Mitsubishi Pajero Problems

When introduced to Australia in 1983, the Mitsubishi Pajero was arguably the first affordable 4WD that was a family wagon rather than a truck-based 4WD.However, this is a genuine SUV, not a passenger car with a tough looking body, Pajero is competent off-road, being able to handle most situations likely to be encountered by an adventurous family in the great Aussie countryside or on beaches.Though it began its life in downunder as a body-on-chassis 4WD, it became a monocoque for improved ride and comfort in 2000. Good engineering meant the post-2000 models retained similar strength to the chassis models. All have a low-range case for tough, slow conditions.While we are considering the monocoque models from the year 2000 in this feature you should be aware the older ones may be past their use-by date. Unless you can do a fair bit of your own mechanical work you're probably better off considering models from the new generation in December 2006.Mitsubishi’s sophisticated Super Select drivetrain permits the use of all-wheel-drive under any circumstance. For example, safe traction on wet sealed roads if you opt for AWD, or lower fuel consumption on dry dirt roads if you go for 2WD. AWD can be engaged or disengaged on the fly at any speed up to 100 km/h.Midway through 2013 Pajero was brought right up to date in its infotainment and safety equipment. These models are popular with buyers who can't come up with the dollars to buy a brand new one.Mitsubishi Pajero comes as a station wagon with either two or four passenger doors. The two-door was never particularly popular and imports stopped with the all-new model of 2000. They reappeared with the when the new model was launched at the start of end of 2006, then disappeared due to lack of buyer interest in 2010.All short-wheelbase Pajeros have five seats, the long-wheelbase models have either five or seven. The rearmost two seats in the seven-seat models are better suited to kids than adults but with a bit of squeezing up the Pajero can handle seven grown-ups.Though the first Pajeros had a petrol four-cylinder engine, all petrols under review here are V6s. This was a 3.5 twin-cam unit until September 2003 when it was uprated to a 3.8-litre.Diesel power is preferred by most buyers, the large four-cylinder units, 2.8 then 3.2 litres, have good torque and seem to enjoy hard work.Pajero is offered in manual and automatic transmissions, with the latter being almost universal in later years.The Australian Mitsubishi dealer network is long established and well-organised. Spare parts are generally available for all but the oldest models. Prices can be relatively high as 4WD bits are more rugged and can come as a surprise if you've only owned sedans in the past.Insurance premiums are about average for this class and there doesn’t seem to be much difference of opinion on the insurance risk amongst the major insurance companies.Note that the Pajero Sport launched at the end of 2015 is actually a replacement for the outgoing Challenger, not an additional version of the standard Pajero range.If you suspect a Pajero has been used off-road look for damage to door sills, door surfaces and bumper corners. Be very wary if the protection plates have been pushed up onto the mechanical items move them.Check out the interior carefully because carting bored kids about can be tough on any vehicle. Damage to the cargo area is another sign of hard use.Poor engine maintenance is hard on turbos and can lead to complete failure if the oil hasn't been changed on time. Check the service book.Be sure all gears in a manual box engage easily and that the clutch is light and quiet in its action.Automatic transmissions should go into Drive and Reverse promptly and easily.Listen for, and feel for, noises and roughness in the complete driveline.Make sure the brakes pull the Pajero up evenly, even on dirt.

Mitsubishi Motors Australia (MMAL) has taken out full-page advertisements in national newspapers begging for action from car owners affected by the global Takata airbag recall.Drivers and passengers of vehicles affected by the Takata airbag recall run the risk of being impaled by shards of metal that are propelled out of the airbag when deployed.It has been reported that at least 22 people have been killed as a result of defective Takata airbags, including an Australian man who lost his life in a car accident in Sydney last year. MMAL PR boss Karl Gehling suggests that while these incidents do increase awareness, many owners continue to ignore the risk.“During 2017, the publicity around the fatality in Sydney from a faulty Takata airbag inflator led to significant media coverage and a subsequent increase in customer awareness of this serious issue,” he said.“Over the past few months we have noticed the number of customers presenting their vehicle for repair has dropped significantly.”Since the announcement of the recall, Mitsubishi Motors has replaced around 136,000 defective airbag inflators from a total 235,151 in Australia.This means thousands of potentially-deadly Mitsubishi Lancer, Triton, Pajero and I-MiEV models are still in circulation.All repair work is carried out at a Mitsubishi dealership and is free of charge to vehicle owners.“In some cases we have sent up to six letters to owners to advise them of the need to replace their Takata airbag inflator without any result,” said Mr Gehling.“This owner indifference or apathy to the risks from the Takata airbag inflator fitted to their vehicle has prompted us to publicly notify all owners in the hope that it will generate greater impact and encourage more owners to action the recall.”To get the attention of the remaining affected vehicle owners, Mitsubishi Motors has purchased full-page advertisements in newspapers around the country.The advertisement shows a letter signed by MMAL CEO John Signoriello that reads:“To our Mitsubishi owners“Since the announcement of the global Takata airbag recall, Mitsubishi Motors has been working hard to replace all affected airbag inflators.“In Australia, there were 235,151 Takata beta airbag inflators fitted to Mitsubishi vehicles affected by this recall. Over 136,000 Takata inflators have been replaced so far with an inflator from another manufacturer.“For all remaining affected vehicles, there is a risk to the vehicle occupants in the event of an accident that results in the airbag inflator deploying. There is a potential risk that due to excessive internal pressure, metal fragments could shoot out towards the vehicle occupants causing serious injury or even death.“Testing by Takata Corporation of their airbag inflators removed from Australian cars has shown there is a clear risk to vehicle occupants. Due to degradation of the inflator propellant, the airbags can rupture on deployment.“We are seeking all remaining customers with affected vehicles to make a booking with their nearest dealer to address this recall, which is free of charge."The advertisement also directs Mitsubishi owners to the MMAL website where they can input their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to see if their car is affected. “We urge all customers who own one of these models to verify if their vehicle is subject to the Takata recall and make a booking with your local dealer to replace your Takata airbag inflator.”Mitsubishi also has a dedicated recall phone line (1800 931 811), which can be used for free between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.