Mitsubishi F4A51 Automatic Transmission Hazard Problem
Mitsubishi F4A51 Automatic Transmission Hazard Problem
I am writing on behalf of the issue concerning the safety and reliability of Mitsubishi and Dodge vehicles and their owners that contain the Mitsubishi F4A51 Automatic Transmission (2000-2005 V6 Eclipse, 2001-2005 V6 Stratus RT, 1997-2003 V6 Galant)
The main issue seems to be a manufacturing defect in the wave/cushion spring located in the transmission. Mitsubishi has designed the wave spring as a fragile two coil piece which has been known to repeatedly break causing catastrophic failure in the transmission. This in turn poses a threat on the driver and passengers. When this wave spring breaks, actual pieces of the wave spring make it through Mitsubishi%u2019s also faulty transmission filter and lodge themselves in the pump gear, causing the gear to actually break. After the pump gear has been broken inside the transmission, all forward and reverse gears immediately stop function and in most instances the vehicle shuts off. This could result in potential harm or even death of the driver and/or passenger as the vehicle loses all moving power which can cause an accident with other vehicles on the road. Mitsubishi has recently created an updated version of the wave spring without issuing a recall, which now is a one piece instead of the coil setup and has a less chance of breaking. To many Mitsubishi/Dodge owners this update was discovered after they have had their vehicle in a transmission shop with a hefty bill to pay even though it was Mitsubishi%u2019s fault for engineering a faulty part in their transmission. All one person would need to find out about this issue is search the internet with the transmission code (F4A51) and this issue is well documented, even researched by Transmission Digest (a specialty magazine). Not only is this a large inconvenience to most, it is also a hazard to ones life. Mitsubishi should recall all vehicles which contain the F4A51 automatic transmission to perform the wave spring and filter update or reimburse those who have already had it done at their cost. This is an issue that needs to be addressed as if you own a vehicle with the F4A51 your vehicle WILL eventually need this repair, if you are still around to do it.
Mitsubishi F4A51 Automatic Transmission Hazard Problem
I am writing on behalf of the issue concerning the safety and reliability of Mitsubishi and Dodge vehicles and their owners that contain the Mitsubishi F4A51 Automatic Transmission (2000-2005 V6 Eclipse, 2001-2005 V6 Stratus RT, 1997-2003 V6 Galant)
The main issue seems to be a manufacturing defect in the wave/cushion spring located in the transmission. Mitsubishi has designed the wave spring as a fragile two coil piece which has been known to repeatedly break causing catastrophic failure in the transmission. This in turn poses a threat on the driver and passengers. When this wave spring breaks, actual pieces of the wave spring make it through Mitsubishi%u2019s also faulty transmission filter and lodge themselves in the pump gear, causing the gear to actually break. After the pump gear has been broken inside the transmission, all forward and reverse gears immediately stop function and in most instances the vehicle shuts off. This could result in potential harm or even death of the driver and/or passenger as the vehicle loses all moving power which can cause an accident with other vehicles on the road. Mitsubishi has recently created an updated version of the wave spring without issuing a recall, which now is a one piece instead of the coil setup and has a less chance of breaking. To many Mitsubishi/Dodge owners this update was discovered after they have had their vehicle in a transmission shop with a hefty bill to pay even though it was Mitsubishi%u2019s fault for engineering a faulty part in their transmission. All one person would need to find out about this issue is search the internet with the transmission code (F4A51) and this issue is well documented, even researched by Transmission Digest (a specialty magazine). Not only is this a large inconvenience to most, it is also a hazard to ones life. Mitsubishi should recall all vehicles which contain the F4A51 automatic transmission to perform the wave spring and filter update or reimburse those who have already had it done at their cost. This is an issue that needs to be addressed as if you own a vehicle with the F4A51 your vehicle WILL eventually need this repair, if you are still around to do it.
I own a 2002 Dodge Stratus R/T and recently My transmission seized up and instantly i lost control of the vehicle and about slammed into a guard rail on the side of the highway. I just got done spending $3100.00 on my transmission and I only paid $4500.00 for the whole car. It's not right for someone like myself should have to expeience 6 months after i purchased the vehicle.
The same thing that is described here just happened to my wife's 2001 Mitsubishi Galant V6 (112,000 miles) on June 20, 2009. The casr lost power and she was almost hit on the freeway. Thankfully, she managed to make it to the shoulder and the car would not move forward or backward. I am now looking at a minumum of $2200 to repair. Mitsubishi must fix this problem by issuing a recall.
EVERYONE--File a complaint with the FTC, I did. Go to: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/ No need to put any personal info in form. Copy and paste the info above in step 5. You will get a complaint number in the end. Mine is 23090308. Wisconsin Don.
Same problem with 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT. Car in shop right now waiting on an estimate. While driving the car reved up when I looked down my Drive light was still on and the Nuetral light was blinking. If this is a default in the Automatic Transmission- The costs should be on the manufacturer and not the owner. This needs to be corrected immediately.
For more impact, add a personal comment here
Purchased this car used and it was great, until 1 day a month later it wouldn't go into gear. Purchased this for my teenagers to use and now it is in the shop with them telling us it will cost $3000.00 to repair it. I didn't pay that much for it! And, we also have the oxidation problem on the hood and roof. Very disappointed. Fix the transmission problems!
Please take responsability for your mistake. And help prevent more accidents by recalling this vehicles.
My 01 Gallant recently did this exact thing...The car has only 80000 miles on it and i still OWE on it, it is otherwise a fine car that I truly enjoy but this is quite a hardship on me finiacially.
Same problem, Costly repair probably worth as much as the car is
I also have this same transmission in my vehicle, and am very worried and inclined to sign this petition, being that I am worried about my saftey and the other vehicles traveling around me.
I also have noticed the transmission in my 2000 gt have been acting funny. Im not he expert but i know something is not right. Please look into this growing problem. Maybe it will save a life.
The reason I'm signing this petition is because my tranny went up at a 106,xxx in my sporty gt. The cause of the problem was exactly what this petition is about. The spring broke cause me to have to have the tranny replaced which in turn cost me 4,000 dollars. If they would have had a recall for this vehicle and updated the tranny I would have never had this problem to begin with. Another thing I would like to say is they should also do a recall on the paint for mitsubishi's period. I wash and wax my eclipse every weekend which takes about 2 hrs to detail and yet my car still has oxidation on the roff of the car and it's spreading like wild fire because of the type of clear and amount of clear mitsubishi used in painting the car coming from the factory! I will never again buy another vehicle from mitsubishi ever again!
I was driving home from the airport in Las Vegas & decided to stop by my husband's work to say "hi". Just as I was turning on the off-ramp our Stratus RT stalled out completely. I had lost power to the brakes and steering. I thought surely I was either going to hit the truck in front of me or be rear-ended. I was extremely lucky that I was able to coast and use the emergency brake to finally stop. This stranded me right next to the "Strip" with 4 lanes of traffic barreling down on me as they exited the highway. Again..I expected to be hit even with flashers on at night. Car was towed and it is exactly the transmission problem described here. I am hoping the warranty will cover this. Any chance of a class action law suit against Mitsubishi?
2002 Mitsubishi Diamante VR-X owner here. I am unemployed due to the economy (laid off). I live in a extremely rural area of florida. I need my car. there are no buses or taxis here. I was going to the post office to sell some of my personal items to keep up with bills and went out to my car to find out my neutral light is flashing and when put in drive, it feels like the brakes are being applied. F4A51 transmission needs fixing. NOW.
I was going to work when the N on the dash stated to blink. After I walked to work I found that it was A "COMMEN"roblem. When I called mitsubishi I was shocked to find out there was no recal! Do poeple have to die for this to get fixed? TOTAL BULLSHIT
Please fix the transmissions!
I have Mitsubishi Glalnt 2005, and the Gear box is about to break down I start hear very high noise comming from it, some one told me that some of its element already broken
Just got my 2001 Chrysler Sebring with only 70,639 miles out of the transmission repair shop. Problem, low reverse wave ring (cushion spring) broke, went through filter and lodged in pump. The shop said mine was the third 2001 Sebring that they've had in their shop within the last month with the same problem.
I Have Just Purchase A Used 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT With This Transmission In It. Had It For One In A Half Weeks And The Transmission Just Doesn't Go Into Any Gear. I Am Getting Estimates On The Problem. Does This Mean I Am Wasting My Money. Is There Any Hope That Chrysler Will Cover The Repair--- Is There A Recall I Can Get Some Restitotioin From RYAN SCHUETTE
March 4,2001 2001 Chrysler Sebring 3.0 coupe I am the owner of this car and the mechanic! This is totally junk! If I only knew from the start,I would have never purchased.Wave washer was broken in many pieces,oil pump gear in 5 pieces,oil pump filter made defect to allow pieces of metal to pass right through...I believe this is manufactured to break and sell more cars and insurance polices...very obvious poor design. THIS IS MY LAST CHRYSLER/MITSU,I also took pictures at teardown as proof. ps... This car was carefully maintained and still does not have a single dent on it today.
2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT V6 3.0 My transmission did exactly what everyone else said. One clunk and went out of gear with flashing neutral light. Tore down transaxle and found the broken wave spring, seized front pump, and even a few pieces still in the OUTPUT side of the oil filter. Combination of poor filter and faulty wave gear makes it just a matter of time. Next service, CHANGE and UPGRADE the filter at a minimum. Replace the wave spring with the new one-piece if you can afford it. Worth not paying for the tow!!!!
2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT V6 car has 107k, working on rebuilding transmission for the second time in less than 4 months! car is for my daughter and will get rid of after this last ordeal, great fun car, but not reliable whatsoever!
2002 Dodge Stratus R/T 65,000 miles transmission blown. unacceptable!
i didnt have that problem but at 60,000 my tourqe converter blew and caused the samething on the highway at 65 mph with a 18 wheeler right on my rear
I would rather be able to drive my car that I own, then have it as an oversized paper weight until I am able to afford repairs. Do to something the company fails to recognize as an on going issue in there product. That they have created them selves by using low quality parts and unacceptable engineering techniques for a vehicle with such a high price tag when it was new.
This personally affects me because I have a serious problem with the automatic transmission in my 2003 eclipse gts. Hope this gets somewhere.
mine hasn't gone yet, but i agree 100% that mitsubishi should stand behind their products and cover repair costs
01 sratus automatic stoped working/
I have a 2001 Stratus R/T with 43,800 miles and the transmission went out (October 17, 2008) with absolutely no warning. Fortunately, my husband was able to coast into a nearby parking lot. Took the car to Dodge dealer and they knew exactly what was wrong - spring broke. After they replaced the transmission a tech test drove the car and wrecked it. I received the car back in December along with the bill and with less then 100 miles the service engine light came on, car was running at 2200 rpm's at 40mph. Just received call saying EGR solenoid circuit is bad and the idle speed motor is bad. Dodge is wanting to fix problem for another $1,000. I cannot afford to spend this amount of money and Chrysler should stand behind their product. Since they knew that this was a faulty transmission they should reimburse for our expenses. The car has less then 44,000 miles. This will be my last Dodge/Chrysler product.
I own an automotive repair shop and have repeatedly seen this problem. I currently have 2-vehicles with this exact same problem. They came in 4-days apart, both 2001 models. One is a Stratus, the other a Galant. One made 9-00, the other 11-00. One has 82k miles, the other 89K miles. V-6 F4A51 trans. This type of quality is unacceptable, and is a major reason these companies are currently in full failure mode.
i have a 2001 eclipse gt, my transmission was replaced less than 2 years ago. it seems like its about to break again. i take care of my car and maintain it according to the dealers regular service. i cant afford to pay another $3500 to replace it again because of a defective transmission. its just not fair, not at all!!!!..
'03 Eclipse GTS transmission just quit, but car was still running. Just wouldn't move in any gear. I've had transmissions go before and know what it sounds like. There was no noise whats so ever. If this is an issue though, it's only a matter of time.
I was almost killed driving to work one morning (11/08) when my 01 Dodge Stratus R/T 3.0 suddenly-- was unable to apply gas while on the freeway in flying traffic. Two tows later and a 2,000.00 bill for a rebuilt transmission, I cant help but think Dodge needs to take responsibility for this WELL KNOWN DEFECT. The gentleman working on my tranny asked me how Did I know ,in Detail, what had happened to my trannsmission? I replied, I had read all the complaints on the web AFTER I had purchased the car. Had I known, I would not have purchased the car. This is the first Dodge I have owned. I feel that Dodge needs to reimburse people for the repairs and damages they have caused people. They knew of the problem and never did a recall to have the faulty wave spring and faulty filter replaced. If they don't do the right thing and pay for the damages they have caused, I will never have a nice word to say again about Dodge. They need to do the right thing for the people who have supported them as an Auto maker and puchased their products with trust.
2002 Stratus Coupe SE 3.0 91000 miles, start clicking when release and push gas again. Hard shifting between 2 and 3 gear.
my relative just had this tranny go out 1991 scoupe,was just driving a pop sound,then no tranny any gear.he loves the car.now wants,and needs a tranny and not able to pay the high tranny prices.
Us Mitsubish owners have to stick together. I may have a manual gearbox, but for someone who's had two Eclipse V6's, I gotta say that their gearboxes need some improvement, manual or auto.
Only 88,000 miles and Transmission is blown!
I have owned a 2001 Galantfor under a year and have had nothing but trouble with it. I was driving my children to school when my transmission went, I was almost rear ended by a large truck.
My transmission failed just as was mention in the description
2003 Galant Transmission SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! jerks, slips, etc.......RECALL THE BITCHES!!!
