SA: No extra problems for Mitsubishi from expanded recall

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-2000
SA: No extra problems for Mitsubishi from expanded recall

ADELAIDE, Aug 23 AAP - Mitsubishi Australia will not need to add to its recall of Galant,
Pajero or Lancer cars imported from Japan despite a big expansion of a previous recall
issued in Tokyo.

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has added about 90,000 vehicles to the 532,000 recalled
last month, taking the total cost of the operation to $110 million, after admitting to
not acting on customer complaints dating back to 1977.

But Mitsubishi Motors Australia Ltd spokesman Kevin Taylor said the expanded recall
would not significantly impact on the Australian operations even though it had included
247 Galants sold in Australia.

Mr Taylor said those cars were already part of the 2,000 Galants recalled last month
as part of the original announcement and owners would now be advised that there were two
issues that required attention.

The first recall involved a fault with the lower control arm in the front suspension
while the second related to a problem with the petrol tank.

Neither were regarded safety issues and Mitsubishi said it had not received any complaints
related to the problems from local customers.

Mr Taylor said following the expansion of the recall in Japan and the apology to buyers,
it was hoped the issue could now be put to rest.

"Hopefully now we can put it behind us," he said.

"Especially as it involved a relatively small number of vehicles sold in Australia."

In Tokyo yesterday Mitsubishi president Katuhiko Kawasoe submitted a report to the
Ministry of Transport (MOT) on the recall scandal, which first surfaced in press reports
last month.

"I deeply apologise," Mr Kawasoe told a news conference, admitting that staff had flouted
the law.

"I will punish company personnel involved very strictly. I will cut my salary as well
as that of other executives."

The problem of customer complaints being hidden and not being reported to the MOT was
exposed by a whistle-blower. An inspection later found documents related to vehicle problems
in the lockers of employees at Mitsubishi's head office.

When the original recall was announced in Japan, Mitsubishi Australia said it would
include about 12,000 vehicles sold locally including the 2,000 Galants and 10,000 Lancers.

An undisclosed number of Pajero four-wheel-drives were also involved, but had previously
been recalled to fix a brake hose problem.

AAP tjd/mg/bwl n

KEYWORD: MOTOR MITSUBISHI

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