The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, DIRT AND WATER CAN INTRUDE. ALSO, MMC HAS ADDED THE POTENTIAL OF LEAKING MOISTURE, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE BALL STUD TO CORRODE.
The risk
THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. THIS CAMPAIGN SUPERCEDES MMC'S PREVIOUS SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN, SEE 99V-066.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT FOR WEAR. BALL JOINTS THAT EXHIBIT WEAR BEYOND THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY DESIGNED LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS. BALL JOINTS THAT ARE WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE CLEANED AND A SPECIAL SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED TO PREVENT INTRUSION OF MOISTURE.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Mitsubishi Caribbean Eclipse | 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 |
| Mitsubishi Caribbean Eclipse Spyder | 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 |
| Mitsubishi Caribbean Galant | 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 |
Components: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitsubishi Caribbean Eclipse | 1995 | 1 | 2 |
| Mitsubishi Caribbean Eclipse | 1996 | 1 | 2 |
| Mitsubishi Caribbean Eclipse | 1997 | 1 | 1 |
| Mitsubishi Caribbean Eclipse | 1998 | 3 | 2 |
| Mitsubishi Caribbean Eclipse | 1999 | 2 | 1 |
| Mitsubishi Caribbean Eclipse Spyder | 1996 | 0 | 1 |
| Mitsubishi Caribbean Eclipse Spyder | 1997 | 2 | 1 |
| Mitsubishi Caribbean Eclipse Spyder | 1998 | 0 | 1 |
| Mitsubishi Caribbean Eclipse Spyder | 1999 | 0 | 1 |
| Mitsubishi Caribbean Galant | 1994 | 1 | 2 |
| Mitsubishi Caribbean Galant | 1995 | 0 | 2 |
| Mitsubishi Caribbean Galant | 1996 | 6 | 2 |
| Mitsubishi Caribbean Galant | 1997 | 1 | 1 |
| Mitsubishi Caribbean Galant | 1998 | 1 | 1 |
Other suspension recalls in 2001
44 of the 461 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2001 concerned the suspension; MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN filed 26 campaigns in all.
| 01V377000 11 Dec 2001 | JAYCO, INC. |
| 01V363000 29 Nov 2001 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
| 01V361000 28 Nov 2001 | GENERAL COACH AMERICA, INC. |
| 01V359000 13 Nov 2001 | MONACO COACH CORP. |
| 01V338000 2 Nov 2001 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 01V317001 22 Oct 2001 | COACHMEN INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 01V332000 17 Oct 2001 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 01V328000 11 Oct 2001 | MONACO COACH CORP. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2001