The defect
MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 LANCER AND LANCER EVOLUTION VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF 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 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN AREAS WHERE HEAVY ROAD SALT IS USED IN THE WINTER, A LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO A MIXTURE OF MELTED SNOW WITH SALT THROWN UP BY THE OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD MAY CAUSE A WATER-SALT MIXTURE TO ADHERE TO THE FRONT IMPACT SENSORS.
The risk
THIS COATING OVER TIME MAY CAUSE CORROSION OF THE SENSOR. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH OF THE TYPE THAT WOULD DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS THIS TYPE OF SHORT-CIRCUIT MAY CAUSE A DELAY IN THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS WHICH COULD RESULT IN DRIVER OR PASSENGER INJURY.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW FRONT AIRBAG SENSORS THAT HAVE IMPROVED CORROSION RESISTANCE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MITSUBISHI CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT AT 1-888-648-7820.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Mitsubishi Lancer | 2008, 2009 |
| Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution | 2008, 2009 |
Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
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 Lancer | 2008 | 91 | 5 |
| Mitsubishi Lancer | 2009 | 98 | 8 |
| Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution | 2008 | 36 | 4 |
| Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution | 2009 | 2 | 5 |
Other air bags recalls in 2009
7 of the 491 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2009 concerned the air bags; MITSUBISHI MOTORS NORTH AMERICA, INC. filed 32 campaigns in all.
| 09V484000 18 Dec 2009 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC |
| 09V467000 3 Dec 2009 | JAGUAR LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA, LLC |
| 09V376000 23 Sept 2009 | DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA |
| 09V361000 16 Sept 2009 | MITSUBISHI MOTORS NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 09V352000 14 Sept 2009 | SPARTAN CHASSIS, INC. |
| 09V341000 31 Aug 2009 | PIERCE MANUFACTURING |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2009