Date 2015– | Cause Under investigation | |
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Location Primarily in the Philippines | ||
Near the end of 2015, isolated case of accidents occurring in the Philippines involving the Mitsubishi Challenger model, locally marketed as Montero Sport, were reported causing concerns regarding the safety of the car model and filing of several class action lawsuits against Mitsubishi Motors Philippines.
Contents
To date, almost 24 Montero Sport owners have filed their complaints against Mitsubishi Motors Philippines — the subject of an ongoing investigation which could result to the recall of SUVs, according to the country's Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). There are also several sudden unintended acceleration incidents involving 2009 to 2011 Montero that way back in the year 2010 to 2012. However, no such incidences have surfaced in other countries.
Since 2011, the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group recorded at least 23 SUA incidents involving Montero SUVs from motorists in Metro Manila, Cavite, Antipolo, Batangas, Tacloban and Iloilo City.
Notable incidents
Investigation
After its two-week investigation on the alleged SUA incidents, the DTI have not ordered any recall of Montero sport models. Instead, It was ordered that a third-party mandatory vehicle check up and investigation will be needed after the investigations. Investigation noted that vehicle accelerate only when accelerator is stepped on (because the brake light lit and vehicle simultaneously stopped when driver stepped on brakes as shown on the videos).
Other reactions
Bayan Muna Reps. Neri Colmenares and Carlos Isagani Zarate, authors of House Resolution 2531, said the incidents were largely due to the negligence in part of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to conduct safety inspections. The MMPC said the SUA claims insinuating that the Montero Sport is defective are without any basis and that the Montero Sport is neither defective nor unsafe to use.
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.
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.