TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. WHILE DRIVING OVER 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK BACKWARDS AND HESITATE. WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING OR IN PARK, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF BURNING OIL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY BE MINOR AND COULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT INTENDS TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE SOON. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 96,000.
2000
STEERING
WHILE LEAVING A PARKING LOT. LOST STEERING CAPABILITY. DURING TROUBLESHOOTING FOUND THE DRIVERS SIDE OUTER TIE ROD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE ADJUST TUBE. BOTH LOCK NUTS WERE TIGHT AND IN THE ORIGINAL POSITIONS AND THE ADJUST TUBE AND INNER TIE ROD WERE TIGHT. THREADS OF THE TIE ROD DID NOT APPEAR TO BE STRIPPED BUT THE ADJUST TUBE WOULD NOT TIGHTEN TO THE OUTER TIE ROD LOCK NUT. THIS IS THE FIRST AND ONLY INSTANCE OF THIS FAILURE ON THIS CAR. DEALER IS REPLACING BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDE INNER TIE ROD, OUTER TIE ROD AND ADJUST TUBE AT MY COST. MY CONCERN IS THE SEVERITY OF THE FAILURE. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH DEATHS OR MAJOR INJURY OCCURRING. AUTO IS 10 YEARS OLD WITH APPROX 120000 MILES. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER BOTH INDICATED THAT THIS IS A WEAR ITEM BUT IS NOT PART OF AN INSPECTION. *TR