Certain Mitsubishi Vehicle Models Equipped with Defective Transmission, Class Action Says

A proposed class action lawsuit alleges that certain Mitsubishi vehicle models’ continuously variable transmission (CVT) is defective and poses a serious safety risk.

Ryan Hardy et al., v. Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc, et al.

At Least Five Mitsubishi Models Come with Transmission Defect

According to the Mitsubishi Faulty CVT Class Action Lawsuit filed in California, the apparent CVT defect may cause an affected vehicle to shake, surge, jerk, delay or fail to accelerate, ultimately resulting in catastrophic transmission failure. 

The lawsuit asserts that the defect is the result of CVT belt slippage and subsequent contamination of the hydraulic pressure circuit as well as other internal components of the CVT, and also miscalibration of the CVT’s control unit and use of an insufficient CVT cooling system.

When a driver tries to accelerate, the case claims that the apparent CVT defect causes unexpected, sudden shaking and violent jerking. 

Additionally, the vehicle will lag or delay when a driver tries to accelerate, resulting in unsafe and unpredictable acceleration. 

According to the Mitsubishi Faulty CVT Class Action Lawsuit, an affected vehicle would also exhibit a hard deceleration or “clunk” when a driver accelerates at low speeds or slows down. The claim adds that other signs of the alleged CVT defect include Mitsubishi hitting unusually high revolutions per minute (RPMs) or releasing a “loud whining” after the vehicle reaches a certain speed.

The alleged defect’s consequences pose a considerable safety risk to drivers and passengers:

For instance, turning across traffic in a vehicle with delayed and unpredictable acceleration is clearly dangerous. Additionally, these conditions can make changing lanes, merging into traffic, turning, accelerating from a stoplight/sign, and accelerating onto roads or freeways difficult.

The Mitsubishi Faulty CVT Class Action Lawsuit alleges that the CVT defect affects the following vehicles:

• Mitsubishi Lancer (2014-2017)
• Mitsubishi Outlander (2014-present)
• Mitsubishi Outlander Sport (2014-present)
• Mitsubishi Mirage (2014-present); and/or
• Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross (2018-present)

According to the suit, a CVT is a kind of automatic transmission that utilizes two variable-diameter pulleys connected by a steel belt to switch gears rather than a gearbox and clutch system. 

Rather than relying on fixed gear ratios like a traditional automatic transmission, a CVT’s pulleys can adjust their width to cause the belt to spin faster or slower depending on the vehicle’s speed and the amount of torque required, the case says. 

A CVT selects the optimal gear ratio for the driving conditions while providing more efficient power delivery and improved fuel economy.

Defendants Allegedly Aware of the Issue

Mitsubishi Motors North America and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. are said to have known since at least 2014 that the CVTs found in the aforementioned vehicle models would need frequent repair and replacement and that replacements would be equally as defective as the originals. 

Mitsubishi is also claimed to have taken steps to conceal CVT issues from drivers, including instructing dealers to tell customers that their vehicles are running normally or as intended.

According to the case, this is a common practice in the car business, particularly with transmission-related concerns. 

By denying the presence of a defect, manufacturers can take advantage of customers’ lack of technical knowledge and avoid potentially costly repairs for years, or at least until the cars are no longer under warranty.

The lawsuit seeks to represent all individuals and entities in the United States that purchased or leased any of the mentioned Mitsubishi vehicle models in this article.

Editor’s Note on Mitsubishi Faulty CVT Class Action Lawsuit:

This article informs you of the lawsuit filed against Mitsubishi Motors North America and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. for allegedly marketing vehicles with defective transmissions. We also suggest you read the General Motors AFM Lifters Lawsuit. 

Case Name & No.: Ryan Hardy et al., v. Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc, et al., Case No. 8:21-cv-01983

Jurisdiction: U.S. District Court Central District of California

Allegations: Mitsubishi vehicle models’ CVT is allegedly defective and poses safety risks.

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(PC – DigitalIceAge)