Table 1 shows three common steering related problems of the 2002 Mitsubishi Montero.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Steering Column problems | |
| Steering Tie Rod Assembly problems | |
| Lose Power Steering problems |
I have taken the Mitsubishi a number of times to dealer for two different problems concerning steering. Concord Mitsubishi kept telling us that the problems were either fixed or it was normal, but the problems recurred.
Our accident occured while towing a pop up trailer. We are experienced driver's and have been towing a trailer for more than 12 years. While traveling at approximately 55 mph, suddenly and without warning I was unable to control the car. We were traveling on a straight section of highway in the right lane. The road conditions and weather conditions were good. There were no tire failures on the car or the trailer. The steering wheel started rocking and soon we had no control of the car. The front end felt as though it was nose plowing. The car swerved into the left lane. The first impact was to the trailer; it brushed against the concrete median divider. The car than pulled to the right. The second impact was to the driver's side front end of the car that hit the metal guardrail on the right side of the road. The weight of the trailer pulled us back onto the road. The trailer at this point jack knifed and flipped onto it's roof proceeding north on the highway for about 50 feet. The third impact was to the drivers side rear of the car, again hitting the guardrail as the trailer pulled the car backward. We feel that if we were not towing the trailer we would have been another victim of a SUV roll over accident. After examining the car after the accident it was discovered that the left tie rod was snapped in half. The left front tire was turned outwards while the right front tire was facing forwards. Mitsubishi has yet to be able to explain what happened with the car. To date there have been over $21,000 in repairs to the vehicle. They still have our car!.
I was driving home from work and notice my truck had died while slowing to make a right turn at a light. . Noticed the brake and battery light came on. . . I restarted the car then tried to make a quick left on my street and couldn't steer my car. . . I had to use all my strength to turn the steering wheel. . . Had to make a hard turn because on coming traffic was coming and I couldn't speed up or really brake. . . Luckily I made the turn coasted a bit heard a loud clacking under my hood coasted to side of road where I wouldn't be in middle of road. . . I lost all power steering. . . Tried to crank it wouldn't start. . . Looked up under hood didn't see anything. . . Called my stepdad and mom we tried to give it a boost with cables didn't work. . . So looked under the car where the trap is noticed a fairly large bolt sheared in half and what I found out later to be the harmonic balancer and belt to it. . . Pulled all this out from atop hood. . . Had it towed to a mechanic and they said the crankshaft pulley bolt had broke and part of it was still in the crankshaft said pray I can get this bolt out if not you have to replace the whole motor. . .