Mitsubishi To Recall More Than 130K Vehicles For Faulty Defrosters, Head Lights

(RTTNews) - The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that Mitsubishi Motors Corp. is recalling in the U.S. more than 130,000 of its Outlander and other vehicles made between 2009 and 2011 due to possible malfunctions affecting head and tail lights, as well as windshield wipers and defrosters.

Of which 76,958 vehicles are being recalled due to failure of the blower motor, which may reduce the performance of the windshield defroster, diminishing the driver's visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

Mitsubishi Motors North America is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Lancer vehicles manufactured March 16, 2009, to March 30, 2011, 2010-2011 Lancer Sportback vehicles manufactured June 17, 2009, to December 1, 2010, 2010-2011 Lancer Evolution vehicles manufactured July 14, 2009, to January 7, 2011, 2009-2011 Outlander vehicles manufactured February 10, 2009, to June 22, 2011, and 2011 Outlander Sport vehicles manufactured August 26, 2010, to November 19, 2010. In the affected vehicles, the blower motor may fail.

Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace a suspect blower motor, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule.

Separately, About 53,396 vehicles are being recalled due to a defective control unit for head and tail lights, and windshield wipers. If the headlights and/or windshield wipers fail, the driver could have reduced visibility. If the tail lights fail, the vehicle could be less visible. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.

Mitsubishi Motors North America is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Mitsubishi Lancer vehicles manufactured January 12, 2009, to July 6, 2010, 2009-2010 Outlander vehicles manufactured January 12, 2009, to August 27, 2010, 2010 Lancer Sportback vehicles manufactured June 17, 2009, to June 8, 2010, and 2010 Lancer Evolution vehicles manufactured July 14, 2009, to August 4, 2010. The affected vehicles have an electronic control unit (ECU) that controls the head lights, tail lights, and windshield wipers. Due to a manufacturing error, the voltage inside this ECU may be unstable.

Mitsubishi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected ECU, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule.