In late 2015, incidents of sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) involving the Mitsubishi Montero Sport have been reported in the Philippines. Concerns regarding the safety of the car model were raised and several class action lawsuits against Mitsubishi Motors Philippines were filed.
As of April2024, over 100 complaints against Mitsubishi Motors Philippines were filed by Montero Sport owners. The incident has since been the subject of an investigation by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). There are also several sudden unintended acceleration incidents involving 2009 to 2011 Montero that date way back in the year 2010 to 2012. However, no such incidences have surfaced in other countries.
At least 23 SUA incidents involving Montero Sports were recorded by the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group, from motorists in Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Iloilo City, Laguna and Tacloban. [1]
Mitsubishi has asserted that the vehicles are safe to use and any sudden acceleration claims were of no basis; [2] The company however offered a free inspection for Montero owners affected by the incident. [3]
Initially, the DTI has not ordered any recall of Montero Sport models following its two-week investigation on the alleged SUA incidents. [13] In 2017 the agency has ordered a recall on all automatic transmission variants of the vehicle manufactured between 2010 and 2015, but has since clarified that the recall order was not yet final and executory. [14]
Bayan Muna representatives Neri Colmenares and Carlos Isagani Zarate blamed the incidents on the Department of Trade and Industry's failure to conduct safety inspections on the vehicles in question. [2]
In light of the incidents, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines has asserted that the Montero Sport is safe to use, and any claims of sudden acceleration are devoid of any basis. [2]
Quezon City Rep. Winnie Castelo, the current chairman of Metro Manila development committee urged Mitsubishi Motors to recall all its defective Montero models until the investigation of the DTI have been concluded. [15]
The incident inspired numerous parodies and satirical reactions, among them a mobile app entitled "SUA Your Face", in reference to Montero owners adopting the hashtag #SUAyourface as a response to the incidents' notoriety in Philippine media. [16]
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