2003 MISTUBISHI MONTERO SPORT XLS DEFECT - STUCK OWNER

You have two options: a) if you don't want to keep the car, and you have written documentation from the dealer / lease company that the car "was serviced by Mitsubishi", take these twerps to court for misrepresentation (fraud).

or

b) if you otherwise like the car, get the lease holder information corrected, find another dealer, have the car checked for any residual warranty repairs, wheel alignment and (minor) crash damage.

So, you are left with the problem of pulling to the right. Bear in mind, as a rental vehicle, you must assume its been treated harder than a non-rental. Such as bashing through all the pot holes at the side of the road. Let's go back to first principles: since the tires are new, what else can cause a pulling effect?

a) wheel caster and camber differences side to side ... but I'd guess this has been checked. b) front suspension bushes have lost their stiffness. After only 18 months this unusual, but if the car has been abused, not unexpected. Bushes lose their effectiveness within three years. One result can be the static alignment is OK, but under driving loads, they deflect causing wheel misalignment and hence pulling. The inner rear lower arm bush is the one that takes the most load. c) RHS front inner CV is binding. Unusual after only 40K, but not uncommon. Have the new dealer check for wear: this generally requires taking it out and manually moving axle in rotation and translation to do it properly. Some time back I had to almost force a garage to humour me and swap a drive shaft. The only evidence of wear was a slight binding in the in-out (translation) movement. Garage swore there was nothing wrong, but the pulling disappeared. d) dragging brake caliper and / or warped rotors. Is the RHS hotter than the LHS?

I'd require the new dealer to replace all the RHS front bushes to start with. Try for both sides, because both sides have done the same milage.

regards, Stewart DIBBS

I was under the impression that since a problem was notified before the expiry, and it has not been resolved, then you still have a warranty claim. Check with Mitsubishi.

Stewart DIBBS

I spoke with the new dealer and the area Mitsubishi customer service man, they ran my VIN through their computer and said since the car was delivered to DOLLAR RENT A CAR it has never been back to them for service. They say I should bring the car to them and let them do an ALIGNMENT and they want ME to pay $69. I do not think this is the problem as this pull is being reported by Montero owners all over the world. I contacted the old Mistubishi dealer I bought and left a message to the Service Manager who is familiar with my problem. I think they are partly to blame. They told me I could always bring that car back to them because the new dealer is so far away.