Mitsubishi New Zealand
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July 10, 2004. [nzherald.co.nz] 169 Mitsubishi Fuso vehicles with wheel faults have had their certificates of fitness cancelled yesterday, making the official count for grounded vehicles to 270 including 101 that failed their wheel inspections. All but six are trucks, similar to one that killed a bystander in Japan in 2000.
meanwhile, 343 recalled four-wheel-drive Galant cars and Legnum station wagons are being returned to their owners following a temporary repair to their brakes through disconnecting a computer unit operating a "stability control" feature. Permanent repair takes 12 hours each compared to 20 minutes each for the temporary fix, and will have to wait for most vehicles.
June 18, 2004. Land Transport Safety Authority said a recall of 843 Mitsubishi Fuso trucks and buses this week had revealed 30 out of 150 vehicles checked had faulty front wheel hubs. One was a tour bus and none were school buses. 400 of these 843 recalled vehicles were subjected to a second recall this week because of fears over faulty clutch housings, and another 47 because of defective rear hubs.
June 15, 2004. One News reported that 343 imported Galant and Legnum VR-4 four-wheel drive vehicles are being recalled for potential brake problems. According to Mitsubishi New Zealand the vehicle's active stability control in automatic transmission fitted vehicles can lead to brake failure. Apparently a driver crashed through a redlight at an intersection in Auckland, with failed brakes. Cause seems to be leaking nitrogen that could cause brakes to become "spongy" or even fail outright. Parts and labor, both are free, but it might take 3 months for the parts to become available.
Last weekend we had the front wheel hub inspection of 843 Fuso vehicles, inclusding 70 school buses. All hubs will be replaced free of cost by Mitsubishi.