STOP THE CAR. AFTER TRAVELING ABOUT 60 FEET, THE CAR THEN CAREAMED INTO A MOBILE HOME. I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. I BELIEVE THOUGH THAT THE CAR WAS STOPPED BY THE METAL BEAMS FROM THE MOBILE HOME. THE CAR IS NOW AT THE DEALERSHIP. I AM LOOKING INTO THE LEMON LAW DUE TO THIS ACCIDENT AND OTHER PROBLEMS. TRYING TO GET THE CAR REPURCHASED OR REPLACED. THIS IS A REVISION FOR ODI #716575. *AK
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ODI: 736515
1996 MITSUBISHI GALANT
JOY, PA
Date of Failure: November 17, 2000
Component: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 50MPH ACCELERATOR STUCK AND COULD NOT BE PULLED UP OR JIGGLED LOOSE. THE ENGINE AS A RESULT WAS REVVING IN THE RED ZONE FOR ABOUT A MINUTE WHILE IT WAS DECIDED TO PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, BRAKE, PULL OVER & TURN THE CAR OFF. THE CAR WAS STOPPED A MERE 100 YARDS FROM A TRAFFIC JAM DUE TO CONSTRUCTION. THIS COULD HAVE LED T O A FATAL ACCIDENT HAD NATHAN NOT HAD THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO DO WHAT HE DID. THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT FOR THE SAFETY OF MY WIFE AND CHILDREN; LUCKILY THEY WERE NOT IN THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENED AS MY WIFE STATED SHE WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, AND WOULD HAVE PROBABLY ENDED UP CRASHING. THE SHOP WHERE THE CAR WAS TAKEN STATED THAT THE CABLES WERE FROZEN AND IT WAS DUE TO MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. *AK
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ODI: 745881
1995 MITSUBISHI GALANT 1995
MONUMENT, CO
Date of Failure: May 15, 2001
Component: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE ACCELERATING TO ENTER THE FREEWAY, THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED (IT WAS NOT TURNED ON) AND THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE UP TO 80+ MPH. I PRESSED THE OFF BUTTON FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL, BRAKED AND TRIED OTHER MEASURES BUT NOTHING WAS SLOWING THE CAR DOWN. I PUT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL TO TRY AND SLOW THE CAR DOWN BUT THAT JUST MADE A LOUD NOISE AND CAUSED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. I FINALLY HAD TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON, IT AGAIN TOOK OFF AND STARTED ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN.*AK
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ODI: 10152793
2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER
CONCORD, OH
Date of Failure: March 9, 2006
Component: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON 5 OCCASIONS NOW WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN THE ENGINE ACCELERATES ON IT'S OWN REVVING EXTREMELY LOUD. IF I DON'T PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION IT FEELS LIKE IT WILL TAKE OFF AND CAUSE A SEVERE ACCIDENT. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND THIS FIRST OCCURRED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER BUYING THE VEHICLE. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE VEHICLE AND A FEW MONTHS LATER HAPPENED AGAIN. IT HAPPENS SPORADICALLY BUT WHEN IT HAPPENS IT IS QUITE SCARY. NOW MY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND AUTOZONE PRINTED ME A RECEIPT THAT INDICATED THERE IS A MALFUNCTION IN THE TURBINE SPEED SENSOR. I AM GOING TO GIVE THIS A TRY AND HOPE IT RESOLVES MY ISSUE. IT SEEMS THIS HAS BEEN A MALFUNCTION SINCE THEY SOLD ME THE VEHICLE. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS VEHICLE.. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS ISSUES WITH THE REAR SUSPENSION.. IT SOUNDS LIKE I AM DRIVING AN HUGE SCHOOL BUS... IT SQUEAKS AND SOMETIMES SOUNDS LIKE THE BACK END IS GOING TO FALL APART...*JB
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ODI:10206323
2005 MITSUBISHI LANCER
MEDINA, OH
Date of Failure: May 31, 2007
Component: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MITSUBISHI LANCER. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SUDDENLY WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD AND THE ENGINE REVVED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PLACED THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL TO PREVENT IT FROM SURGING. HE SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,000. THE CONSUMER STATED HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER MITSUBISHI DEALER AND THEY INFORMED HIM, THEY HAD OTHER 2005 MITSUBISHI'S WITH SAME DEFECT. THE DEALER STATED THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE. UPDATED 11/15/07 *TR THE CONSUMER HAS REQUESTED AN ARBITRATION.. UPDATED 11/29/07 LETR
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ODI: 10075543
2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER
HIGHLAND, CA
Date of Failure: June 1, 2004
Component: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE ACCELERATED. IN ORDER TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN CONSUMER HAD TO ENGAGE THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL, AND SHUT THE IGNITION OFF. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER AND PUT ON THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER. THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT NO CODES WERE DISPLAYED INDICATING A PROBLEM. *NM
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