SR-20-003 – Lower Control Arm May Detach Due to Corrosion – 2008-2016 Mitsubishi

May 18, 2020 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V279000

Lower Control Arm May Detach Due to Corrosion

A detached front control arm can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V279

Manufacturer Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

Components SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE

Potential Number of Units Affected 141,200

 

Summary

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2008-2010 Lancer, 2010 Lancer Sportback, 2008-2013 Outlander, and 2011-2016 Outlander Sport vehicles originally sold in, or ever registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The front lower control arms may detach due to the front cross member corroding from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.

 

Remedy

MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front cross members. Depending on the level of existing corrosion, either a sealing/anti-corrosion agent will be applied or the front cross member will be replaced with a new one. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2020. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA’s number for this recall is SR-20-003.

 

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

 

Check if your Mitsubishi has a Recall

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This bulletin supersedes SR-20-003, issued July 2020; changes include:

• Direction added under Required Tools, Equipment and Materials for dealers that do not already have the Spray Gun, Regulator, or Anti-Corrosion agents (Page 2)
• Important statement added to request that the Anti-Corrosion Agent be inspected for proper consistency, prior to use (Page 3)
• Added 2011 – 2012 Outlander Sport / RVR to the Warranty section (Page 31)
• Clarification to the scenarios:  anti-corrosion agents are not to be applied in the event of a Crossmember replacement (Page 32)
• Two Customer Letters are attached:  Interim Customer Letter (Page 34) and Revised Final Customer Letter (Page 35)

 

PURPOSE

This bulletin provides directions for inspection and repair of affected vehicles’ Crossmembers.

 

BACKGROUND

The inside and outside surfaces of the Front Crossmembers 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 significant corrosion occur over time, a lower control arm could eventually become detached resulting in loss of vehicle control and a potential collision.

 

AFFECTED VEHICLES

2008 – 2010 Lancer*
2009 – 2010 Lancer Sportback*
2008 -2013 Outlander*
2011 – 2016 Outlander Sport / RVR*

*Currently or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington D.C.

 

IMPORTANT

Affected new or used inventory vehicles must be repaired before the vehicle is delivered.  Dealers must check their inventory vehicles’ VINs on the Warranty Superscreen to verify whether the vehicle is involved in this recall campaign.  It is a violation of Federal law for a dealer to deliver a new motor vehicle or any new or used item of motor vehicle equipment (including a tire) covered by the notification under a sale or lease until the defect or noncompliance is remedied.

NOTE: If you encounter a vehicle which has excessive Crossmember corrosion, but is not covered under this campaign (i.e., never registered in a salt belt state), contact your DPSM for further directions.

 

REQUIRED TOOLS, EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS

1. Obtain necessary tools, equipment and materials.
2. Dealers that do not already have the Spray Gun, Regulator or Anti-Corrosion agents listed below, should order through their facing PDC.

Picture	Name / Part number	Remark
	Corrugated Paper	For masking
	Universal Absorbent Pads	For masking and wiping off too much anti-corrosion agent
	Hammer, 1 Pound
	Punch
	Protective Gloves
	Respirator
	Safety Glasses
	Scraper Flathead Screwdriver Wire Brush	For rust removal
	Air Coupler
	Air Compressor
	Air Gun
	Spray Gun for Internal Application: MZ341023EX or WURTH type (HRS2)	Clean spray gun after using
	Air Regulator for use with: MZ341023EX or WURTH type (HRS2)
	Anti-Corrosion Agent for Internal Application: MZ321015	1 liter – Target amount of usage: 5 vehicles per bottle
	Anti-Corrosion Agent for Internal Application: MZ341024EX	1 liter – Target amount of usage：5 vehicles per bottle
	Anti-Corrosion Agent for External Application: MZ320800	0.48 liter – Target amount of usage:  5 vehicles per aerosol can

 

!! IMPORTANT !!

Inspect consistency of the Anti-Corrosion Agent (P/N: MZ341024EX) before use. The consistency should be smooth and creamy. If the consistency is chunky (like cottage cheese) do not use and discard the product.

ANTI-CORROSION AGENT SPRAY GUN PART #:	MZ341024EX – ANTI-CORROSION AGENT	MZ321015 (Canada) – ANTI-CORROSION AGENT
MZ341023EX	Reference Page 11	Reference Page 15
WURTH Type (HRS2)	Reference Page 17	Reference Page 22

 

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IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL

 

This notice applies to your vehicle, _________________.

 

Date:  July, 2020

 

Dear FIRSTNAME LASTNAME,

 

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

 

Reason for notice:

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) has decided that a defect relating to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2008 – 2010 Lancer, 2010 Lancer Sportback, 2008 – 2013 Outlander, and 2011 – 2016 Outlander Sport vehicles operated in states where road salt is used.  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 agent.  If this occurs, the front lower control arms may detach.  A detached front control arm can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

 

What you should do:

Please contact your local Authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer and schedule an appointment to have the repair performed. When you bring your vehicle in, please show the dealer this letter. If you misplace this letter, the dealer will still perform this repair for your vehicle, free of charge.

 

What your dealer will do:

The dealership will inspect and apply anti-corrosion agents to the inside and outside of your vehicle’s cross member. If perforation(s) are found during inspection, the dealer will replace your vehicle’s cross member with a new one.

 

How long will it take?

The time needed for inspection and application of anti-corrosion agents is approximately 1.5 hrs. If perforation(s) are found during the inspection, the repair could take up to 4 hrs. The dealer may need your vehicle for a longer period of time, but every effort will be made to minimize your inconvenience.

 

If you have any questions, please contact the Mitsubishi Customer Relations Department at 888-648-7820. Hours: Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Central Time)

 

If, after contacting Mitsubishi Customer Relations, you still have a problem getting this repair made within a reasonable time frame and/or without charge, you may submit a complaint to the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, D.C. 20590, or call the toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153) or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

 

If you have already encountered a problem with excessive cross member corrosion and had it repaired or replaced as a result of this specific condition and have paid for the repair, you may send your original repair order or invoice and original receipt/proof of payment to the following address for reimbursement consideration:

 

Mitsubishi Customer Relations Department, P. O. Box 689040 Franklin, TN  37069

 

If you are the lessor of this vehicle, please forward a copy of this notice to the lessee within ten days to comply with federal regulations.

 

We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter.

 

Sincerely,

 

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

C2003R

 

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16 Affected Products

Vehicles

 

 

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15 Associated Documents

Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-20V279-8021.pdf 244.997KB

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Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-20V279-9263.PDF 216.856KB

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Recall 573 Report – Amendment 1

RCLRPT-20V279-8936.PDF 216.853KB

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)- ADVANCE TECHNICAL INFORMATION NOTICE

RCMN-20V279-0097.pdf 62.116KB

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)- ADVANCE TECHNICAL INFORMATION NOTICE

RCMN-20V279-8289.pdf 64.049KB

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ISSUED Interim Owner Notification Letter (Part 577)

RIONL-20V279-4416.pdf 217.421KB

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)

RCMN-20V279-9659.pdf 247.102KB

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Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-20V279-8330.pdf 6632.632KB

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc) – CROSSMEMBER CORROSION – SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN

RCMN-20V279-4504.pdf 7229.708KB

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ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-20V279-3552.pdf 222.474KB

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc) – TECHNICAL INFORMATION NOTICE

RCMN-20V279-5792.pdf 33.463KB

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc) – Crossmember – Safety Recall Campaign — UPDATED INFORMATION

RCMN-20V279-1276.pdf 182.184KB

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Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2020-3

RCLQRT-20V279-8783.PDF 211.165KB

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Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2020-4

RCLQRT-20V279-2150.PDF 211.276KB

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Recall 573 Report – Amendment 2

RCLRPT-20V279-8039.PDF 216.815KB

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Latest Recalls Documents

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=20V279&docType=RCL

 

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