NHTSA Investigation PE08006

IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK SYSTEM

THE SUBJECT VEHICLE IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK AND SHIFT LOCK (BRAKE-SHIFT INTERLOCK) SYSTEMS ARE MECHANICALLY ACTUATED.THE SYSTEMS UTILIZE TWO CABLE ASSEMBLIES THAT CONNECT TO A PLASTIC HOUSING MOUNTED TO THE SHIFT LEVER MECHANISM.WITHIN THE HOUSING IS A LEVER (INTERLOCK LEVER) THAT THE IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK CABLE CONNECTS TO.WHEN THE INTERLOCK LEVER IS POSITIONED IN ITS REARWARD TRAVEL RANGE, THE IGNITION KEY REMOVAL IS PREVENTED; WHEN THE LEVER IS POSITIONED IN ITS FORWARD POSITION, KEY REMOVAL IS ALLOWED.ACCORDING TO MITSUBISHI, THE IGNITION KEY INTERLOCK CABLE MAY ALLOW THE INTERLOCK LEVER TO FALL FORWARD DURING VEHICLE USE.IN THIS STATE THE IGNITION KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN THE GEARSHIFT MECHANISM IS NOT IN THE PARK POSITION.IF THE DRIVER DOES NOT SHIFT TO PARK BEFORE REMOVING THE KEY AND FAILS TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.MOST OF THE REPORTED CRASH INCIDENTS WERE MINOR IN NATURE INVOLVING UNOCCUPIED VEHICLES ROLLING FROM A PARKED CONDITION AND STRIKING OTHER VEHICLES OR OBJECTS.THE SINGLE INJURY INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN THE OPERATOR PARKED THE VEHICLE, EXITED, AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY STRUCK BY THE VEHICLE AS IT ROLLED AWAY.THE TYPE AND SEVERITY OF THE INJURIES WERE NOT DESCRIBED.IN A LETTER DATED MARCH 21, 2008, MITSUBISHI ADVISED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO ADDRESS THIS CONDITION (SEE WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV, RECALL ACTION 08V-139 FOR FURTHER DETAILS); REMEDY DETAILS AND TIMING ARE TO BE DETERMINED.ACCORDINGLY THE INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

An investigation is a separate record from a recall and from a manufacturer communication. A manufacturer campaign to repair a safety defect or a failure to meet a federal safety standard.