Recalls


CampaignManufacturerManufacturing dateType# of units affectedDate Owner notified MfgRecall Initiated byManufacturers of recalled vehicles/productsReport Recieved DateRecord Creation DateRegulation Part NumberFMVSS Number
POWER TRAIN - TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
02V143001MITSUBISHI AMERICA V (Vehicle)1500012/09/2002ODIMITSUBISHI MOTORS NORTH AMERICA, INC.05/14/200206/03/2002
Defect SummaryOn certain passenger vehicles, a condition exists that allows oil to leak from the all-wheel drive transfer case.
Consequence SummaryLow oil levels in the transfer case could cause bearing damage and result in drive train lockup, increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective SummaryDealers will inspect the transfer case for indications of oil leakage or damage. vehicles that have oil leakage will have the transfer case resealed and re-fill the transfer case to the proper level, or replaced the transfer case if there is evidence of damage. owner notification is expected to begin december 9, 2002. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact mitsubishi america at 1-888-648-7820 or mitsubmishi caribbean at 1-787-251-8715.
NotesMitsubishi recall bulletin no. sr-02-003. customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - LEVER AND LINKAGE - COLUMN SHIFT
022300301/01/2002634695Subject regarding getrag transfer cases. *jg10/04/2002
POWER TRAIN - CLUTCH ASSEMBLY - PEDAL/LINKAGE
TSB972301512/01/1997600571Information about improved automatic transaxle end clutch. *tt05/26/1998
POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TSB962200511/01/199650606Additional manual transaxle shift lever operational inspection - service manual revision. *tw05/27/1997
TSB932200208/01/199339689New speedometer driven gear. *tw11/01/1995
POWER TRAIN - TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
9406/01/2003100037575-speed transfer case assembly identification. *tt10/29/2003

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
POWER TRAIN
05/16/2003133000104/16/2003
 The splines of the shaft that connect the transmission and transfer case were stripped under normal driving conditions. *nm
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
11/01/1998420001
 Problems regarding 1992 mitsubishi 3000gt transmission.*mr (nar) *cb
05/09/2000
 Transfer case seals leaked oil onto transmission, causing transmission to stop working. contacted dealer,and the dealer was not willing to do anything.*ak
107/01/1996
 Shifting into 3rd gear made a grinding sound. it was like that when i bought it used in jul 1996. reverse went out totally in oct 00 (89,883mi). transmission and transfer case were replaced.*ak
11/20/200104/01/2000
 No spare parts available to rebuild transmission. no support. a high percentage of 3000gt vr-4s have the same transmission problems, so it looks to be a problem on the manufacturing end of things. any help would be appreciated. *ak
08/01/1999
 Getrag and mitsubishi will not release oem parts for the transmissions and transfer case for the all wheel drive 3000gt vr4 and dodge stealth twin turbo cars. these cars are known to have differentual lock up at highway speeds. i can give proof of it. *ak
11/29/200108/01/1998
 I've seen many post about the transmission on the vr4's being defective and that nhtsa was going to investigate, due to the numerous complaints. i would like to verify this information. *ak
01/01/1999101/01/1998
 Only 1 of many transmission failures at ridiculous price. *ak
09/30/2000210/01/1999
 I bought the car used in october of '99. the previous owner had replaced the transmision and transfer case. in july of '00 i had to replace the output shaft on the transmission (at a cost of $1100) because of failure. in september of '00 i was driving out of my apartment complex driveway doing about 5 mph when the gears of the transfer case shot out the side of the housing and all 4 wheels locked up. had i been driving at highway speeds and this happened the results would've been a lot worse. this is a common problem with these cars as well as the dodge stealth twin turbo models from '91 - '96. in my honest opinion all twin turbo 3000gt's and stealths should have the transmission and transfer case replaced as part of a recall or for those of us who have already spent the money to replace them should be reimbursed. thanks for your time, phil j. hosner
01/18/1999301/01/1998
 Having repaired the transmission and transfer case, the transmission output shaft had sheared, also shearing the transfer case input coupling. cost of repairs, $2,800 to rebuild both items, plus rental car ($1,000). the transmission has been replaced twice under warranty; once at 4,069 (new unit), and the other at 46,122 miles (rebuilt) due to internal failures. in talking with both mesa mitsubishi (mesa, az) and mitsubishi customer support (costa mesa, ca) there is no or has there been an excessive failure of this transmission. i beg to differ with that. after researching the internet for a couple of weeks i know of at least 1 dozen of people who have had multiple transmissions changed. with mitsubishi only selling new/rebuilts at $5,000 a piece and parts from get drag very hard to get, they are making people purchase a whole unit versus parts to rebuild, along with ineffective design and early failure of those items.
11/13/1998
 Vehicle does not operate in the reverse gear. the dealer is aware of the problem. the problem has not been corrected.
08/05/199705/27/1997
 Driveshaft broke/replaced; also replaced transmission itself. *ak
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - COOLING UNIT AND LINES
02/15/2002
 A smell of smoke was coming inside of vehicle. also, vehicle was burining gear oil. *ak
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - LEVER AND LINKAGE - COLUMN SHIFT
07/15/2002
 Transfer case is leaking. dealer contacted. feel free to provide any further information.*ak
08/18/2002
 While driving at any speed and with no warning transfer case cracked and fluid was leaking out. this could cause steering wheel or all four tires to lock up while driving. dealer notified.*ak
05/09/2000
 Transfer case seals leaked oil onto transmission, causing transmission to stop working. contacted dealer,and the dealer was not willing to do anything.*ak
10/03/2001
 When driving front wheels will locked up. checked vehicle and transfer case was dry as a result of fuel leaking. contacted dealer. this was a common problem.*ak
06/11/2002104/02/2001
 Transfer case leaked oil, resulting in power train lockup*ak.*yh
05/07/1997101/01/1992
 The following vehicle came with a transfer case defect from factory. the car was delivered new jan. 1992 , therefore the defect was reported on automobiles built in 1991 on the same model. since this vehicle was delivered jan 1992 there is a high possibility that the transfer case in question that failed was from a 1991 model. i would like to know if the repair that i had to take care of personally will be reinbursed by filing a report with mitsubishi orthe dealer, since this particular problem was an issue with 1991 models.*ak
107/01/1996
 Shifting into 3rd gear made a grinding sound. it was like that when i bought it used in jul 1996. reverse went out totally in oct 00 (89,883mi). transmission and transfer case were replaced.*ak
08/01/1999
 Getrag and mitsubishi will not release oem parts for the transmissions and transfer case for the all wheel drive 3000gt vr4 and dodge stealth twin turbo cars. these cars are known to have differentual lock up at highway speeds. i can give proof of it. *ak
08/09/2001110/01/1992
 Transfer case seal failed allowing lubrication to leak out -- there is no fluid level warning light. transfer case then failed causing irrepairable damage to transmission shaft that inputs to transfer case. mitsubishi does not supply just the transmission shaft -- they require the purchase of an entire new transmission (plus a transfer case). total cost for parts alone is aproximately $4,900. this is a well documented problem with 3000gt's. since the problem occurred after warranty expiration, mitsubishi has refused to offer compensation.*ak
06/06/2000105/01/2000
 The transaxle was not designed properly it can lock up and in my opion was not made strong enough for our cars. one other very important complaint is that if any part of the transaxle goes bad even a 10 dollar synchronizer ring you have to replace the whole tranny ! something needs to be done of this injustice and unsafe transaxle produced by mistubishi.*a
09/30/2000210/01/1999
 I bought the car used in october of '99. the previous owner had replaced the transmision and transfer case. in july of '00 i had to replace the output shaft on the transmission (at a cost of $1100) because of failure. in september of '00 i was driving out of my apartment complex driveway doing about 5 mph when the gears of the transfer case shot out the side of the housing and all 4 wheels locked up. had i been driving at highway speeds and this happened the results would've been a lot worse. this is a common problem with these cars as well as the dodge stealth twin turbo models from '91 - '96. in my honest opinion all twin turbo 3000gt's and stealths should have the transmission and transfer case replaced as part of a recall or for those of us who have already spent the money to replace them should be reimbursed. thanks for your time, phil j. hosner
08/03/1999
 While driving transfer case locked up, causing the rear tires to lock up. the dealer has been notified. *ak
03/29/1999
 Defective transfer case does not retain oil properly, causing vehicle to lock up. also, causes engine problems. please provide further iformation. *ak
01/18/1999301/01/1998
 Having repaired the transmission and transfer case, the transmission output shaft had sheared, also shearing the transfer case input coupling. cost of repairs, $2,800 to rebuild both items, plus rental car ($1,000). the transmission has been replaced twice under warranty; once at 4,069 (new unit), and the other at 46,122 miles (rebuilt) due to internal failures. in talking with both mesa mitsubishi (mesa, az) and mitsubishi customer support (costa mesa, ca) there is no or has there been an excessive failure of this transmission. i beg to differ with that. after researching the internet for a couple of weeks i know of at least 1 dozen of people who have had multiple transmissions changed. with mitsubishi only selling new/rebuilts at $5,000 a piece and parts from get drag very hard to get, they are making people purchase a whole unit versus parts to rebuild, along with ineffective design and early failure of those items.
10/31/1998107/01/1992
 Was traveling 30mph when vehicle had broke down. had vehicle towed. mechanic noticed that transfer case/transmission driveshaft had busted. it needed to be replaced, difficulty in obtaining proper parts. *ak
11/20/1997111/01/1996
 Transfer gear failed causing drive train vibration.
05/18/19958
 Transfer case broke, causing transmission failure. *skd
POWER TRAIN - AXLE ASSEMBLY - AXLE SHAFT
12/22/20031
 18 spline output shaft is insufficient for the car and is very dangerous if it breaks while on the parkway or driving in taffic.*ak
POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE
09/03/20081
 I went to have my transfer case recalled per the federal mandated safety recall, el cajon mitsubishi inspected transfer case there was damage to the shaft, a tooth was sheared off and whole assembly is hard to rotate. they refused to replace it, just resealed the transfercase and denied me the full repair. *tr
04/06/2008140000
 Tl*the contact owns a 1992 mitsubishi 3000gt. the contact stated that there was a defect recall on the transfer case of his vehicle. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for the recall repair service. after 20,000 miles, the transfer case locked. the contact feels that the recalled component was defective. the vehicle is not in operating condition. he also observed a malfunction in the front driver and passenger seat belts. the vin was unknown. the current and failure mileages were 140,000.
02/10/20041
 The transmission output shaft for the 1991-1992 mitsubishi 3000gt is far too weak for the level of performance of the car. after only 3000 miles, a new shaft that was installed literally twisted in half. the shaft that was replaced had nearly nothing left of the teeth, and it only had 50,000 miles on it. *jb
POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
01/18/1999301/01/1998
 Having repaired the transmission and transfer case, the transmission output shaft had sheared, also shearing the transfer case input coupling. cost of repairs, $2,800 to rebuild both items, plus rental car ($1,000). the transmission has been replaced twice under warranty; once at 4,069 (new unit), and the other at 46,122 miles (rebuilt) due to internal failures. in talking with both mesa mitsubishi (mesa, az) and mitsubishi customer support (costa mesa, ca) there is no or has there been an excessive failure of this transmission. i beg to differ with that. after researching the internet for a couple of weeks i know of at least 1 dozen of people who have had multiple transmissions changed. with mitsubishi only selling new/rebuilts at $5,000 a piece and parts from get drag very hard to get, they are making people purchase a whole unit versus parts to rebuild, along with ineffective design and early failure of those items.
POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - DRIVESHAFT
10/31/1998107/01/1992
 Was traveling 30mph when vehicle had broke down. had vehicle towed. mechanic noticed that transfer case/transmission driveshaft had busted. it needed to be replaced, difficulty in obtaining proper parts. *ak
08/05/199705/27/1997
 Driveshaft broke/replaced; also replaced transmission itself. *ak
POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION
04/06/2008140000
 Tl*the contact owns a 1992 mitsubishi 3000gt. the contact stated that there was a defect recall on the transfer case of his vehicle. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for the recall repair service. after 20,000 miles, the transfer case locked. the contact feels that the recalled component was defective. the vehicle is not in operating condition. he also observed a malfunction in the front driver and passenger seat belts. the vin was unknown. the current and failure mileages were 140,000.
12/21/200597000107/25/2002
 Driving in 1st gear went to shift & it just started grinding....now have to have new transmission & transfer case $7100.00.... trying to find used parts now...too many people have had the same problem... car has 96,500 miles on it. *jb
08/29/2004104/17/2003
 I have a 3000gt mitsubishi vr4 1992 that has caused problems with the transmission, found out that the 1st synchro doesn't work, and fails in most of the vr4's that i have been checking out. this is a problem when shifting gears and could cause an accident if i were rearended or something on a main road,. it is frustrating that the company does not fix this. the car and transmission still work but it is a problem when you have to bypass gear 1 always. thank you. *nm
08/18/200498000103/01/2000
 Transmission of 1992 3000 gt vr4 has vibration problem can not be fixed other then purchasing a new transmission ?? seemed to be common problem on these cars for which mitsubishi has been hiding the defects. *jb
08/02/200571000103/01/2005
 Dt: while driving transmission locked. contacted the dealer, who said consumer would have to pay for repairs because it was no longer under warranty. this happened on aug 2, 2005. *ak
03/10/2004520001
 I own a 1992 300gt with 51,000 miles. the car is in pristine condition. there was a significant amount of wear on my transmision. the car could not get into gear smoothly. the gears would constantly grind. i tried recommending transmssion fluids from mitsubishi but to no avail. the transmission was replaced by mitsubishi with a certified factory rebuilt (you can no longer purchase a new one). the rebuilt transmission was terrible and required replacement within a month (no charge for the replacement) now the new one works, but is not particularly good, as shifting is still rough. the transmission is not satisfactory. in looking at all the other people who have this identical problem, some have resulted in lock-up. i cannot believe misubishi will not acknowledge there is a product defect. *ak
12/22/2003120000104/01/2002
 The transmission output shaft in the 1992 3000gt vr4 is defective and mitsubishi is aware of this problem and refuses to acknowledge it or correct it.there is currently a recall(02v143001) on the transfer case on this vehicle and although this shaft ties into the transfer case it is not included in the recall.if this shaft is to fail while driving serious injury could occur due to loss of drive.mitsubishi/getrag does not allow or support the replacement of this shaft so a consumer must purchase a $5000 transmission.this problem has been reported on this site numerous times as well as to mitsubishi themselves. something needs to be done about this.at the time i am writing this there is another 3000gt being worked on at the dealer with the same problem!!!*ak
04/01/2003148000206/15/2001
 (3000gt vr4) on one occasion, i turned left, was in second gear. the shifter popped out of second. so i tried to put it back in and all i received in response was a grinding. i come to find out that it was synchro. apparently this is a common problem. dealer's response was that i needed a new transmission. after a little research, this seems to be more of a factory defect, then a driver defect. i am very very disappointed with mitsubishi. second incident. i was driving about 35 mph. all of a sudden the wheels locked up, i continued to slide off road. it is a good thing i wasn't going faster, it could have been a very bad accident. afterwards there was loud clunking from the bottom of the car. so i drove home (1 block away). it sat in the garage for a few months before i recieved the recall notice on the transfer case. mitsubishi has yet to issue a recall on the transmission. :o(. *ak
06/07/2002106/23/1992
 While driving vehicle and releasing clutch there was a grinding noise. vehicle would not go into gear, and transmission failed. dealer stated that transmission and transfer case had to be replaced.*ak the consumer believed the vehicle was defective. *yh
04/01/1996106/01/1995
 Transmission output crankshaft wore. a brand new one was installed because nobody makes parts for this transmission. the cost of a new transmission was around $8,000. this is definitely a defect in the component because everyone with the awd model 3000gt or stealth has this problem. the problem started in 1991 and yet nobody has been able to get the maker to own up to it. its time to make them pay, these cars are not cheap to begin with.
01/29/2001208/01/1998
 No summary listed for abov evehicle. *ak
12/17/2000110/01/2000
 No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak
08/15/2000205/01/2000
 I bought my 3000gt from a close friend of mine.his driving habits were very good.around 51,000 miles i went to shift into 3 rd gear and heard this awful grinding noise.i took it to a dealer and yhey told me my transmission was shot .they said the transmissions in the 3000gt on most cars hold out to about 45,000 so you got your moneys worth now, don't get me wrong but this is no way to treat a buying customer.there's a petition going on on the internet about these getrag trannies and last i heard there were quite a few names on it.my friend payed 38,000 for the car in 92'. i got it for a steal because we both knew of the condition of these trannies.i'm not griping because i have to pay for it,i'm griping for the long,long,long list of owners of these fine cars whose only wish is to have some justice done for them.this many people can't be wrong.granted, there were probably a few that did mistreat them, but what about all of us little people out here that drive ours like sensible human beings...........i was lucky that my transmission didn't lock up like iv'e heard some driver's do.but i think mitsubishi needs to come forward and fix these problems.i used to think mitsubishi and the getrag company's were some of the finest around but now i'm having my doughts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!thanks for your time,and please consider my plea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!help give us little people out there some feeling that someone in the higher power is looking out for us!!!!!!!!!!!!thank you for your time. *ak
09/01/2000104/01/1999
 Spyder gears worked loose and rubbed hole in transmission housing. *ak
11/01/1996210/01/1996
 No summary
02/05/2000312/01/1999
 Mitsubishi knowingly that the tranny in the all wheel drive cars is a poor design will not offer parts for resale and refuse to acknowledge the problem. because of a output shaft splines wore and i was forced into buyinf an entire tranny. the female socket on the transfer case was also wore and they made me buy an entirely new transfer case. i am now on #3 transmission. i have had to shell out well over $5000.00 and for what? we need help and want compensation for the time and money spent on these inferior parts and poor design and would like to have parts available for future problems. ideally the transmission should be redesigned and we should have our existing tranny's replaced at no charge. this is serious and will eventually cause fatalitys.
08/08/2000103/01/1999
 The getrag transmission/transfer cases on these cars is defect in that it is not built to handle the power and torque of the engine. replacement transmission parts are not available. our only option is to replace the entire transmission--often costing more than the vehicle's book value. the replaced transmission may fix the problem, but only temporarly until the splines are again stripped. first, we need a recall on the getrag transmission and transfer case. secondly, we need a better manufactured part so that the failure does not happen again. fortunately, this failure has not caused any deaths--but it is only a matter of time before a driver loses control of their automobile when the getrag component fails.
08/15/200011/01/1992
 No summary
08/04/2000111/01/1999
 The wear on the transmission was unbelivable for the amount of miles on the car. if i had been traveling at high speed the transmission failure could have easily caused an accident. the transmission of the vr4 is poorly designed and i am sure you will get many many complaints about it. mitsubishi, in my opinion should recall and replace the transmissions before someone gets hurt. thanks
02/01/2000212/01/1999
 Mitsubishi is aware of the transmission failures but refuses to fix the problem. we would like action taken toward getrag the manufacturer and mitsubishi. they do not sell parts for there failed trannys. instead require you to buy another tranny. there are several complaints in regards to this tranny. please help us consumers.*ak
06/06/2000101/01/2000
 The getrag 5speed transmission is poorly designed. my personal car only has 48,909 miles on it. the car has been meticuluously taken care off, as far as replacing fliuds promptly. the syncronizers in the car are causing the tran not to let me put the car in a new gear. i have contacted a dealer and the only way to fix it isd to replace the tranny with a new one, which is $5,000. i don't have a million dollars or something and i feel that mitsubishi should repair these awfully desinged trannys at their cost.*ak
04/30/2000101/01/1996
 I believe that this getrag (german made) 5-speed manual transmission and transfer case is a defective design. mitsubishi, various automotive technicians, and transmission repair shops acknowledge the fact that this is a common problem. dirt, clutch dust, moisture, etc enters the spline and it grinds the male transmission output spline and female coupler in the transfer case so that they are inoperable. mitsubishi says it cannot order component parts for this getrage transmission. i had to purchase an entire rebuilt transmission from mitsubishi. i also had to purchase a new transfer case. in addition, since they were working on the transmission, mitsubishi recommended that i replace the clutch disc, cover assembly, and the release bearing. the entire cost including labor was $6,781.00. i contacted mitsubishi and they had a field rep look at the transmission. he said that he recognizes the problem, but that mitsubishi is not responsible because the car is out of waranty. i think because it is a design flaw, and you can't buy replacement parts, mitsubishi should cover my costs. thank you. *ak
12/29/1998108/01/1998
 I have confidants that have had the same problem with the transmission failing in these cars. they are too many to number, so it seems to me that there is a factory defect with the transmission. a large complaint from all of us is the fact that mitsubishi has a licensing agreement with the manufacturer of the transmission (getrag). this agreement prevents mitsubishi service technicians from repairing the transmission and forces the consumer to purchase a new transmission. this hardly seems ethical, considering the transmission seems to be factory defective. also, it is very conceivable that these faulty transmissions could pose a considerable safety threat. if the output shaft to the transfer case breaks, or other crucial parts, the transmission could seize up while driving. at highway speeds, this could be very dangerous. please look into this common problem experienced with my car, particularly this model year. since i bought the car, i've taken good care of it and completed all required maintena
11/01/1995
 Manual transmission failure, when depressing the clutch there is a clunking noise. tt
POWER TRAIN - TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
04/06/2010143000
 Tl*the contact owns a 1992 mitsubishi 3000gt. the contact stated that the powertrain was leaking fluid through the casket. he referenced recall 02v143001 (power train transfer case (4- wheel drive) for which the repairs had been performed when the vehicle was in the possession of the a previous owner. the contact took the vehicle to an authorized dealership where he was informed that the failure had occurred again. on another day, the vehicle caught fire because of a short in the suspension module. the failure mileage was approximately 143,000. the current mileage was approximately 146.000.
12/24/2007124000106/01/2006
 Tl*the contact owns a 1992 mitsubishi 3000gt. while driving his vehicle, there was a clunking noise present. the vehicle was towed to the dealer. the dealer noticed that there was oil leaking from the transfer case, which are related to all of the defects that are listed in the recall. the dealer stated that they could not honor the recall, even though the failure is identical to the recall because the transfer case seal was not the original equipment. the failure and current mileages were 124,000. the nhtsa campaign id number is 02v143001 . the mitsubishi recall bulletin number is sr-02-003.****
10/01/200590000203/01/1999
 Tl* - sometime in december of 2002 while driving on a low grade hill on a rainy day the 1992 mitsubishi 3000 gt transfer case seized at 40-50 mph, resulting in all 4-wheels locking up, causing the vehicle to crash into a light pole. after the crash the clutch, hood, radiator, front crash bar, windshield and air bag were replaced. on october of 2006 while driving the vehicle the wheels locked again. after shifting the vehicle into reverse and 1 st gear several times the tires unlocked, and the contact was able to push it into driveway. the contact stated that this vehicle should be covered under nhtsa campaign 02v143001, but the manufacturer stated that the vehicle did not fall under the recall. *ak
06/01/200532000107/01/2004
 Dt: the vehicle is a 1992 mitsubishi 3000 gt, vr4. the vehicle has been leaking oil. the contact noticed this problem in june 2005. the contact examined the vehicle and found that the seals in the transfer case became defective. the contact knew that there had been recall o2v413001/mitsubishi recall sr-02-003 for the vehicle when he purchased it. when he called the dealership they ran the vehicle's vin and found that the recall repair work had already been performed. when he contacted the manufacture ,they said that according to their records the recall repair work had already been done, and that the contact would have to pay for any work done on the vehicle . *ak
10/08/2005180000112/06/2004
 Driving at approx. 50 mph when the tires locked up. towed to a dealership and they tell me it is the transfer case. yet 15000 miles ago the recall was performed, yet to no avail the problem still occurred. mitsubishi will not fix the transfer case a second time, however they did not fix it the fist time, they merely replaced the gasket and the problem was still there! *nm
03/22/2005142000304/13/2000
 I own a 1992 mitsubishi 3000gt vr4 which experienced a major drivetrain lockup. i bought the car 2000. in jan 03, i was in an accident causing body damage. i completed repairs by late jan 05 & relicensed the car in feb. on mar 22, 05, the car suddenly made an awful sound & the tires locked up. i regained control as the tires became free again. once towed home, i found the t-case had been ripped off of the transmission & mounts. upon attempt to drain the t-case i found it empty with metal shavings present. the outside was wet with t-case oil. leaky seals caused a major lockup. i learned of recall #02v143001. i wrote mitsu. to which they replied by having me take the car to the dealership. they said if the recall caused failure, mitsu. would complete all repairs. walkers renton mitsubishi determined without a doubt the failure was caused by the recall. corporate told the dealer they would buy me out of the car because of the extensive damage. shortly after, the story changed & mitsubishi decided to do nothing. finally, i received a call from mike palikan, manager of dispute resolutions for mitsu. he explained the recall was no longer valid because too much time had lapsed since issuance in dec 02 and i should have already had the recall done. therefore, mitsubishi is no longer liable for any damage caused by the recall. i am active duty o3 in the us coast guard. the recall was sent to my perm. address (parents home). the car had been licensed & drivable for a total of 2 1/2 months since recall and i have not had a chance to complete it. what mitsu. is doing is illegal. there is no expiration on a safety recall. they are doing new recalls every day because they dont want a lawsuit because someone was killed due to this. had my wheels remained locked on the highway, i would have been involved in a major accident. i hope nhtsa will resolve this with mitsubishi with them completing all repairs before further action must be taken by my attorney and i.
06/04/2005121000206/28/2004
 Nhtsa recall id: 02v143001 mitsubishi 3000gt transfer case leak. vin: ja3xe74c1ny052645 this recall was performed on my vehicle on 03/20/2003. on 06/04/2005 the transfer case had leaked out all of the fluid and caused it to seize thus locking the rear wheels, forcing the vehicle into an uncontrollable skid. the original seal lasted over 10 years, the repaired seal only lasted 2.5 years. not only was this extremely dangerous, it was unforeseen. in a letter regarding this recall it stated: this could cause the wheels to lock up and result in accident without warning. the tech at the dealership said the transfer case was bone dry. i had just returned from a 500 mile round trip from pa a couple weeks earlier with no problems. and that night was leaving my house from dropping off my little brother. had i been on the highway, or any speed above the 30mph i was traveling at the time of the incident, it could have caused serious injury to me and my passenger as well as oncoming traffic, or death to anyone involved. after the vehicle came to a screeching halt it would not move. not only had it skid uncontrollably, but now would not move from the middle of the road. it was again a hazard to other drivers. the people at mitsubishi that i spoke with stated that mitsubishi had completed the recall once and that the recall only had to be performed once. not only does the dealership want $1300 for a new transfer case, they want me to pay for 3 hours of labor. another quote: we're sorry for any inconvenience, but we are sincerely concerned about your safety. thank you for your attention to this important matter. if they are so concerned about my safety why would they not help me make the repairs that were not done correctly twice? i do not believe mitsubishi has held up their end of the deal in this case, and others like it. i would like to see mitsubishi perform the recall again on my vehicle, this time done correctly, and at no expense. sincerely, jack toepfer
07/18/200440000108/01/1996
 While cruising on a mountain interstate highway at 65 mph on a steep uphill grade, the transmission output shaft stripped causing total loss of power in heavy traffic.i cannot overstate how dangerous this event was. i was lucky to get the car off the road without causing an accident. this is a well documented problem with this car. to make matters worse, there are no parts available for this transmission or transfer case. the only remedy is to purchase a new transmission and transfer case, with the same design problems as the original, and wait for it to happen again. there should have been a safety recall on this long ago. visit www.mitsubishisucks.com for a very long list of similar complaints. the service manager at the local dealer and the mits. district manager have assured me that mits. will not offer any assistance with getting this car repaired even though both have acknowledged that this is a very common problem with this particular car. *ak
06/15/2004126000110/25/2003
 Consumer received recall 02 v 143 001 concerning transfer case oil leakage. while driving 65 mph vehicle commenced to make loud clanking noises, lost power and leaked oil. manufacturer was contacted, and they informed the consumer that the vehicle was repaired under this recall through the previous owner, and that nothing else would be done. however, the remedy failed within a year. *ak
09/05/2002102000103/17/2003
 18 spline output shaft on my 92 3000gt vr4 snapped replaced transmission and at a cost of 5000 us dollars. others have complained this is a faulty device. *ak
11/01/1998344681
 Consumer's vehicle experienced transmission failure. *la the engine failed due to timing belt failure and the sunroof leaked. there was a recall regarding the transmission, the consumer requested reimbursement, however he was denied because receipts could not be produced. (recall #02v143001)*jb
04/22/200255000406/06/2001
 1992 mitsubishi 3000gt vr-4 , transfer case seized during operation @ 30mph , resulting in all 4 wheels locking up.*ak
11/10/199836000202/07/1995
 I am the owner of a 1992 mitsubishi 3000gt vr4 (4-wheel drive) vehicle, that suffered oil loss and total lockup in november 1998. after repair of the car (within 10 miles after return of car), i suffered engine damage as a result of broken timing belt caused by the stress of the prior defect (only half of the recommended 60,000 miles had elapsed). the defect has been listed by nhtsa and was the subject of a mitsubishi offer to provide reimbursement to damaged owners. i have submitted my claim for reimbursement to mitsubishi in accordance with their announced campaign earlier this year. they rejected my claim asserting that there was insufficient proof of causation - proof of expenses and repairs is well documented. the mitsubishi dealership that conducted the repair is no longer in existence, but the successor dealership (which includes some of the same service people) contacted mitsubishi on my behalf to confirm all details - mitsuibshi refused to accept their report. there is no other way to document causation on a repair that is over four years old. if mitsubishi will not even accept reports from their own dealership, then i must conclude that they are acting in bad faith in their claim to reimburse parties who are out-of-pocket for these repairs. before commencing legal action i wanted to confirm whether there is a specified procedure for addressing this complaint.*jb
04/01/2003148000206/15/2001
 (3000gt vr4) on one occasion, i turned left, was in second gear. the shifter popped out of second. so i tried to put it back in and all i received in response was a grinding. i come to find out that it was synchro. apparently this is a common problem. dealer's response was that i needed a new transmission. after a little research, this seems to be more of a factory defect, then a driver defect. i am very very disappointed with mitsubishi. second incident. i was driving about 35 mph. all of a sudden the wheels locked up, i continued to slide off road. it is a good thing i wasn't going faster, it could have been a very bad accident. afterwards there was loud clunking from the bottom of the car. so i drove home (1 block away). it sat in the garage for a few months before i recieved the recall notice on the transfer case. mitsubishi has yet to issue a recall on the transmission. :o(. *ak
429711
 The consumer received a recall regarding the vehicle's transfer case oil seals. *mr the consumer was told all of the work was taken care of, however he later discovered the vehicle had not been touched and the transfer case was leaking *ts *jb
430001
 On 6/2/2003 the vehicle was taken to the dealer for recall 02v143001 repair concerning transfer case oil leakage. the consumer was told the repairs were made, however when he arrived home and looked under the vehicle, he discovered the vehicle had not been touched, however the dealer argued the repairs were made. the vehicle was taken to another dealer, and it was discovered that no work was performed on the vehicle. *ak *scc *jb
1
 After the recall regarding the transfer case was performed, the vehicle started to experience other problems. *jb
 Vehicle made a terrible noise and it felt like the wheels were locking up. dealer stated the transmission needs replacing. ph
11/01/2002
 Vehicle has manual transmission. consumer states the transfer case if leaking differential fluid. mr
11/02/2002
 While at a red light, consumer proceeded to go through the light vehicle would not move. engine was racing but vehicle would not move foward or backards in gear, consumer states there a recall on transfer case but vehicle was not included. dealer has been contacted. please provide any further information. mr
04/30/2000101/01/1996
 I believe that this getrag (german made) 5-speed manual transmission and transfer case is a defective design. mitsubishi, various automotive technicians, and transmission repair shops acknowledge the fact that this is a common problem. dirt, clutch dust, moisture, etc enters the spline and it grinds the male transmission output spline and female coupler in the transfer case so that they are inoperable. mitsubishi says it cannot order component parts for this getrage transmission. i had to purchase an entire rebuilt transmission from mitsubishi. i also had to purchase a new transfer case. in addition, since they were working on the transmission, mitsubishi recommended that i replace the clutch disc, cover assembly, and the release bearing. the entire cost including labor was $6,781.00. i contacted mitsubishi and they had a field rep look at the transmission. he said that he recognizes the problem, but that mitsubishi is not responsible because the car is out of waranty. i think because it is a design flaw, and you can't buy replacement parts, mitsubishi should cover my costs. thank you. *ak