Mitsubishi Recalls Nearly 60,000 Vehicles For Faulty Safety System Software

Lilburn, Georgia – September 26, 2018 – Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport vehicles equipped with a Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) system, as well as 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Eclipse Cross vehicles and 2017-2018 Outlander vehicles equipped with an Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system and/or an Electric Parking Brake (EPB) system.

The Defect

According to the NHTSA Safety Recall Report, the software for the Hydraulic Unit’s Electronic Control Unit (HU-ECU) may be incorrect. Due to this inappropriate software in HU-ECU electrical noise is generated when the pump motor of the H/U operates, which may cause the H/U-ECU to reset.

This defect could prevent the intervention of safety systems when in use, including automatic emergency braking, Anti-lock Braking (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), or the Brake Auto Hold (BAH) function. If the safety systems do not function as intended, it can increase the risk of a crash. There have been no reported injuries or accidents due to this condition.

Timeline of Events

In March 2017, a field report from Japan was received by MMC. The report stated that the “ACC CHECK” warning appeared in the multi-information display of combination meter while driving. From April 2017 to August 2017, MMC received two additional field reports. In the first case, MMC conducted a bench test with the returned part, but was unable to reproduce the problem. After the second field report, MMC conducted the vehicle test with the additional two returned parts and was able to reproduce the problem with one of the returned parts.

MMC subsequently conducted the bench test again using the driving data of the vehicle test which had formerly successfully reproduced the problem, but was not able to reproduce the problem again, so MMC and the supplier continued to conduct tests from December 2017 to April 2018

Upon conclusion of the company’s investigation, MMC determined that inappropriate software in the H/U-ECU could generate electrical noise when the pump motor operates, causing the H/U-ECU to reset. The flaw in the software was corrected in production, and MMC continued investigating with the purpose of analyzing the variations and estimating future occurrences.

MMC concluded that the failure would occur continuously in the future, and in September 2018 the manufacturer chose to initiate a field action in the US to address the condition and advised Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. to conduct a safety recall.

The Solution

Owners of all affected vehicles will be notified and asked to bring their vehicles in to reprogram the H/U-ECU software with countermeasure software. The repair will be performed with no cost to vehicle owners. The new software does not generate the electrical noise which may reset the H/UECU, eliminating the issue. New software for the H/U-ECU was used in production starting with vehicles built in and after April 2018. The NHTSA Campaign Number for this recall is 18V-621

Owners seeking reimbursement for any expenses associated with this recall will be directed in the notification letter to contact the Mitsubishi Customer Relations Department for reimbursement consideration. MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will update the Hydraulic Unit-ECU software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin October 16, 2018. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA’s number for this recall is SR-18-008. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153).

Sean ReyesMitsubishi Recalls Nearly 60,000 Vehicles For Faulty Safety System Software

Mitsubishi Recalls More Than 9,000 Vehicles Over Faulty FCM Software

Lilburn, Georgia – September 26, 2018 – Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) is recalling certain 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Outlander Sport, 2018-2019 Eclipse Cross, and 2017-2018 Outlander vehicles equipped with a Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) system that detects pedestrians. Only vehicles that were equipped with Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) system are affected, with the total number of vehicles being recalled totaling 9,166.

The Defect

According to the NHTSA Safety Recall Report, due to incorrect software, the FCM-ECU (Electronic Control Unit) may apply braking for longer than needed. The error may occur when a pedestrian was registered as being in front of the vehicle, even after a pedestrian is no longer detected. If the FCM-ECU software activates the brake for longer than necessary, the driver may react by applying additional braking. The resulting rapid deceleration of the vehicle has been suspected to increase the risk of a rear-end collision or cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.

Timeline of Events

During March through May 2017, MMC received three field reports from the Czech Republic and Japan indicating that the vehicle brake was activated by FCM system. The reports stating the brake activation occurred when there were no pedestrians or other vehicles in front of the vehicle. MMC began an investigation. Between May and October 2017, as a result of the investigation, it was concluded that the FCM system operated properly. However, in February 2018, MMC received an accident report from Australia which stated that rear-end collision had occurred due to the vehicle brake being activated by the FCM system. Again, MMC concluded the FCM system operated properly.

In May 2018, two additional accident reports from Singapore and Japan were received, and it was confirmed that the driver of each vehicle had depressed the brake pedal strongly when the brake was activated by the FCM system. This caused the vehicles to be decelerated rapidly. In June 2018, MMC completely reprogrammed the software of the FCM-ECU in production, in order to specifically shorten the operation time of the brake by the FCM system. This safeguard is designed to help prevent the driver from choosing to apply a stronger brake when the danger is already past or when not necessary.

MMC subsequently continued its investigation to assess the safety risk of affected vehicles, and in September 2018, MMC determined that a field action was necessary in the US to address the potential risk, although there had been no adverse reports from the US. MMC advised Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. to conduct a safety recall.

The Solution

Owners of all affected vehicles will be notified and encouraged to bring their vehicles in to reprogram the FCM-ECU software with countermeasure software. The repair will be performed at no charge to vehicle owners. The recall is expected to begin October 16, 2018.

Any owners seeking reimbursement for any expenses associated with this recall will be directed in the notification letter to contact the Mitsubishi Customer Relations Department for reimbursement consideration.

Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA’s number for this recall is SR-18-007. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153).

Sean ReyesMitsubishi Recalls More Than 9,000 Vehicles Over Faulty FCM Software