16 June 2004

LTSA ordering 343 Mitsubishi cars off the road

The Land Transport Safety Authority is ordering 343 used imported Mitsubishi Galant and Legnum vehicles with potentially serious brake defects off the road until replacement parts are fitted.

The affected vehicles are 1996/97 Galant/Legnum VR4s with automatic transmissions fitted with the "active stability control" option. A list of affected vehicles has been posted on the LTSA website, at www.ltsa.govt.nz/vehicle-safety/alerts/index.html. Owners can also check if their vehicle is on the list by ringing 0800 699 000.

Owners of the affected vehicles will be contacted by telephone and formally advised of the action in writing over the next few days, but the authority is urging that the vehicles be taken off the road immediately.

The action follows the provision of new information from Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand highlighting the potentially dangerous nature of the brake defect. Leaking nitrogen can cause the brakes to become spongy and potentially to fail altogether.

The LTSA will be working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to speed up the flow of information from Japan related to safety defects affecting used imported Mitsubishi vehicles registered in New Zealand. For further information:

ENDS

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