PASSENGER DOOR FIRE
NHTSA investigated and closed this without ordering a recall.
- Manufacturer
- Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.
- Component
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH, VISIBILITY, VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
- Opened
- Mar 4, 2008
- Closed
- Jul 1, 2008
- Model years
- 2002–2003
- Type
- Preliminary Evaluation
Summary
COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT A FIRE ERUPTED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR.IN MITSUBISHI'S RESPONSE TO ODI'S MARCH 12, 2008 INFORMATION REQUEST, MITSUBISHI ASSERTS THAT THE ALLEGED DEFECT MAY OCCUR WHEN LARGE AMOUNTS OF LIQUIDS, MORE THAN 100CC (3.4 OZ), LIKE A SOFT DRINK WERE SPILLED DIRECTLY OVER THE POWER WINDOW SWITCH AREA, ALL AT ONCE AND AT ONE TIME.MITSUBISHI FOUND THAT AS THE LIQUID DRIES OFF, ELECTROLYTES AND CARBONIZED PARTICLES ACCUMULATE BETWEEN THE TERMINALS IN THE POWER WINDOW SWITCH AND BECOME A CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL.AS A RESULT, THE SWITCH MAY START TO HEAT UP AND MELT OR IGNITE THE PLASTIC COMPONENTS.HOWEVER, MITSUBISHI ALSO ASSERTS THAT THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY RARE AND THAT BURNING DAMAGE WILL NOT OCCUR UNLESS LIQUIDS ENTER INTO THE POWER WINDOW SWITCH.ODI UPGRADED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS, EA08-011, TO FURTHER EVALUATE THIS ISSUE.
Vehicles under investigation (2)
- MITSUBISHI GALANT2002
- MITSUBISHI GALANT2003
Documents
Source: NHTSA investigation PE08014. Investigations are NHTSA's review of a potential safety issue and may or may not result in a recall.