2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Powertrain & Transmission Problems

A RECALL WAS ISSUED IN 2005 FOR A POTENTIAL ISSUE IN THE POWER TRAIN. THE RECALL STATED THAT IF THE VEHICLE HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, THE REPAIR WAS TO FIRST TRY REPROGRAMMING THE POWER TRAIN. IF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED AFTERWARDS, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE ABOVE OUTLINED SERVICE IN 2005. THE POWER TRAIN WAS REPROGRAMMED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT AWAY, BUT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS NOT REPLACED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LATER RETURNED. A DIAGNOSTIC REVEALED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED REPLACED. I BELIEVE THAT IF THE INITIAL RECALL WORK IN 2005 WAS PROPERLY FULFILLED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED. MITSUBISHI HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR OF REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, CITING THAT THE WORK DONE IN THE RECALL WAS SUFFICIENT. I CONTEND THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT THOROUGH ENOUGH AND THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER SHOULD BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER.

JUST LEFT A AUTO CAR WASH AND WITHIN ABOUT TWO MINUTES SMOKE RISES FROM THE CENTER FLOOR CONSOLE. I PULLED INTO A NEARBY GAS STATION ABOUT A BLOCK AWAY. PARKED AWAY FROM THE PUMPS. DEMANDED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM THE ATTENDANT. RETURNED TO THE CAR AS FLAMES JUST STARTED TO ERUPT FROM THE CONSOLE . THE DRY CHEMICAL EXTINGUISHER MADE QUICK WORK OF THE FIRE. I DON'T THINK BETWEEN THE SMELL & SIGHT OF SMOKE AND PUTTING OUT THE FIRE FIVE MINUTES ELAPSED. I THINK THE WIRING MUST HAVE SHORTED. THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER NEVER WORKED. THE ONLY OTHER THE DEVICE ON THE HARNESS INTO THE CONSOLE IS THE P-R-N-D ILLUMINATION PANEL. THE FIRE CAUSED THE PLASTIC CONSOLE HOUSING TO MELT DOWN INTO THE TOP OF THE TRANSMISSION LINKAGE. THE TOW TUCK OPERATOR WAS ABLE TO CUT THE MELTED PLASTIC OFF OF THE LINKAGE & I WAS ABLE TO DIVE THE CAR HOME, A FEW BLOCKS AWAY. APPARENTLY THERE WASN'T DAMAGE TO THE METAL LINKAGES TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE CARS' BEEN DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS! *TR

HYDRAULIC CLUTCH SYSTEM DEGRADATION AND FAILURE. MANUAL SHIFTING BECAME MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO THE POINT OF DISCOVERING A LEAKING SLAVE CYLINDER. UPON REPLACEMENT, SYMPTOMS REMAINED. COMMENTS FROM OWNERS OF SIMILAR VEHICLES NOTE THAT BOTH SLAVE CYLINDER AND MASTER CYLINDER FAILURES ARE OFTEN CONCURRENT. MASTER CYLINDER IS LOOKING PARTICULARLY GRIMY COMPARED TO THE REST OF ENGINE BAY. REPLACEMENT MASTER CYLINDER IS ON ORDER, CAN REPORT ON FOLLOW UP CONDITIONS SOON. (ASSUMING SUCH INFORMATION IS HELPFUL, AND THAT SUCH FOLLOW UP COMMUNICATION IS AVAILABLE.) VEHICLE IS A 2004 MITSUBISHI LANCER RALLIART (THIS OPTION WAS NOT AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE) *KB

THE HEADLIGHT WIRES GET SHORTER?... AND THE LIGHTS BURN OUT ALL THE TIME DUE TO FAULTY WIRING... WHY WON'T MITSUBISHI FIX THIS FOR PEOPLE???????? THEY'RE VERY WRONG TO NOT HELP PEOPLE WITH THIS SAFETY ISSUE................ THE TRANSMISSION SYNCRO GEARS ARE ALSO WORTHLESS. THE ONLY REAL GOOD THING ON THE ENTIRE CAR IS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION!! VISORS DISINTEGRATED ALSO AFTER A FEW YEARS... *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S APP SENSOR WENT OUT, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE RAPIDLY AND NOT REV PAST 2500 RPMS. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED BUT COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APP SENSOR WAS REPLACED 5 TIMES. THE CONTACT HAD REPAIR INVOICES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - THE BRAKE LIGHT INDICATOR ON THE DASH REMAINED ON AT ALL TIMES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. THE SES LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE VEHICLE LACKED POWER. THE CLUTCH SLIPPED AT TIME. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CLUTCH DISC. *NM

WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH THE CLUTCH POPPED, AND DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS. DEALER WILL REPAIR AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.*AK

VEHICLE DOES NOT ALWAYS WANT TO SHIFT INTO FIRST. THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AS YOU ARE UNABLE TO CHOOSE YOUR GEAR SELECTION. *NM