Ball joint recall

[nick-f1]

I got my Legnum vr4 recall notice today in the post from Mitsubishi Motors!! So as I was told by Poole mitsi a few weeks ago to be patient a notice wold be issued and sure enough it has. :rolleyes5 I am still waiting for my clock lights circuit board to arrive from Japan, its 10 weeks now! The first one they fitted they obtained in 48hrs and lasted 2 weeks before blowing.......... "Ah an intermittant fault Sir, We will order a new one for you blah blah". .....!0 weeks later and 10 phone calls I'm still waiting! :sad3:

[SGHOM]

I received my notice today also !! :D

[banjo]

And me, received today.

[wirdy]

Ditto.

[HJM]

Never had a letter but after hassling Poole Mitsubishi, we had a call from them for the lower ball joint recall.

T'was done today (two shiny new ball joints :-b ) but what an a***hole on the service desk - will never take the VR4 to them again.

NickF1 - I know you have said in the past that they are good - not good today :(

[nick-f1]

but what an a***hole on the service desk -(

Do you know who it was? The service manager is a bloke called Ian ( 50 ish?)... he knows his stuff and is usually very helpful, but the younger two ... well less said the better. Trouble is southgate dont even know what a vr4 is!
" a vr what sir?" is about all you get from them.

Better luck next time. What about bridport? are they any good?

[Rima]

Doh! I should have paid more notice to these forums!

Just bought a VR-4 yesterday through a dealer. I saw this post about a recall... will my car be affected or will it be picked up initially through compliance?

[KiwiTT]

Mitsubishi NZ are not doing anything on this Recall. However, your dealer may still be able to check the problem.

[Josh2xsv]

Just had to get a bloody new front-right ball joint and foot the bill myself arrgh!

[_simon_]

Josh, how much did it cost? Did you take it to Dallas Motors or somewhere else?

[HJM]

Do you know who it was? The service manager is a bloke called Ian ( 50 ish?)... he knows his stuff and is usually very helpful, but the younger two ... well less said the better. Trouble is southgate dont even know what a vr4 is!
" a vr what sir?" is about all you get from them.

Better luck next time. What about bridport? are they any good?

Pretty sure it was Ian - must have been that time of the month :-D

[Polabear]

Legnum went in to David Meek mitsy here in Torquay on wednesday for the b/j recall, had to both lower suspension arms replaced..... :sad3: also in another post v6-24 was in last week for the same recall and had to have the o/s lower suspension arm replaced for a goosed b/j only 8 months after having them both replaced under red zeb warranty.... :sad3: methinks these b/j's are not up to the job....

[Jimbo]

I skimmed over a lot of this ball joint recall at the time because my chassis number wasn't one of the ones on the various sites, but I've just noticed KiwiTTs list in the members section which suggests my chassis number (a 0300-series) is indeed affected.

The garage have just noticed that the suspension arms are very worn and need replacing asap :sad3:

Has anybody with a Ralliart supplied car had to have this recall done? I'd just assumed it was the older imported ones. :dozey:

[enigma]

Looking at the list there are a lot of cars that will be subject to the recall. Called Mitsubishi and they are still looking in to my chassis number 2 months later. :dozey:

[Jimbo]

They're obviously working through these batch by batch then, but it looks like I need to get mine fixed now :sad3:

Just been doing some searches and found a link to the Japan site posted up by Pieboy - here (http://www.clubvr4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5201&highlight=ball+joint). If I enter in my chassis number it comes back with a weird babelfish translation suggesting my car doesn't exist, but if I put in one chassis number down, I get the ball joint and fuel tank notices - perhaps it's not showing mine because it was singled out for export to Ralliart ???

Does yours show on this list Dave? How about you other Ralliart owners?

KiwiTT - that list in the members section, which site did you get this off? I've called Mitsubishi and have been told mine isn't part of the recall :grrr:

Told the woman that the chassis before it is up for recall, as are 1000's others around it, AND my ball joints are indeed worn after only 45K. What the hell are they playing at?

/edit - just rang Mitsi Cirencester and got them on the case. Hopefully get an answer back soon :(

[banjo]

I had a letter from Mitsubishi UK a couple of months ago and took mine to Mitsi at Ware, the guy there said there was a little wear but would change them anyway.

Couldn't post anything previously as I've recently moved house with all the trauma that contains!

[HJM]

We never had a letter from Mitsi - just kept hassling the local dealer, who eventually gave in and did them !

[Dan_G]

I rang my local dealer today to ask about the ball joint recall and they said there was no outstanding Recalls on my Chassis No. Hopefully that means there've been done!?

Problem is my stereo is never quiet enough for me to hear any clunks.......

[wirdy]

I rang my local dealer today to ask about the ball joint recall and they said there was no outstanding Recalls on my Chassis No. Hopefully that means there've been done!?
.......

Dan, the trouble is............that's what most of us have been told when first quoting our chassis numbers & raising these recalls with our dealers!!!!

If your car doesn't need the inspection you're in a very small minority.

Check the jap / NZ recall websites that have been well advertised on this site.

Would your car insurance pay out if your balljoint failed & you wrote off the car if it hadn't been inspected for a safety recall that was released in Japan in 2003?? - that's what I asked my dealer.


Good luck

[Jimbo]

Just received some excellent news....I rang customer services at Mitsi in Cirencester yesterday (01285 647774) and spoke to a guy called Matt and told him the garage had noticed my ball joints were looking worn, but as yet I'd had no joy with my local Mitsubishi dealership over getting them replaced.

He rang me back first thing this morning, "yes your car is one of the ones affected by the recall, so you need to book it in to have them changed. If the garage give you any grief, then please refer them to me".

I nearly fell off my chair :) :) :) :)

So, anyone with a Ralliart VR4, if your chassis number matches the list KiwiTT put up, don't accept any rubbish from the dealers, get my new hero Matt to sort 'em out.

I've already rung Holdcroft to inform them of what I was told by Cirencester, i.e. that mine's one of the 1000's affected. They initially told me that it wold be inspected first, but when I told them I'd just had an independent specialist tell me they were worn, they didn't even quibble it. Didn't get asked for a chassis number for confirmation or anything....now why didn't I just bluff it last time?! Anyway, end result is that I'm booked in for next Wednesday.

By the way, are these lower suspension arms the same ones as on all Galants??? I would have thought they were at least subtely different, so I pointed out to the girly on the desk that it was a VR4 and to make sure they had the right parts in stock, but I'm not sure she understood..... hmm, I shouldn't get too excited that this is actually going to take place until it's actually been done, I guess :rolleyes:

[pezza]

Hmm I better ring and check the state of play with mine too as you mention it...

[simpsonm]

What year is ur motor Jimbo?

[Jimbo]

Its a late-2000 X-plate. Chassis no in the 03008xx series.

Imported and supplied by by Ralliart in Dudley (now Xtreme - who knew sod-all about this recall btw)

[simpsonm]

Just called another dealer in Huddersfield today, as mine is a late 1999 model. They were v.helpfull, the UK system has no knowledge of my car as far as the recall is concerned. He is calling mits central to find out and will call me back.

I sent the email to them last nite they got back in touch 9:30 this morning.

[Jimbo]

Yeah that's the sort of response I was getting, except my dealer wasn't be helpful about it. This got to the point that even I was convinced my car wasn't covered by the recall, until the garage noticed the problem and I saw KiwiTT's post.

Fingers crossed you, me and everyone else get's this problem sorted once and for all very soon.

[enigma]

Does yours show on this list Dave? How about you other Ralliart owners?


Under carriage number ( EC5W-020**** ) search result

The car of the customer was decided as the objectvehicleof the below-mentioned item.

Number Contents Classification Notification day
(Target date) Execution circumstance
1 Front suspension of 3 models such as 繧ｮ繝｣繝ｩ繝ｳ and 繝ｬ繧ｰ繝翫Β (the lower arm) about Recall 2003/11/20 Job unexecuted

I did, at my expense, have them replaced around this time as they were worn......would be nice to get the money back as they were around £350! :rolleyes5

[RED]

My 99 is not listed at all but to be honest I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing :undecided

[Jimbo]

Under carriage number ( EC5W-020**** ) search result

The car of the customer was decided as the objectvehicleof the below-mentioned item.

Number Contents Classification Notification day
(Target date) Execution circumstance
1 Front suspension of 3 models such as 繧ｮ繝｣繝ｩ繝ｳ and 繝ｬ繧ｰ繝翫Β (the lower arm) about Recall 2003/11/20 Job unexecuted

I did, at my expense, have them replaced around this time as they were worn......would be nice to get the money back as they were around £350! :rolleyes5

Great translation isn't it!

Try the customer services guy I spoke to, Matt I think his name was, with a bit of luck he'll be as helpful to you as he was with me.

[enigma]

I have been in touch with them twice in the last 2 months and they will ring me when they know!!

So I will be phoning again this afternoon!

Customer Service my fat hairy ass!

[enigma]

OK, after several months of trying with the dealer and 3 and a half months with customer service I am finally told that my car IS affected by the lower ball joint recall and that I should take my car in to the nearest dealer and they will do it FOC. Aha, but I have already paid to have them replaced as they failed an MOT I say......no problem, send us the invoice and we will try and get a refund from the factory for you sir........cool! Also sir, we recommend you take your car in and get it checked as they may not have fitted the updated parts. :inquisiti

[bernmc]

Just put my chassis number through the recall checker (link on the forums here (http://www.clubvr4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5201) ; Kieran, you power-crazed madman, why don't you sticky it - it's very useful :p) and the result came out as:


<!--StartFragment -->


<CENTER><TABLE class=tableText style="WIDTH: 419px; HEIGHT: 20px" cellPadding=0 width=419 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD>
Under carriage number ( EC5W-0007340 ) search result



</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></CENTER><TABLE cellPadding=4 width=550 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=tableText cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=585 bgColor=#969696 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE class=tableText cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=2 width=585 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#eeeeee><TD align=middle width=50>Number </TD><TD align=middle width=265>Contents </TD><TD align=middle width=70>Classification </TD><TD align=middle width=100>Notification day

(Target date)
</TD><TD align=middle width=100>Execution circumstance </TD></TR><TR bgColor=#cccccc><TD align=middle width=50>1 </TD><TD align=left width=265>Front suspension of 3 models such as 繧ｮ繝｣繝ｩ繝ｳ and 繝ｬ繧ｰ繝翫Β (the lower arm) about

(http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/trurl_pagecontent?lp=ja_en&trurl=http%3a%2f%2fu-cfc.mitsubishi-motors.co.jp%2fRecall%2fdisplayselect.do%3forderno %3d11003)
</TD><TD align=left width=70>Recall </TD><TD align=middle width=100>2003/11/20 </TD><TD align=middle width=100>Work performance end



</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#cccccc><TD align=middle width=50>2 </TD><TD align=left width=265>About ASC of 繧ｮ繝｣繝ｩ繝ｳ and the 繝ｬ繧ｰ繝翫Β VR-4 series

(http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/trurl_pagecontent?lp=ja_en&trurl=http%3a%2f%2fu-cfc.mitsubishi-motors.co.jp%2fRecall%2fdisplayselect.do%3forderno %3d10784)
</TD><TD align=left width=70>Recall </TD><TD align=middle width=100>2001/11/08 </TD><TD align=middle width=100>Work performance end



</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#cccccc><TD align=middle width=50>3 </TD><TD align=left width=265>4 models such as 繧ｮ繝｣繝ｩ繝ｳ and 繝ｬ繧ｰ繝翫Β (the 4WD car) about the fuel tank

(http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/trurl_pagecontent?lp=ja_en&trurl=http%3a%2f%2fu-cfc.mitsubishi-motors.co.jp%2fRecall%2fdisplayselect.do%3forderno %3d10646)
</TD><TD align=left width=70>Recall </TD><TD align=middle width=100>2000/07/26 </TD><TD align=middle width=100>Work performance end



</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>



I assume that the 'work performance end' bit means the stuff has been done. Which is nice :D

The only other recall I can find is 494 - ASC - 11/12/97 which doesn't pop up in the table, but I assume that it's sorted out in the later ASC recall as well (2 above) :inquisiti

[Nick Mann]

Mine shows the same 3 recalls but shows the lower arms as unexecuted. I can feel a trip to the dealer coming on!

[Sulli]

I got this:

Under carriage number ( EC5W-03009** ) search result

The car of the customerwas decided asthe vehicle outside the object.

However now there is no error in the above-mentioned under carriage number, or collate with the under carriage number of one time vehicle inspection proof statement.
Furthermore, when there is an unclear point, please inquire at the dealership of the below-mentioned "customer aspectual talks center" or the vicinity.

Whatever that means /help

I know my car had a new top arm just before I bought it.
Should I get the bottom arms checked out and changed if FOC?
Will my local Mitsi dealer be able to tell me (reliably) whether I need the new parts?

[bernmc]

I got this:

Under carriage number ( EC5W-03009** ) search result

The car of the customerwas decided asthe vehicle outside the object.

However now there is no error in the above-mentioned under carriage number, or collate with the under carriage number of one time vehicle inspection proof statement.
Furthermore, when there is an unclear point, please inquire at the dealership of the below-mentioned "customer aspectual talks center" or the vicinity.

Whatever that means /help

I know my car had a new top arm just before I bought it.
Should I get the bottom arms checked out and changed if FOC?
Will my local Mitsi dealer be able to tell me (reliably) whether I need the new parts?
I think that message means it doesn't recognise the chassis number ( I got it when trying an incorrect number too). Your chassis number definitely falls into the range for the ball jt recall...

[Sulli]

Just phoned up Oak tree Mitsubishi - they said they cant check chassis number themselves, bt need to check with Mitsi UK.
I said OK, i'll give you the chassis no and you check.
The service bloke said he needed to copy my V5 and fax it to Mitsi UK to get the info from their warranties dept!
Is he being awkward or does this sound right?

[Sulli]

Just been down to give them a copy of the V5 - will await their phone call next week!

[Jimbo]

Sulli, I got that same response from the Jap site, so I played around with chassis numbers and found the one directly before mine came up (I'm convinced it's something to do with mine bei g considered a Ralliart export by the site as a reason for it not showing).

Don't bother with your dealer - ring Mitsy UK directly (01285 647774) and speak to customer services. Whether you get a quick response or not seems to be in the lap of the Gods, as BDA waited months and I got a call back within 24 hours. I guess it depends on their mood.

[Jimbo]

......oh and another strategy that may have worked in my favour - I lied (sort of) and told them I had seen a recall notice for my car on the Mitsy Japan site. I didn't want to say "Is my car affected?", I attacked and said "My car is affected, can you please confirm the course of action".

[Sulli]

Cheers for that Jimbo, i'll phone next week

[Sulli]

I contacted Oak Tree today as they hadn't contacted me, and they said they'd not heard back yet - they said they were still waiting on a similar request made 2 months ago!

I phoned your number there Jimbo, Mitsubishi Direct, and they were very helpful - promised to call me back with details today, as I had said that I had seen that I was subject to a recall on a Jap website. He asked me whether this was via the VR4 forum too????? I said i'd seen the link here.

Anyway, he phoned me back as promised, and said according to them I wasn't subject to a recall, but there were sometimes cars that slipped through, so he is going to contact the factory in Japan, and let me know what they say - should take about a week. I am impressed with Mistubishi's service (well the bloke I spoke to, Matt, anyway). And, I am unimpressed by Oak Tree - surely they could have picked up the phone on my behalf? After all, it's a Mitsi recall, and they are a franchise, and it's a safety issue. I even had my daughter in my arms when I spoke to the service manager on Saturday - if that was me working there i'd have gone out of my way to get a quick response.

Will update when I hear.

thanks again Jimbo :)

[Jimbo]

No problem mate, hope you get sorted soon. Matt was the guy I spoke to as well, he was top class.

[aaron68nz]

If you want to be scared check out actual case incidents or rather accidents at:
http://www.mitsubishisucks.com/cars/complaints/usa/parts/suspension/galant.html

[Sulli]

Oak Tree got back to me today - they said my car had come back clear. I told the Service Manager, Bob, that that's what Mitsi UK told me, but they are checking the factory in Japan as some slip through.
He then got dead arsey with me, saying he'd spent loads of time finding this out, and he'd gone direct to the factory.
I asked if he'd got his info from Warranties at Mitsi UK or the factory it was built, in Japan - he then got even more arsey, so I told him I didn't like his attitude, particularly to a customer regarding a safety issue. He just repeated that my car was clear - conversation over.
I get the impression they are used to dealing with people who accept everything they say, and don't like being questionned - plus, he probably knows I may be right but can't be arsed getting the info from Japan.
I will await Matt from Mitsi UK to get back to me.
So that's a negative for Oak Tree - Graham there is usually very good, but his boss Bob seems to be a right **** /yes

[pezza]

Yeh I have asked a few mistu dealers round North WestLondon and I get different stories... some are right ars*y

I am getting a mistu mechanic to check on their systems having received the all clear from another dealer... altho that link to the japanese website showed
that none of the work (ASC, fuel tank, lower arms) has been done to date..

what is this fuel tank recall about?

Coincidentally.. I heard that clunk, creak and that stretched spring sound at low speeds on a couple of 3 point turn manoeuvres (that word never loox right when I type it)

Anyone had recurring lower ball joint problems?... does over enthusiastic driving kill them or is it modding (such lowering/wheel change sizes etc...)

Cheers

D

[aaron68nz]

Check out Galant recalls with full details as to what ist's all about:

http://www.mitsubishisucks.com/cars/recalls/usa/galant.html

[Jimbo]

what is this fuel tank recall about?

It was a leaking problem due to it's original design.....there was a series of articles in a magazine doing a long term test, Top Gear possibly, where they experienced ludicrously low mpg (even though it's hard to believe it could be lower!) which identified the problem.

Mine had it done before I owned the car, I've got the slip of paper to say as much. Hey, here's a thought - were the new fuel tanks smaller again, i.e. less than 60l? It might explain the mysterious hiding of the last 2 gallons when your fuel light's on?!!

[pezza]

It was a leaking problem due to it's original design.....there was a series of articles in a magazine doing a long term test, Top Gear possibly, where they experienced ludicrously low mpg (even though it's hard to believe it could be lower!) which identified the problem.




Cheers Jimbo...

I havent seen any such note with the paperwork that I have....
I have just been advised to provide info about engine number, country of import, chassis so that dealer can contact japan etc...

Hmm fob off or not? :inquisiti

[Polabear]

Yeh I have asked a few mistu dealers round North WestLondon and I get different stories... some are right ars*y

I am getting a mistu mechanic to check on their systems having received the all clear from another dealer... altho that link to the japanese website showed
that none of the work (ASC, fuel tank, lower arms) has been done to date..

what is this fuel tank recall about?

Coincidentally.. I heard that clunk, creak and that stretched spring sound at low speeds on a couple of 3 point turn manoeuvres (that word never loox right when I type it)

Anyone had recurring lower ball joint problems?... does over enthusiastic driving kill them or is it modding (such lowering/wheel change sizes etc...)

Cheers

D

Derek
I had to have 2 new ones on my V6-24 last april under warranty, had a recall letter from mitz uk to take it along in December just before I took the Legnum in, and guess what... they had to replace another one...WTF.. :rolleyes4 and that as you know isn't lowered or gets ragged, obviously the Legnum has been done also, but I have heard since that the ones that were replaced under warranty last april were the old type and not up to the std of the new type....I should Kin CoCo... seeing as I had hardly driven it before buying the Legnum...... /grr